OFFICIAL - Arena construction

[ShowME]

There second arena is the Cox Center which used to be known as the Myriad. It's right across the parking lot from the new Ford Center. Omaha doesn't deserve any consideration if you ask me. It's location is horrible for most Big 12 schools and the weather sucks.

[ShowME]

Now I do agree there's not much to do in OKC besides Bricktown and it doesn't take long to be done with that. Trust me those Okies absolutely love the casino's here. I remember going to the Amerisports bar the Sunday afternoon after the Big 12 Championship game. OU got there ass handed to them and it was 4:30p on a Sunday and Ameristar was still half OU fans with none of them wanting to leave.

[aknowledgeableperson]

A downtown sports arena at 14th and Grand would be a loser. Sorry, you do not build an arena to have the Big 12 once every three to five years if you are lucky. Don't look for professional basketball or hockey to come here.
The NHL has its problems. Besides the KC marketplace cannot afford an average ticket price of $50 to support a team. When the Blades were here they couldn't even average 4,000 in actual attendance with their low ticket prices, not the announced attendance. And I have 3 questions for NHL 21 about the exhibition game. How many actual tickets were sold? How many tickets were comped? How many people were actually in the stands?
The NBA also has its problems. Besides when was the last time it was mentioned that an NBA team even thought about moving here? Where have the last five teams moved to?

[cdschofield]

With that rationale why don't we send the Royals and Chiefs packing and bulldoze all stadiums, arenas and convention centers and save the metro a lot of money. Even though the Big 12 tournaments generated an estimated $30 million for the Dallas area last year it is just a symbol of other events that Kansas City can't attract because of an inadequate facility. Just 36 days a year of events like the Big 12 can mean the difference between a profitable or unprofitable year for a hotel.

BTW I guess those 79,000 people paying $59 - $80, if not more, for Chiefs tickets is a fluke.

[GRID]

This forum has been invaded by pesimistic kc haters. What's going on?

NHL 21 "sold" nearly 18,000 tickets and I'm sure nearly all of them were sold, not comped. I'm sure if you call them, they might anwser your question though.

I'm not sure KC could support the NHL and I'm not sure KC really needs to get involved with another league that is screwing itself with no real revenue sharing and salary cap.

But, I'm also not sure KC wouldn't support the NHL either. With a new team in a new Downtown arena in a new Downtown period, it would instantly become the place to be in KC's rather boring winter months.

I read on the NHL relocation site that KC is the largest NHL TV rating city without a team and KC has more hockey roots and is much larger than many of the cities that now have NHL like Nashville, Columbus and Carolina.

The Blades did well untill the team sold and they lost affiliation with the Sharks. The Blades were drawing very well for the many years leading up to that point. They were one of the top franchises in the league. Shit happened and the team never recovered.

But the NHL is in deep shit and half the franchises are in trouble. A good AHL team, an AFL team and the Comets would be just fine in a new arena that would also bring in and keep other major events in town.

KC needs an arena, KC needs a downtown ballpark, KC needs a winter sports team and KC needs it's residents to stop bashing KC and help make things like NHL or whatever happen.

[WILDCAT NATION]

I think Denver will end up with the Tourney, and if they do..>I'm there...

That would be a blast...A developed DT, a nice arena, etc.....

[KCPowercat]

too bad nobody else will be.....location will kill Denver I think.

[WILDCAT NATION]

Really think so? It's pretty easy to get to Denver for pretty much everyone in the Big 12...KC to Denver is cheap, as is Austin to Denver, Houston to Denver, and Dallas to Denver..

I'm still in shock of how empty that arena was last night for Misery...That was pathetic...

My biggest fear is it going to San Antonio or Houston, or Worse...St. Louis...That would SUCK.

