While I have said all along (in the Events Center debate) all we need to do is remodel the Arena, the biggest argument against it has been that the Arena is not expandable, or is that the impression the city and new Events Center supporters want us to think?
I was told in the past that the shell is solid, but cannot be deviated for expansion, we could only change the interior.
Is this true? I’m starting to wonder. If possible, could we add another 2,500-3,000 seats to the Arena at a smaller price tag? Not sure, but I do know this;
According to a South DaCola foot soldier, the original contractor designed and built the facility for expansion to the North side. In other words, the North wall could be removed and expanded. We could also easily attach bars and restaurants to the outer edges of the facility and build a parking ramp in the current parking lot.
So my question is this? Why is this all being swept under the rug? Why do we need to build a whole new facility when we can simply remodel, fix acoustics and add seating? Heck, even rename the joint, if it will make you feel better.
Good freaking question.
*If anyone else wants to speak up publicly about this please email me; fb.art@sio.midco.net.
I totally agree with you. It’s worth seriously looking into.
I can’t see spending 100 million dollars to bring in 2 or 3 “big venues” a year. The current arena is large enough for most purposes. If the current Arena is expandable, do that and see if more concerts really do happen.
You know, it occurs to me that the Lifelight site in Worthing has a main stage which is pretty big. Jazz fest has outdoor concerts. If we really need to bring in big show, it seems to me that bands can play outside. What other events are being suggested that need a bigger Arena besides music bands?
Before hearing this yesterday, I was kind of on the fence about remodeling the Arena, but my source is pretty rock solid, and I hope others come forward and back it up.
Why haven’t we seen engineering plans of the Arena? Why hasn’t any engineer come forward and say this is possible?
Politics.
What about this proposal?
Remodel the arena, as you have suggested here. I don’t know how much this might cost, but I’ll guess in the $10-15M range. Nothing earth-shattering, but some more seats, perhaps an exterior redesign, etc.
Take the money that we would have been spending on bond payments (likely $3-4M per year) and put them into an untouchable savings fund for, say, 10 to 15 years. This would give us $30-60M to use to build a new baseball stadium downtown (perhaps at the Sioux Steel site, for example).
Net result: An arena that meets the city’s needs and is up to date, and a nice new entertainment facility downtown that would fit in nicely with the character of the neighborhood. Also, it would be cheaper, most of the costs would be paid in cash (not bonds).
Does anybody know if these dollar amounts are reasonable? Of course, this probably wouldn’t work because most SF citizens wouldn’t really be keen to, you know, SAVE UP for a decade to get something, rather than just build it now and pay it later.
What? You mean it’s still in one piece after the Carrie Underwood concert? I thought it would’ve split a seam.
ooof
how in tarnation did we get carrie underwear over sioux city and fargo with our old arena? isn’t that supposed to be imposible???
I doubt the Arena made much on the concert. I’m sure it had to at least sell-out or come close before they even broke even on the event. And I don’t think it sold out?
Well all want a new Sanford Event Center located in beautiful Sanford Falls… NOT
The Sanford (Events) Center just opened up… in St. Cloud.
http://arenadigest.com/201012063147/hockey/college-hockey/finally-its-the-sanford-center
Expand, attach, ramps, other building — sounds like you want to build another dowtown, just somewhere other to downtown??? 2nd city?? Are you sure you’re not really a comedian??
The typical Arena-level show requires around a 85% capacity to break even…sometimes even up to 90%. This is one of (many) reasons why it’s not a great idea to over-build, as the artist’s guarantee will ensure it’s unprofitable.
There’s a lot of issues with the Arena site to begin with, and as we’ve seen already adding on to the building has been done with little to no net economic impact.
Let’s stop throwing our money away at that location, it’s not been, isn’t now nor ever will be an area that attracts people.
I don’t buy that there’s been “little to no net economic impact” to the additions to the Arena site. The building is being used more than ever. In the 80’s, the facility was closed the vast majority of the calendar year. These days, between the three semi-pro sports teams, conventions, and other events there’s some use almost every night. Just because what is now Nutty’s North has gone through a dozen different names doesn’t mean that people aren’t eating, drinking, or shopping before and after going to Skyforce games or Big Boy Toy Shows. Ok, they’re not shopping AFTER Skyforce games, but you know what I mean.
Can you ride a dead horse?
Scott, you are making my point.
You’ve got Nutty’s and BW3 for your dining and drinking options. You’ve got the Sheraton & Ramada and their respective Hotel restaurants/bars. And that’s it…another $125 million dumped into that site won’t make a difference. Go drive around out there and show me where you would see anything new going in?
Also, there’s a drainage issue out there that’s never been addressed. You pave over half of McCart and you will only make it worse…they will need a large retention pond somewhere out there and that will eat up space. Probably why they are considering buying and razing all those homes along Western.
Also, the Arena is built like a VW bug. It’s a dome with a steel skeleton that holds up the roof. You can’t go north, because that’s the Sheraton, but you could go west. Adding 3000K seats;
A. wouldn’t be enough
B. would make it a very long rectangle since you can’t go up, you wouldn’t gain anything in terms of club seating or improving sight lines. Your seats in the corners would be a long ways from the court, basically worthless.
