Sioux Falls Event Center

[91jack]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

It's because of events like the Summit League Tournament the new event center should be downtown. If you want an example of the my way or the highway attitude you have to look no further than Mayor Mike. If you want ridiculous than share with us why it makes sense to cram another large facility into an already congested spot and in a industrial park area that has consistently shown no new economic or commercial development. The only decent restaurant (Michaels) which I went to at the last Summit League tournament has closed. Bunch of folks I know are not going to support another losing proposition at the arena site to just get it done. I think many people from out of Sioux Falls are underestimating the passion by many people for getting this right and not just settling for the easy quick fix. If that means it takes a few more years so be it.

I look at the Summit League Tournament as a reason to not build it downtown. The 12,000 people that work down there will already have most of the parking spots full before the fans for the SDSU and USD Women's teams show up. That means the workers who know how and where to park will have all the good spots and the out-of-towners will be lost trying to find where to park.
You don't know what the weather will be like but a couple years ago nobody would want to tough the weather to check out falls park. I know there are other businesses down there but that's why you'll have to walk a lot farther of pay for parking ramps.
What is classified as a "losing proposition"? Did the first arena not pay for itself and make the city a ton of money over the last 40 years?
I think where ever you build it, it will make the city money. Will it make more money(especially for downtown businesses) if it's built downtown? Yes! Will it cost more to build and cost the city money over the next few years when the have to put off building it? Yes! It will cost more because the cost to build it will go up and the cost of not being able to use it for a few more years will lose the city money.
At least the Summit League are keeping their tourney in SF. If they would have took that from SF because of the old arena, that would have been about 15 million dollars that SF could have lost because of the delay. I know that wouldn't be the only reason but I think it could have been part of it.

[slosho]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

I hear they have great PIE @ the corner of US HWY 83 and Interstate 90...

[goon]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

I guess you can go ahead and blame me too, I will vote it down in a heart beat, and most people I know will. People who support the DT site are not against getting it built, but they feel it is a waste to build it in the wrong place. I have to disagree with you. The former city planners who built the arena and CC said it was a mistake they found out later but it was to late after they sold the citizens of SF of how great it will be. It will not thrive at the current site. It will Provide SF the best investment downtown. People who support the arena site are being selfish, they only care about them and out of towners think its the only side of town to build anything on. People who support DT are avg people who have no stake in owning land or businesses, but see the true value of a DT site.

[jackrabit1]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

People who support the arena site are being selfish, they only care about them and out of towners think its the only side of town to build anything on. People who support DT are avg people who have no stake in owning land or businesses, but see the true value of a DT site.

As compared to people who will refuse to vote for the Events Center because it WON'T be built downtown? Hypocrisy much?

[KUlawJack]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

As compared to people who will refuse to vote for the Events Center because it WON'T be built downtown? Hypocrisy much?

Nice work taking his statement out of context. I care about the long term goals, continued growth, and financial well-being of the city as does goon - he stated as much in the rest of his post. DT will provide the best of all that, not the Arena site. Just because we won't vote for the current boondoggle that the Mayor has offered makes us selfish?

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

As compared to people who will refuse to vote for the Events Center because it WON'T be built downtown? Hypocrisy much?

It's just hard to comprehend why the mayor would take the city down the road towards another 50 year mistake. The answer in his eyes it's the least path of resistance. The city's track record on rebooking conventions is deplorable and that is because people want options within walking distance like you have in every other city. Who builds convention centers and event centers in virtually an industrial park? That area will never be anything more. There is no passion from the residents I talk to for the current site other than those who just want it built and refuse to look at the other intangibles. The only thing I hear from out of town people is it's what they know and it's easy to get in and out. That should not be the basis for the location of this facility. There is a lot more parking downtown than people realize and their is more on way with a couple new ramps being built and with the railroad tracks being moved there will be even more. Somehow other cities that have events during the day while workers are downtown make it work and so can Sioux Falls.

