Is it Time to Implode the Tacoma Dome? (Seattle, Spokane: sales, lease)

[beenhereandthere]

The arena momentum seems to be worse ever since Murray got elected.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

Well then, does Tacoma have any Chris Hansen-Steven Ballmer-Paul Allen types that would be willing to invest in it big-time? I mean, Tacoma has no Sonics or big-league hockey team (as Seattle does also not currently have), but, what does it have that would warrant such an enterprise?

It would simply be a more expensive white elephant that would lose money from the day it opened. No private investor would touch it with a ten-foot pole. KeyArena in Seattle, depending on the WNBA, minor league hockey, Seattle U basketball, Rat City Rollergirls, and concerts, is profitable, but is also looking rather threadbare, dilapidated, and antiquated.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by beenhereandthere

The Puyallup Tribe should buy it and go for an NHL or NBA team. Hansen is finding out that the Seattle City Council are just a bunch of morons who are dragging him through the ringer.
While the corporate support could be a slight concern if a NBA and/or NHL team, was in Tacoma instead of Bellevue or Seattle (don't know if they would be thrilled about going to games during the week on a drive that would take 1.5 hours during rush hour), 60-65% of the Metro Area lives South of Downtown Seattle and if you just go by 45 minutes from Tacoma alone, that's more people than towns like Nashville, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee.

It wouldn't work. They are locating many of these NBA and NHL teams out in the suburbs (or in this case a 2nd city). The problem isn't the population, but the type of people you get. The Single families dont pay to go to games Monday-Friday. Those type of people live closer the the city center and non of them would want to drive 40 minutes out of there way to watch a Sonics Team that's not even in Seattle. I just think teams like that lack alot of luster, it's an experience when you get to go Downtown for the game. San Francisco is moving their arena right on the San Francisco waterfront. Location means everything. I don't think people would be happy if the team ended up playing in Tacoma or Bellevue.

With that said, Tacoma has the ability to get it's own acts. For Medium sized cities it's important for them to own their own stadium. Cities have alot of power and can find ways to influence someone like UPS into pushing to go Division-I. They have the money and capability, I just dont think they have had a reason yet.

[elkotronics]

So Chris Hansen's plan was spot-on ta get SAC Kings to SEA. A brand new basketball stadium would need built. At no taxpayer expense, too, right CrazyDonkey? For the Hansen stadium?

[beenhereandthere]

Partially Tax payer expense upfront, paid back, with ticket sales, at the events once the arena opened.

[elkotronics]

beenhereandthere - are you talkin' about the Chris Hansen Seattle Sonic stadium in your post above? Doesn't sound like his original ininiative but then again I need ta edumacate myself on that deal some more.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

So Chris Hansen's plan was spot-on ta get SAC Kings to SEA. A brand new basketball stadium would need built. At no taxpayer expense, too, right CrazyDonkey? For the Hansen stadium?

Doesn't really make economic sense without both the NBA and NHL as tenants. Note that new Tacoma arena would have neither, plus would be competing with both the new Sodo arena (if/when it gets built) and KeyArena for major touring concerts.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Doesn't really make economic sense without both the NBA and NHL as tenants. Note that new Tacoma arena would have neither, plus would be competing with both the new Sodo arena (if/when it gets built) and KeyArena for major touring concerts.

Tacoma arena would not be built in mind of the NBA or NHL but instead College Basketball, minor league hockey, and concerts. It would most likely be significantly cheaper then a Seattle arena and it would compete for different things. There is alot of events now a days that arena can explore besides NBA. Video Game competitions are on the rise and make some serious cash, EDM concerts/raves, Specialty sports championships. Cities need to make investments. Alot of you think im talking about some spectacular arena that has flash and thrills that has some misguided dream to be a prosports haven, but it should be a mid sized multi purpose arena that ranges from modest events, to Collegiate Sports, to concerts, to those Not so often type of events. It could also serve a a 2nd phase to the growth of downtown in Tacoma. Get more people frequently down there. The Location of the T-Dome right now separates it from the city center. Using land in or adjacent to Downtown could really have a positive effect. Most restaurants and bars, hotels and Condos, and people just walking around town. It could be the rejuvenation the downtown needs

I think a potentially location can be where the train yards, Saw Mills, and Chemical industries are. Pushing those industries out (With keeping the port at full strength) would do a service for the current image the downtown carries.

[CrazyDonkey]

KeyArena is able to be profitable because most of its outstanding debt was paid off as part of the Sonics settlement. Even so, it might not continue to be profitable if a new Sodo arena steals away the headliner attractions. There's been discussions of downsizing the Key to make it more more amenable to attractions that are too small for a new Sodo arena, but too big for the Showbox.

If UPS were to go Div I, why wouldn't they just build a new on-campus arena? Memorial Fieldhouse dates back almost to WWII.

[beenhereandthere]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

beenhereandthere - are you talkin' about the Chris Hansen Seattle Sonic stadium in your post above? Doesn't sound like his original ininiative but then again I need ta edumacate myself on that deal some more.

Yes.