Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

[jackmd]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

Because I don't feel the city should have to pay 100% for this thing. Its in the wrong location and paid the wrong way. The city could have easily put this downtown where it would help spur more economic growth. there is no garuntee that there will be any development around the current site which is sad. Sioux Falls will lose potenital tax revenue because they couldnt figure it out. The point of the city providing an EC is to spur economic growth, not dabble in the concert and entertainment industry. If they would have developed a plan that would have truly benefited the city I would have been ok with it. A lot of people who were against it downtown said that we are not like other cities so we dont need one downtown, well by voting yes they have done a good job at keeping us another 50 years away from moving and progressing forward as a community. Maybe not all but I feel people who voted for the current site did not take into factors except for their own wants, and not what is the best for the city. There was no plan for the current arena to change or remodel. Most likely the arena and new EC will split events because it will be tought to book more then 1 at a time there because there is limited parking. A downtown site would have allowed conventions at one site and events at the downtown. Allowing SF to maximize its usage. I just feel SF deserves to do something nice and not settle for what a few people think is all we deserve. I think this city has more potential for good but always settles for just enough. I would say 15K seat facility downtown with a parking ramp close by. Allow businesses who open up near the EC a tax break for its first few years to encourage more local businesses to profit from and provide the city with tax revenue. On the nights of events where people around here are to lazy to walk in winter from street parking or ramps downtown to have a shuttle set up with the bus line or something to bring people to and from stops downtown and to right at the EC. I know a lot of eldery would need closer parking but that could be built next to or on a ramp connected to the EC. I guess that would have been a start.

I'd say this is a typical response from a staunch BID supporter and I think its an unfortunate one. I'm not judging GOON he is entitled to an opinion. I'm not looking for a reply as the issue has been settled by a vote of the people. People who are thinking critically about the issue and who want an EC built and will support the facility. That includes a number of major business leaders and influential, bright people who considered the options carefully. Would the EC have been a grand success downtown? We don't know that. Will it be a colossal failure at the current site? I doubt it very highly.

Again, I look forward to world class EC in Sioux Falls and will continue to enjoy downtown Sioux Falls. I will certainly be spending more money there instead of Sioux City and I think I can speak for many of my friends in the Yankton area.

[joeboo22]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

Part of me would like the ball park downtown. But doesn't the pheasants ownership own the ball park? I think that would be the major hurdle over the situation. If you are going to build them a new one downtown it would probably have to be better and then they would have to give it to them. Or work some deal like that out.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

Sioux Falls stadium does need to be upgraded and a downtown location is intriguing to me.

What about the Sioux Falls stadium needs to be upgraded? Genuine question, it has seemed pretty nice the 5 times I have been there in the last 2 years.

[goon]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

I'd say this is a typical response from a staunch BID supporter and I think its an unfortunate one. I'm not judging GOON he is entitled to an opinion. I'm not looking for a reply as the issue has been settled by a vote of the people. People who are thinking critically about the issue and who want an EC built and will support the facility. That includes a number of major business leaders and influential, bright people who considered the options carefully. Would the EC have been a grand success downtown? We don't know that. Will it be a colossal failure at the current site? I doubt it very highly.

Again, I look forward to world class EC in Sioux Falls and will continue to enjoy downtown Sioux Falls. I will certainly be spending more money there instead of Sioux City and I think I can speak for many of my friends in the Yankton area.

I guess I view myself as a best option for the city person instead of BID or BIN. Either way its not the most planned out propal SF should have had. There are to many questions and either way you feel about it probably does not provide SF with the best return on investment. I feel SF can and should do better. Enough voters apparently thought this was good enough plan.

I think a lot of those who are the bright influential business people you speak of I feel went with the bare minimum to get something done. Not the best we could have done. And all of those none have come out to say they will put money into this project which I think should be noted. If they are so influential, why are there no plans or even a hint of development to go around the current site? I think that is a failure of those who made this proposal and I think to many voters overlook the benefit that the EC should provide.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

I guess it's impossible to get across the idea that a project of this magnitude is built in most cities to spur additional development ie. Omaha, Lincoln, Des Moines, Denver and on and on. Based on the geography of this site that simply will not happen. Where are all the people going to stay if they book these large conventions as most want to be able to walk to the convention center. You got the Sheraton and Ramada Inn (be careful crossing the street)and beyond that a bunch of seedy, crappy hotels. You have Booneys and BWW within walking distance for some and that my folks is it.. Could some things happen? Maybe, but it sure hasn't since the convention center has been built with the exception of the Sheraton.

[jackrabit1]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

I haven't had pie in a long time... Sour Cream Raisin sounds good right now.

[bigticket1]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

The contractor at risk the city has already hired, Martinson I believe is the name, has a good track record of hiring local contractors to complete their projects. In the city's presentation (not promotion ) they were giving they had Martinson's recent venues they were the general contractor for and their percentages of local contractors and materials used on these venues and something like 75% was the lowest they had used, with most in the 80's.

I don't think the corporate sponsorship is going to be an issue. It's just a matter of getting a consistent amount of users in it to keep it in the black.

I believe it will be a very nice building. But as a father who has a daughter who has been to the current arena and Frost with her, put some family restrooms in it. Men's restrooms are gross.

I believe it is Mortenson Construction - they were responsible for building Target Field.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

It is Mortenson, my brother-in-law works for them. He was co-site manager for the Kinnick Stadium re-furb. They will do a great job as they have lots of experience with these types of projects. For what it is worth, they felt that the Arena site was better from an ROI perspective. Personally, I thought the idea of downtown was good, if you had a way-back machine. That way we would have built the convention center downtown and then added the event center it. However if I did have a way-back machine, the first that would have happened is that we would be 3-time defending champs in both men and women's bb.

[jacksfaninne]

Re: Events Center Predictions/No commentary/Just predictions

Mortenson is building our new arena here in Lincoln, too. On time. On budget. That's their mantra here. And the Arenos here certainly will hold them to it. Off to a great start so far.