[KCK]

Ok ShowMe, this isn't the OKC forums, these are the KC forums. I don't want the Big 12 in OKC over KC no matter what. I don't care what they have going on there, I want my city to thrive. Let's fight for it or at least fight for something. We spend so much time talking about an issue, that it becomes a non-issue before we are finished discussing it. What happened to the FFA, the NCAA tournament, hell even the Big 12 tournament now. We also lost our hockey team, our basketball team, almost everything that made Kansas City so great.

Now we sit here and if we don't get moving Kansas City will be smaller and less important than Oklahoma City, or Omaha. It's happened before, in 1950 St. Louis had 1.7 million in the metro area, and Atlanta had 775,000. This is about the same difference between Kansas City and Omaha today. By 1996, Atlanta had 3.5 million to St. Louis with 2.5 million. Basically St. Louis is less important now than it was then. I don't want this to happen to Kansas City. One day 50 years from now, we have to visit Omaha to get a taste of a really big city.

That would suck.

[KC_JAYHAWK]

Omaha will never be bigger than KC. They don't have the jobs or resources to cause a huge influx of people over several decades. The reason Atlanta and all the other sun belt cities (Dallas/Houston/Phoenix, etc.) boomed in the last 3 decades is because of a shift in demographics. This in essence created a ton of new jobs and more people located to those regions in huge numbers.

I'd be happy if KC continued to grow at a rate of 10-12% year over year. Although, it might be lower than the nationwide average, it is still strong growth nonetheless. Having more people doesn't necessarily equate to a thriving, exciting city. Just look at Phoenix as an example. That city is nothing but sprawl and shopping centers....although there are some HOT chickies down there

[KCN]

I agree. We could grow at 200% but if it wasn't done smart we'd be nothing but a sprawled out mess (which in some ways we already are). 12% is a very healthy growth rate, especially for the Midwest. KC is one of the few older cities w/ a historic urban core that is growing at near-sunbelt paces. A lot of cities around the country are either old, soulful and not growing....or new, bland and growing rapidly. We're lucky to be a happy medium.

[kansasfarmboy]

How about NO big 12 here at all after next year ? Distinct PROBABILITY not possibility..

Bi state HAH... Not gonna get any support there.

Maybe johnson county will build something

How they continue to screw up getting a new arena is just baffling..

Would sure as hell be fun to be enjoying the Big 12 Tourney this weekend without driving 8 hours...

Maybe they will just build one in KCK?

[trailerkid]

Get a grip...

1. The Big XXII is salivating at the idea of KC building a new arena. KC is a better location and holds many more bastekball fans(Big XXII) than OKC and Dallas combined. We also have more educated savvy fans. In OKC and Dallas they are going to these tournaments for entertainment...here it is a lifestyle or even religion. Do any of you honestly think the Big XXII likes showing games (like last night) on ESPN where there are only 1/9 of the seats filled? That is what will happen in Dallas, OKC or Omaha. We don't have the right arena, but it hurts the Big XXII too.

2. As GRID mentioned...there is an organized group that is intent on bringing NHL to KC and have sold out numerous exhibitions. This is a dumb idea because NHL is not stable and because even if we have more hockey fans than Nashville, it might not matter because NHL's product is messed up.

3. Yes, we need a new arena. But do you think there is any way in hell of making it happen publicly when you show the city crumbling around us? Look at the bridges, roads, zoo, streetscape, corruption in city offices, etc. People will not support public money for a new arena unless it is some sort of "vision KC" tax where we plan an arena in addition to other visionary projects. An arena, by itself, is a non-issue in KC. If Jo Co or anybody else wanted to build a major arena...you would be hearing about it. There is a reason they are developing a 7.000 seat arena-- a large arena, for one reason or another, is NOT FEASIBLE.

[trailerkid]

On Whitlock, he had Eddie Sutton and the Big XXII commissioner and he PRESSED them on the issue of a new arena in KC. Sutton called for a new arena in KC also saying that Dallas did a better job this year than last (great compliment ).

