New Sioux Falls events center update...

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

Isn't Howard Wood Field owned by the school district--meaning that the high schools in town already have their own stadium, Howard Wood Field.

Yes, Howard Wood is owned by the Sioux Falls Public Schools and provides a home for the football teams and track teams from the three high schools. It also handles some fairly large crowds for marching band competitions.

[AnimalHouse83]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

The Sioux Falls public schools do have their own football fields, but are not built to handle the crowds a varsity game would attract. And I doubt in today's economy the district would want to shell out money to increase the capacity of even one of the fields.

I think concert promoters might be (IMO, legitimately) concerned about Sioux Falls' proximity to Omaha (although Fargo is about as close to the cities).

It may also turn Fargo & Sioux Falls into competitors for the same acts. It seems hard to imagine that, for instance, Bruce Springsteen would schedule dates in -both- Fargo & Sioux Falls.....

Just a side note: Sugarland is playing Fargo, Minneapolis AND Bismark all this weekend.

If given a choice between playing the cavernous Fargodome vs a newer more intimate arena in a city he's never been to before, my money says Springsteen would come to Sioux Falls. And I would be first in line for tickets!

[JACKGUYII]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

Renovate Howard Wood for the Public High Schools and build the new Events Center downtown!

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

It is time to get rid of HOWARD WOOD FIELD!

All the High Schools in town need to just build their own staduim like Harisburg, O'Gorman, Sioux Falls Christian and then nobody need to play at Howard Wood. Tear it down and put the Events Stadium right there!

End of Story! Can I get an Amen?

Isn't Howard Wood Field owned by the school district--meaning that the high schools in town already have their own stadium, Howard Wood Field.

[propar80]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

It is time to get rid of HOWARD WOOD FIELD!

All the High Schools in town need to just build their own staduim like Harisburg, O'Gorman, Sioux Falls Christian and then nobody need to play at Howard Wood. Tear it down and put the Events Stadium right there!

End of Story! Can I get an Amen?

Amen...

You would think after the Summit League Tournament brought over $2Million+ to the SF econmy...http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=25,83224 that building a new events center in SF ANYWHERE would be a top priority.

But I compare SF and the Events Center to when I used to work at a Country Club in MN when I was in college...I would get the "Ranger" shift every once in a while and it was funny to witness 40 plus year-old professionals acting like a bunch of 15 years old that don't get their way.
Not EVERY person in SF is going to get EXACTLY what they want with the Events Center...so pick a damn site...build it and in 10 years after a couple of NCAA D-1 Women's Tournaments come to town and $5 Million+ for each filters into the SF economy, people will forget what option they even wanted in the first place.

I love how SD is practically the lowest taxed State in the nation and we got a bunch of naysayers that are worried about a tax on Bed and Booze that most of SF residents won't notice anyway. For God's sake, does anyone realize that registering the same two cars in this state at $100/year costs almost $800 per year in Omaha, NE??? This is just one small example of how cheap is actually is to live in this State.

The fact that SF as a city is not any closer to an E.C. after how successful the Summit League Tournament was makes me want to puke. Have some F#$KING vision.

Whew...I haven't posted a long-one in a while....that felt kind of good. On the other hand I can't believe I wasted another 15 minutes of my life on this subject, when I know in my heart what the outcome will be.
Remember...SD was the LAST State in the NATION of have a D-1 program of ANY KIND. SDSU fans especially should realize how nice it is to actually pave a path to something better.

Go Jacks!!

[zooropa]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

End of Story! Can I get an Amen?

You'll need one from the FAA.

Height restrictions are in effect at that location. That's why the Sheraton is only 6 stories tall and the same height as the current Arena. Instead of being the typical J.Q. Hammons cube (viz: Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza in Rapid City), the Sheraton was built with a funny spur off to one side of it, in order to meet the program's required number of rooms, in the allotted height.

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

It is time to get rid of HOWARD WOOD FIELD!

All the High Schools in town need to just build their own staduim like Harisburg, O'Gorman, Sioux Falls Christian and then nobody need to play at Howard Wood. Tear it down and put the Events Stadium right there!

End of Story! Can I get an Amen?

[Kemo]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

NO! Football-friendly is irreconcilably unfriendly for everything else!

I second this motion!

[zooropa]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

concert ... promoters

I think concert promoters might be (IMO, legitimately) concerned about Sioux Falls' proximity to Omaha (although Fargo is about as close to the cities).

It may also turn Fargo & Sioux Falls into competitors for the same acts. It seems hard to imagine that, for instance, Bruce Springsteen would schedule dates in -both- Fargo & Sioux Falls.....

[zooropa]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

Would you guys want an arena that is football-friendly?

NO! Football-friendly is irreconcilably unfriendly for everything else!

[zooropa]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

The Arena not walking distance of BWW or even Nutty's North? Huh? Who are you, the half ton man?

Okay, it's not a =pleasant= walk, and it's only two restaurants....

I was at the last St. Pattys day parade in SF and it took me FOREVER to get out of there, and I was parked near Washington Pavilion (5 blocks to 14th st?), so I wasn't even in "deep downtown".

Those events, I think, draw way more than 5-6k to downtown.

Also a MAJOR factor with parades, Automania, etc., is that they close streets for those events, thus totally disrupting normal traffic flow.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

Would you guys want an arena that is football-friendly?

Build it, move the state football championships to Sioux Falls. Move the state basketball here too, all three classes. Put them all on TV. Let them play their 3rd, 5th and 7th place games, but move those games to the old Arena or USF or Augie and/or a high school(s). Show all the semifinal and championship games on TV.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

Furthermore, the Arena isn't really within walking distance of Buffalo Wild Wings, let alone Nutty's North, and aside from the restaurant at the Sheraton, there's not much else there to keep people from leaving -immediately- after a game.


IMO there are reasons not to put the events center downtown, but congestion is not one of them.

The Arena not walking distance of BWW or even Nutty's North? Huh? Who are you, the half ton man?

I have been at the Arena for several events where the Arena was packed and traffic was never a big issue. Heck, after the State-ORU game I was at Rookies 20 minutes after the horn sounded. I was at the last St. Pattys day parade in SF and it took me FOREVER to get out of there, and I was parked near Washington Pavilion (5 blocks to 14th st?), so I wasn't even in "deep downtown". I know when they (tried to) blast the big elevator on 6th street that traffic was a nightmare at that time as well.

I don't care where it goes. I like the north Phiilips idea (the Qwest center in downtown Omaha looks very nice with it's surroundings, and so on) w/ a tunnel from the parking ramp they would have to build accross the street but it seems that would take up some of the best real estate in town to put up a parking ramp and arena. Just build it!!!

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

Actually I wasn't thinking about promoters' thoughts just on parking, but on all the factors involved. It really has been one of the "stakeholders" in the issue that I have not seen any reporting on. I hope if someone does a piece on this that get the perspective of not just concert or sports promoters, but trade show and convention promoters.

[zooropa]

Re: New Sioux Falls events center update...

I don't know if they would have concerns or not, that is why I would like to hear THEIR input.

Well, my inference of 'no problem here' as it relates to promoters is based on their willingness to schedule events at the Qwest and the Wells Fargo.

I mean, I guess they might raise objections about the size of Sioux Falls and a downtown location, but it's not like promoters in general shy away from downtown facilities.