Haven’t the sports teams said the field for football and the rink for hockey are not regulation size? So, what’s the point?
This is a revelation worth looking into. When an EC comes to a vote I say ‘NO’. When the present arena, Washington Pavilion, and Orpheum theater can show they will be profitable by 2014, maybe yes. Also, I think new sewer infrastructure needs attention before starting another major project.
It’s worth looking at.
No, I didn’t make your point. I was saying that this town is still small enough that people go to their favorite bars and restaurants before heading to the Arena…or go their afterwards. This belief that a new downtown building would suddenly turn all of these people into new consumers is silly. There would be some shifting of spending, and that’s it.
Plus, I am still waiting for any (and I mean any) evidence that we’ve outgrown the Arena, or will anytime soon. One of “country” music’s biggest fluff queens just came to town, and struggled to come close to capacity. There are few acts in that genre that can draw as well as her, and even fewer in rock, pop, and hip-hop (except for the stadium acts like U2 and the Stones that will NEVER play here no matter what we build).
Pam, I believe the latest remodeling fixed the inadequate hockey dimensions. The fake football team was already in compliance, but they’ll be long gone before any building is built.
Incorrect Scott, the ice sheet is still too small.
The remodeling was for ADA compliance and I think it took out some seating, it’s one in a series of $7 million worth of band-aid fixes to the place that are in the CIP budget. Here’s the findings of MSH back in 2007, summarized on pg.38:
http://www.siouxfalls.org/~/media/documents/planning/2007/misc/arena_report/Report_7yr_Capital_Improvements_091307%20pdf.ashx
Again, I will point to Fargo & Sioux City as examples of places that expanded their Event facilities and are reaping the rewards of doing so. Sioux Falls is growing faster than either of them and the new Casino will also be another draw to the area.
“Here we go ’round the event center bush.”
Actually it’s facts that are being presented to back up our information, not the “events center bush.”
Tear it down! tear the convention center down, ball field, the zoo, and the Washington Pavilion too, then sell the land. They are a drain on city’s budget and other resources. If the residents really, really want it, start a company and build from scratch. No public funds, no freebies from the city.
If the city can’t fix its streets how can we expect them to handle an events center or an acre plot for a park?
The typical Arena-level show requires around a 85% capacity to break even…sometimes even up to 90%. This is one of (many) reasons why it’s not a great idea to over-build, as the artist’s guarantee will ensure it’s unprofitable….
…this town is still small enough that people go to their favorite bars and restaurants before heading to the Arena…or go their afterwards. This belief that a new downtown building would suddenly turn all of these people into new consumers is silly. There would be some shifting of spending, and that’s it.
Come on Scott…you’re making too much sense. Here in SD , your rants are seen as clearly those of an obstructionist.
or a blogger.
Scott:
“This belief that a new downtown building would suddenly turn all of these people into new consumers is silly. There would be some shifting of spending, and that’s it”
No one is saying anything sudden or earth shattering will happen, all we are saying is what happened in places like Omaha, Louisville, Wichita, Grand Rapids, Sioux City, Minneapolis, Denver etc. where there was a direct and real impact felt by building a downtown facility will happen here as well. A good chunk of business for our facility will come from people who don’t live in Sioux Falls, so they won’t automatically have a “favorite” bar or restaurant to go to, they will look for what’s close and what fits their needs. Even if you’re naive enough to think Nutty’s and BW3 have that spectrum covered front to back, enough locals go to them that either place fills quickly when a show or game is going on.
Seriously, read the report in the link. $7 million in expenses just to make the Arena suck just a bit less.
It still costs a fortune to heat and cool the place and the roof is about done as well. The Arena needs to take it’s place as a secondary facility for spillover events & conventions. Make it part of an expanded Convention Center and sell naming rights to the place to cover the remodel.
I’m still waiting for that REALISTIC list of events we’re missing.
Disney’s Miley Cyrus on Ice Monster truck Elton John tribute to U2 and Cher.
Screw the next 50 years – let’s build it for the past 50 years! (sarc)
I’m still waiting for that REALISTIC list of events we’re missing.
Rascal Flatts?
OMG, CHER!
hah hah hahaha
I guess if the Mayor makes it mandatory for each citizen to attend at least 10 events per year this could work.
And during those 10 events, they HAVE to shop at Chantell Kreb’s hag lady dress shop…plus spend all your beer money at the only 2 spots in the eastern part of the state that allow smoking.
And when you’re finished with your mandatory cigar purchase, one is expected to go spend a few minutes with good ol’ former mayor dave at the diner.
or you could go to one of the several new places that will go in behind it, maybe we would even be so lucky as to see a spankin’ new Taco Bell?, open late to feed the drunken masses of course.
One of Populus’ designs I believe had a facility with street level retail and shops where the facade blended in with the existing neighborhood, not only do you save space but you create another revenue stream to help pay the facility down.