The commissioner called KC a "fantastic" host for the tournament and characterized Dallas' effort as "O.K." He also said that the Big XXII would love to see a new arena in KC. Whitlock mentioned that KC "supports the hell out of its sports" and it is better for the Big XXII in KC because they are a big fish in a small pond.

[kansasfarmboy]

I agree with ALMOST every one of your points!!! so ill leave that at that.

the only one I slightly disagree with you on is NHL or any form of hockey. I dont mean kids hockey but IHL or better.

I was around when the Redwings were here as well as the KC KINGS basketball.

What I seen at that time, was an outlet to get the people out of their homes in the winter, for inexpensive family entertainment.

Now what i see most people doing during the winter is waiting at home all week until a tailgaiting session comes along so they wait from sunday to sunday. Now NHL and NBA doesnt answer or address all the issues but it does get people out , getting people to come out is half the battle once out they spend to park, and look around, buy things.

My point expressed

Get a grip...

1. The Big XXII is salivating at the idea of KC building a new arena. KC is a better location and holds many more bastekball fans(Big XXII) than OKC and Dallas combined. We also have more educated savvy fans. In OKC and Dallas they are going to these tournaments for entertainment...here it is a lifestyle or even religion. Do any of you honestly think the Big XXII likes showing games (like last night) on ESPN where there are only 1/9 of the seats filled? That is what will happen in Dallas, OKC or Omaha. We don't have the right arena, but it hurts the Big XXII too.

2. As GRID mentioned...there is an organized group that is intent on bringing NHL to KC and have sold out numerous exhibitions. This is a dumb idea because NHL is not stable and because even if we have more hockey fans than Nashville, it might not matter because NHL's product is messed up.

3. Yes, we need a new arena. But do you think there is any way in hell of making it happen publicly when you show the city crumbling around us? Look at the bridges, roads, zoo, streetscape, corruption in city offices, etc. People will not support public money for a new arena unless it is some sort of "vision KC" tax where we plan an arena in addition to other visionary projects. An arena, by itself, is a non-issue in KC. If Jo Co or anybody else wanted to build a major arena...you would be hearing about it. There is a reason they are developing a 7.000 seat arena-- a large arena, for one reason or another, is NOT FEASIBLE.

[trailerkid]

But when we look at NHL or NBA...it will not be inexpensive. I know the Spurs sell nosebleed tickets for cheap, but could we do that here too?

As for getting people out of the house...most of KC is consumed with KU/MU after Chiefs season and now Royals season as March winds down. But I do believe the only way to really sell the arena is the vision of a new franchise (NHL or NBA) and then the solution for the Big XXII basketball dilemma. Why not build an arena that has expandable seats (35,000+) so that we could host a Final Four? A Final Four in KC Live !....electric!

[KCPowercat]

final four is probably unrealistic...they always go to domed football sized stadiums anymore.

[trailerkid]

Why would you want a concrete domed football stadium when you could have:
The biggest city in the center of America
An arena designed for basketball play that could max out at 40,000 seats
An arena located in the heart of an exciting retail/entertainment/corporate district
An arena that houses the sleek new HQ of the NCAA (the icing on the arena's cake)

[KCPowercat]

I'm not sure how you could make an arena expandable to 35k-40k when you usually just want an arena hovering right under 20k but hey, if it can be done, then a final four could happen I guess.

[phxcat]

The reason the NCAA will pick a concrete dome over a place with atmosphere is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$- that is all they really care about. Some idiot from Indy on SSP was celebrating how great it was that the NCAA was returning to their roots or somthing by giving Indy the final four once every five years. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ It will be held in the dome $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ in the home city (chosen by the largest bribe) of the NCAA $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I kindo f think that this may be the time to buy in to the NHL. It is like a stock- by cheep, when relocations are available (and they are available) and hope that the NHL fixes itself before we lose them. Of course, if the NHL never gets fixed and we lost the team, our repuation will be marred forever.