Downtown Stadium a dream?

Section 37 · 08-02-2005, 09:04 PM

After all that's been said, a downtown stadium is the best idea. Not fairgrounds, one smack in downtown.

I think the team (Checketts) understands that it is better to wait and do it right than to rush a less than best site and have to live with it FOREVER.

SoccerPrime · 08-04-2005, 06:50 AM

Lesson for Checketts?
http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112313704142030.xml&coll=1

AEG and Metros decide to go it alone and spend $100 million of their own money to build stadium and retain all rights and revenues to new SSS.

Fav line of the article:
George Zoffinger, the sports authority's chief executive, said he was happy the state was not going to invest in the project.
"We certainly have better things to do with our money in this state than put it into sports teams," Zoffinger said. "The credit should go to the county officials who held the line and refused to put the taxpayers at risk. That forced the private sector to step up, which is as it should be."

Aerick · 08-04-2005, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

Lesson for Checketts?
http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112313704142030.xml&coll=1

AEG and Metros decide to go it alone and spend $100 million of their own money to build stadium and retain all rights and revenues to new SSS.

Fav line of the article:
George Zoffinger, the sports authority's chief executive, said he was happy the state was not going to invest in the project.
"We certainly have better things to do with our money in this state than put it into sports teams," Zoffinger said. "The credit should go to the county officials who held the line and refused to put the taxpayers at risk. That forced the private sector to step up, which is as it should be."

While I agree with what he's saying on principle, they guy must have zero vision! This is an OPPORTUNITY for the community it's built in, not a DRAIN on the local economy!

Whatever...

Section 37 · 08-04-2005, 10:39 AM

Aerick, you're absolutely right. It's way worth the money.

Stucki · 08-04-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Section 37

Aerick, you're absolutely right. It's way worth the money.

As long as we don't follow the Franklin Covey model. We can't just sit back and let stuff happen around the stadium. RSL will have to find a partner to start developing the kind of stuff we would want around the stadium, restaurants, sports bars, stuff like that.

I also wonder if now that LHM is involved with the Stingers, he will start to develop the area around the ball park himself.

Deuce · 08-04-2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stucki

I also wonder if now that LHM is involved with the Stingers, he will start to develop the area around the ball park himself.

H e will prolly put twenty car lots around it... like the area needs more car lots...

Rover · 08-04-2005, 10:55 AM

I'm pleased to see AEG step up and take over the NJ project completely. The state will regret not having a piece of it, but if you've got no vision you'll get no reward.

This way, AEG will determine everything about how the stadium is built and run. This is good news for Metro fans and, I'll admit it, good news for all of us who support MLS.

I don't know if Uncle Dave has deep pockets like AEG. I also don't know if leadership in Utah is as blind as their counterparts in NJ clearly are. But my sense is that if Uncle Dave can go it alone, he would be smart to do so. If he can get some help from the state, county, or a city, great.

We now have some very different examples of how to approach funding a soccer stadium. Frisco and Bridgeview have major government help, whereas the HDC, Crew Stadium, and now Harrison do not.

Stucki · 08-04-2005, 12:43 PM

Judging by the interview with Checketts, it sounds like the downtown stadium isn't going to happen. Despite that being his preference, political hostility to Rocky Anderson may kill that possibility.

SoccerPrime · 08-04-2005, 12:48 PM

Really? I thought it sounded like Checketts was resigned to the fact that in order to get it where he wants it, he will have to do it all himself.
I got the impression that he make it happen in downtown.
Funny how we listen to the same thing and got 2 different opinions.
But I think Dave kinda left it open to interpretation.

the cup · 08-07-2005, 08:48 PM

Dang, this view from Pizza Hut Park is pretty cool.

I looked at that and kind of thought about our stadium and what it would look like with the Gateway behind it.

C'mon Dave, we can do it.