[goon]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

As compared to people who will refuse to vote for the Events Center because it WON'T be built downtown? Hypocrisy much?

Who says they are voting it down just because its not going downtown? I have never heard that one. Use smear tactics much. No one is going to vote no just to spite the arena site. Everyone has a valid reason, in they are either going to vote no, no matter what or where it is or, because they feel that it is the best for SF.

A lot of people are only looking at the next 2-5 years. Either thinking its we are not going to keep the summit tourny if its not build this year, or that its the cheapest option. Most do not look at the 50 year INVESTMENT. DT will need infrastructure upgrades eventually. Many can be done now with the EC saving money on infrastructure in the long term. It will generate more money in tax revenue then the arena site which means it will benefit the citizens of SF the most. 50 years from now, the extra money it would take to do it right will seem like a distant memory because of all the return it provides at the DT site.

People act like going DT in winter will kill them. Will driving DT really stop people from going to see Keith Urban in Feburary or other large national concerts we have missed because of the current site.

The current site has 2 things going for it, maybe be cheaper in the short term, and support from out of town people.
The DT site has more benefits, more spin off development, more tax revenue, and longer term profitability.
Giving parking a even split, because the mess of the arena site is no picnic as a mad rush of people all try to leave the same time and direction. The Arena site will disperse people in all directions to leave and the downfall is walking in winter. Yet the 6 months of the year when it is nice is being over looked as a benifit to DT.

I a long with others feel the arena site is shortsighted and lacks true benifits to SF. Thats great if you and others feel otherwise but don't blame people who feel the DT site is the best and should be only option that they support. Blame the mayor for not being able to build support to pass it.

[HoboD]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

Summit League Basketball Tournament
Tulsa 2015 Be There!

[hareball]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

If it does leave Sioux Falls, Omaha would be a great second choice.

If the new event center planned for the Arena site is not approved, what can be done, if anything, to upgrade the present Arena to continue hosting the Summit tournament for the minimum of 10 years it will take to resurrect the idea of building a new arena/event center?

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

Summit League Basketball Tournament
Tulsa 2015 Be There!

I guess you see this discussion through one event. The Summit League Tournament location at the present site even with a new facility is horrible.

[HoboD]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

No, I see the folks in Sioux Falls cant get their s..t together one way or the other. There is no way a vote will pass unless all the pro event center people support it which they wont. Kermit Staggers crowd will win out over a divided group of supporters. Tulsa 2015 Be There!

[zooropa]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

before the fans for the SDSU and USD Women's teams show up

That's an excellent point. It would be a far better solution to build a huge parking lot that will sit empty 90+% of the time then to have parking problems for a total of 4 hours worth of events each year.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

The Summit League Tournament location at the present site even with a new facility is horrible.

I don't care where it gets built, but I disagree with that. It's already awesome at that site with a **** facility, so why would it be horrible with a new one.

[KUlawJack]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

No, I see the folks in Sioux Falls cant get their s..t together one way or the other. There is no way a vote will pass unless all the pro event center people support it which they wont. Kermit Staggers crowd will win out over a divided group of supporters. Tulsa 2015 Be There!

The part about not passing unless all pro event center people support it is probably true. Why is it the duty of those who support different views to suddenly drop what they believe in to support something they don't? That's the job of the Mayor - to convince us that this is a good idea. We don't have to blindly follow our elected executive who hasn't produced any vision on the subject. This isn't North Korea.

Furthermore, this is bigger than just the Summit League Tournament.

[hareball]

Re: Sioux Falls Event Center

My only interest in the Event Center is as a host site for athletic events - primarily the SL tournament. I posed a question a few posts earlier in this thread which is still unanswered so I will repeat it. Will Sioux Falls be able to hang on to the SL tournament after 2014 without a new Event Center? If the current Event Center proposal isn't approved, I am guessing it will be at least 10 years before a new event center could be completed. What, if anything, can be done to upgrade/improve the Arena in the interim for Sioux Falls to continue to host the SL tournament.