Sprint Center's necessity?

[KC-wildcat]

I am not sure anybody disagrees with what you guys are saying....

AKP appears to be. 

[KCPowercat]

Sorry, I implied logical, non-trolls

[aknowledgeableperson]

What I'm wondering is why it matters that it takes up 50 dates on the calender since there seem to be more than 50 open dates on the calender for a sports team to occupy, including several lucrative weekend dates. I realize this gives them less leeway ("abundance of options"), but I have a hard time seeing it cost us several concerts. Its not THAT many dates, and the calendar isn't THAT packed right now. And like I said, there are other arenas around the country that somehow host NBA teams AND compete for concerts.

Not sure of the timing now but the 50 dates mentioned are the number dates the building gives the team to submit to the league to form the schedule.  We use to give those dates around April for the following season.  And those dates are tied up until the schedule is released.  It is during that time of giving and before release that many concert tours are shaping up.  And as TL said the arena also holds many dates for possible playoff games.  Therefore if the dates are not available when a concert tour is forming a building loses out on a booking.

[KCMax]

Not sure of the timing now but the 50 dates mentioned are the number dates the building gives the team to submit to the league to form the schedule.  We use to give those dates around April for the following season.  And those dates are tied up until the schedule is released.  It is during that time of giving and before release that many concert tours are shaping up.  And as TL said the arena also holds many dates for possible playoff games.  Therefore if the dates are not available when a concert tour is forming a building loses out on a booking.

And as stated before, many times bookers can be flexible. Most tours aren't going to skip a city because a particular Tuesday is not available. They work around it. How do other arenas deal with this? Is Cleveland losing a ton of concerts because of the Cavs? OKC is losing concerts because of the Thunder?

[KC-wildcat]

Not sure of the timing now but the 50 dates mentioned are the number dates the building gives the team to submit to the league to form the schedule.  We use to give those dates around April for the following season.  And those dates are tied up until the schedule is released.  It is during that time of giving and before release that many concert tours are shaping up.  And as TL said the arena also holds many dates for possible playoff games.  Therefore if the dates are not available when a concert tour is forming a building loses out on a booking.

How many touring events book Kansas City and skip Omaha (creighton), Denver (nuggets and avalanche, Dallas (mavericks and stars), STL (blues), and/or OKC (thunder)?  

A handful.  Maybe 4-5?  Maybe?  

[NDTeve]

Rather have Sprint Center lose a couple of concerts and get an amphitheater near the River.

[trailerkid]

Rather have Sprint Center lose a couple of concerts and get an amphitheater near the River.

Starlight > Live Nation venue.

[aknowledgeableperson]

And as stated before, many times bookers can be flexible. Most tours aren't going to skip a city because a particular Tuesday is not available. They work around it. How do other arenas deal with this? Is Cleveland losing a ton of concerts because of the Cavs? OKC is losing concerts because of the Thunder?

I guess you have never taken calls from promoters wishing to book concerts.  I have.  To a certain extent there is some flexibility and to a certain extent there isn't.  In the past I have also been involved in the selection of the so-called 50 dates given to teams for their schedules - you have to take into account what bookings you already have plus the dates for the annual shows (some might be on multi-year contracts).  If an act definitely wants to play KC or a promoter wants to book KC then it becomes easy - other cities in the area are booked around KC.  But if an act or a promoter really doesn't care if it is booked in KC, Omaha, De Moines, Tulsa, OKC, etc. and is just in the Midwest for 2 shows then the buildings with the open dates gets the booking.  Yes, the SC might be a great facility but the KC market is still 2nd or 3rd tier when it comes to concerts - that could be one reason for the Monday through Thursday bookings instead of the weekends.
In the 70's and 80's KC did have an advantage over other cities in the region since it had the biggest arena but now many of the region's cities have similiar seating capacities.  At the same time people in Des Moines travel to KC for a concert and I would imagine that the reverse is true (or to/from Omaha or Tulsa).

To answer your question, yes, those cities are probably losing some concerts because of their pro sport teams.  Hoiw many, hard to say.  But I would have to side with TL when he says:
Now, the arena has an abundance of options to offer concert promoters.

He also said:
?There?s a lot going on with both the NBA and NHL ? I think it?s best for us now to stay focused on keeping this a great arena, and the leagues will sort themselves out over the next two years, and when the time comes, we?ll seize the opportunity.?
And given what I heard yesterday that sheds some light on his statement.  Evidently a rich Russian has offered to buy an 80% share of the NBA Nets.  As part of the story the reporter stated that around half of the NBA and NHL teams are up for sale, might not all be announced but unofficially waiting for offers.  There are also expectations that other non-American billionaires might be shopping for sport teams to feed their ego.

[KCMax]

Kemper Arena to soak up much of Sprint Center profit for KC

Oscar McGaskey, convention and entertainment center director, told a City Council committee this week that this year's projected deficit at Kemper and the American Royal Complex is about $1.4 million. Sprint Center revenues probably will cover that.

[KCMax]

Head of AEG dismisses criticism from Cordish

The president of the Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group dismissed criticism leveled by Baltimore-based Cordish Co. that the new arena was a "disaster" because it had not landed an NHL or NBA franchise. David Cordish made that charge last year in an e-mail to City Hall that was leaked and complaints have continued, albeit below the radar.

With the Sprint Center anticipating the handover of $1.8 million to the city through a profit-sharing agreement and the Kansas City Power & Light District underperforming financially, Leiweke tossed a stone right back from his 18,000-seat glass house across Grand Boulevard.

"The Power & Light District was committed to before the Sprint Center was a reality," Leiweke said. "For them to use us as a crutch is a crock. Don't worry about us. Get your district fully open."

[DaveKCMO]

developer brawl! who will win?!?!?!

[KCKev]

developer brawl! who will win?!?!?!

Main Event at Sprint Center. Winner take ALL Responsibility. 

[loftguy]

I realize that it's probably a pretty low rent side of me that's coming out, but I'm really enjoying the bitch slapping that these guys are trading.

[beautyfromashes]

This is actually just exactly what we need.  Two big developers motivating each other to do their parts.  The development game is not a little about ego.  Let them battle it out to see who can be the biggest player on the block.

[justin8216]

I think the new AT&T Center has been a huge success and a boon for downtown.

[KCPowercat]

I think the new AT&T Center has been a huge success and a boon for downtown.

quit trolling