re: Evaluation of the future of the Smoothie King Center begins this month

quote:

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We need to be in reasonable proximity to downtown, the convention center and the casino because we are a visiting fan destination.

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this
again, i want to comapre to nashville
bridgestone is right smack dab downtown...ON broadway (the equivalent of bourbon st in NOLA). you walk out of the arena and immediately on to the strip of bars, restaurants, shopping etc.

SKC isnt exactly that, but close enough. in exchange for being a bit farther out, its literally next door to the football stadium, festival area, three parking garages, a 1500 room hotel with convention space, and two major in/out road arteries. there isnt a better location anywhere. that is it's greatest advantage.

take that 200MM and us half of it to improve the concourses and replace the seats & scoreboards. hire and train competant staff and pay them. fire aramark or whoever the frick does the F&B and subsidize local outlets to open inside (similar to the airport). take the other 100MM and sell the shite out of it for concerts, tractor pulls, etc. and hire permanent event security to patrol the surrounding areas, direct traffic and the like. buy 100 golf carts, hire drivers, and shuttle people (for free) to/from bars/restaurants/casino/the quarter, etc