OFFICIAL - Arena construction

[Anthony]

The KU dopes want an arena here so they don't have to drive/fly so far.
If we do build a stadium here, we need to toll booth I-35 north into the city and tax the morons out of thier skull.

Actually there is a toll road from Lawrence coming into Kansas City on I-70.

[aknowledgeableperson]

So are you insulting me because maybe I do know more than you? Are are you just frustrated?

Wasn't trying to insult you. I guess frustration would be a good term. People that never offer solutions and just shoot holes in everything frustrate me. It's not like that was a real budget for the arena, just something I threw together....I think you took it a little too seriously.

If you would look at one of my past notes you will find that the solution I proposed was to have it with Bistate II. That way it becomes an area solution instead of just a burden on Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City just can not do it alone.

[KC_JAYHAWK]

Something interesting I thought I would mention. Went to lunch yesterday with my team (Sprint) and we were talking about the NCAA and Kemper. But the interesting thing I discovered was that everybody supported a new arena and didn't understand why the new arena wasn't on a Bi-State II initiative. You have to understand, everyone of these people live in JoCo and some as far south as 151st street and they all wanted to see a new arena built in downtown KC and they were willing to support it through a tax increase. I realize this is a small portion of residents (there were 10 of us), but I think this is a positive sign. They also were very supportive of the Chiefs and Royals and wanted to see the stadiums updated, but none of them mentioned Johnson County getting something out of the bi-state because they viewed the metro area as a whole and didn't really care what side of the state line these projects were on. If we can just put aside the politics and state line issues, there is no reason KC cannot pull this off. We have a million more residents than OKC, and they approved a 1% tax increase. Most residents in KC realize a .25% tax increase is nothing and they would fully support it if the constituents would just put a solid plan together.

[aknowledgeableperson]

I couldn't agree more with the Jayhawk (I'll forgive him for being a KU fan - good luck in the NCAA). This is an area wide responsiblity along with the Royals and Chiefs. All of the cities mentioned in a previous note concerning new arenas in the midwest have something that Kansas City, Missouri does not have. Kansas City, Missouri does not have a completely dominate position in the area. Because of the growth in Johnson County it may not be long before it has more population and wealth than Kansas City. The exception to this may be St. Louis and I believe their new arena was build primarily with private funds - not public which will be the case here.

[KCDevin]

oh yea, i've already mentioned it, but some team called the Hawks (maybe Atlanta) said they will come to KC if we build a new arena.
Besides, we don't have to tear Kemper down, keep it for things like American Royal.

[scooterj]

Sorry if his was already mentioned and I missed it. KCTV is reporting frustrating information.

http://www.kctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1724546

[KCDevin]

who says OP or Olathe's arena will stop us from building ours? They can't ever get NBA or NHL. They won't be able to stop us. Besides, its a 4,000 seat arena vs a near 20,000 seat arena in downtown KC.
And apparently they haven't read this:

Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes said she did not think Overland Park's arena plans would interfere with Kansas City's plans for a new downtown arena. Kevin Gray, president of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, said the new Overland Park initiative would not hinder efforts to build a new arena in downtown Kansas City

from the Kansas City Star...

They also don't recognize that we will have one of the nation's top sports architectural firms downtown.

[KCforumer]

Inbreeding is more likely in Missouri.

[KC0KEK]

who says OP or Olathe's arena will stop us from building ours? They can't ever get NBA or NHL. They won't be able to stop us. Besides, its a 4,000 seat arena vs a near 20,000 seat arena in downtown KC.
And apparently they haven't read this:

Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes said she did not think Overland Park's arena plans would interfere with Kansas City's plans for a new downtown arena. Kevin Gray, president of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, said the new Overland Park initiative would not hinder efforts to build a new arena in downtown Kansas City

This is a small market, so it can support only so many facilities. Barnes and Gray are just putting on a brave face because they know that a groundbreaking in the suburbs would be a major setback for their plans.

They also don't recognize that we will have one of the nation's top sports architectural firms downtown.

You're right. They don't -- because it's a non-factor. If it were, we'd have a downtown arena and stadium by now. That should tell you something: Money is the deciding factor.

[aknowledgeableperson]

No small arena (less than 10,000 seats) would complete with either Kemper or a new downtown arena. They would be geared to different events. Much like the Overland Park Convention Center does not really hinder the operation of Bartle Hall. True, some events may go to the smaller place but overall the effect is minimal. The smaller building may be a good place for minor league hockey and the Comets because Kemper does lose some large events because there happens to be a Comets game that has 1,500 people in the stands.

[KC0KEK]

They'll compete for disposable income just like the casinos compete with, say, the Royals.

[GRID]

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/spo ... etail.html

[LyRiCaL GanGsTa]

[QueSi2Opie]

OK.... only a complete freakin' moron wouldn't want a new arena to be in downtown. I bet you everyone that voted for a new arena, but "not downtown" was from ignorant-ass Johnson Cty KS. Those wipes would want it put it at Metcalf & 435 next to that icon of "cultural Chernoble" - American Bandstand.

I dunno, I was browsing a KC Chatroom on AOL and the topic came up. There was one guy from Lee's Summit that wanted an arena near the Sports Complex to "make it complete", another guy from the eastside of KCMO that wanted an arena in Berkley Riverfront Park, and another guy from Grandview that wanted an arena in Swope Park. But yes, there was one dope from Shawnee that wanted an arena near the Speedway. Everyone else, in Kansas and Missouri, said it would be cool to have an arena in downtown.

[mean]

Wonder what the result would have been if the question was worded, "Should a new arena be built in downtown KC if it means raising taxes?"

[LyRiCaL GanGsTa]

What do you guys think? Wouldn't a new arena in Berkeley Riverfront Park have the same location effect as Kemper in the West Bottoms? I think it would, people would come 'just before' an event and leave 'just after'. Also, if light rail is ever built, I think any new projects we undertake should be planned for where the light rail would serve best.

[KCPowercat]

agreed....an arena at the riverfront would be exactly the same as the west bottoms....

[kansasfarmboy]

agreed....an arena at the riverfront would be exactly the same as the west bottoms....

read this!

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... gg|larry|Y


Now if ANYTHING is to be built it will be 10 years in the offing , AND will not be an arena, so this thread should be LOCKED!!!

[KCPowercat]

quote the line that says an arena will not be built, I can't find it. Thanks

[kansasfarmboy]

quote the line that says an arena will not be built, I can't find it. Thanks

“We need a decision on what it is we want to support in the community,â€