First, while I am a huge proponent of downtown development, I am skeptical that a downtown arena--without an anchor team--could survive. Unfortunately, I'm inclined to think the downtown arena ship already passed
That said, unlike the uninspiring mentality of every single person who commented above, I am at least willing to consider such an idea. The comments from the above individuals perfectly illustrate why people of my generation (Gen X) and Millenials left this town in droves. The "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality is about as inspiring as a professor of classic literature lecturing in monotone. Well, I'm here to tell you that it is broke. If your young people are leaving your city, it's broke.
The Tincaps' stadium, and subsequent surrounding development, has gone a long way towards keeping young people here, and it has been successful economically--an example of the demand for downtown development.
I find concerns about parking almost laughable. If that was a real issue, then Tincaps games would not regularly sell to capacity. On top of that, here's an idea: park a few blocks away and...wait for it...walk. Part of the allure of a vibrant downtown is that one can leave the car behind and walk: walk to a restaurant, walk to the game, then walk somewhere afterwards. Having to drive everywhere is a hassle, and in more recent years, expensive.
My final thought is that rather than spending $40 million to $60 million on an un-anchored downtown arena, put that money toward an already-popular plan--riverfront development.
Angelica - 9 years ago
I think the if they want to build an arena they should do in South Town. There is nothing in the open fields and abandoned buildings. That area is really starting to look run down and miserable. Traffic out north and west is horrible. There is hardly any parking downtown. They should invest in the South Side of town. There is so much space and land waiting to built on. No arena downtown.
R Linda - 9 years ago
Too much is already downtown right now. Parking isn't great. Handicap people would like to attend functions also, but yet they have a difficult time getting to different functions. Use funds on South Side of town. There are more than plenty of areas that can be used to build and buildings to be renovated on the South Side. Get it together people. It's so congested in other areas of town(North, East, and West) that it is absolutely ridiculous. Definitely wasting tax payers money. You keep upgrading all areas of town. Start putting our taxes on the South Side! After all, the South Side of town pay taxes also!
LeShay M - 9 years ago
Derby Girls and Mad Ants should be ashamed of themselves for being so selfish. "Hey kids, you don't have transportation to school and you now have to walk a mile to get there and there are no programs to keep you positive during the summer due to budget cuts, but hey we have a new arena that will shield the fact that our crowds are small and don't bring in enough money to pay the bills let alone give back to the community. We all should be happy right?" That is sick. They wouldn't feel so small at the Coliseum if they would get out and get more fans. They should keep renting space, because their crowd isn't large enough to have a facility of its own. Kids are who is going to take care of us when we are old. How will they do that effectively if the funding for their education is the only thing that constantly keeps getting cut. Why didn't they cut the cops take home cars program and add the cops pay for their own gas program? Or maybe they should add the if you want to drive a 2015 Tahoe or Charger for the city you have to pay the car note on it program. Even better bring jobs by getting the crown vics back and employing massive amounts of auto mechanics? I drive a minivan that I paid for in full with my own money. If I can't afford to have a 2015 Tahoe or Charger, why should I be paying for someone else to have one to ride their families around in and get free gas at the expense of tax payers. Building up a city starts with building up the occupants. The city is only as good as its worst side of town. So you can build build build, but the city will still get an F because of the area that is neglected the most. Just curious, if they want to know what the people want, why do they ask some off brand person that is not even from here what they think we need? Why don't they have a vote? They vote on everything else.
Scott - 9 years ago
Who is going to pay for this? Where are the examples of events that will fill it? This could take money from the coliseum making it unprofitable and then the tax payers will have to foot that bill also.
Phil - 9 years ago
I agree 100% with jim C above. Stop wasting tax dollars and moving restaurants yet AGAIN!
pam kneller - 9 years ago
The Southeast part of the city wants more investment--then put the arena there--The mayor has offered a free lot for investment-- We already have the coliseum on the north side of town--the Tin Caps downtown--put the arena at south town--
liz crawford - 9 years ago
a big waste of tax money, the coliseum is just fine, and then think about the parking,,, the downtown is growing way too fast, now please concentrate more to building ,bringing business to the south part of town,, say , the empty , old buildings where the old target or k-mart stores were ,, please do something there,,, then we can talk
Jim C - 9 years ago
There was nothing wrong with the previous ball diamond that was at the Coliseum, no, got to spend the tax payers dollars and build another downtown. Had to spend the tax dollars for a big elaborate bridge going into downtown, could've just updated old one. Then spend the money on the fancy parking garage that we don't need. Now they want to spend more money on an arena that we don't need ?
I don't agree !
There are other things we need, education money, school bus service for our school kids next year, city sewer/water upgrades. These are just a few things that money needs spent on.
All these other things are just for some rich people to get richer. Fort Wayne officials seem to waste a lot of peoples tax dollars !
sharon criswell - 9 years ago
Build the infrastructure before building anymore buildings. Streets, water, and sewers should come before any new builds.
JOE PLATTNER - 9 years ago
WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE GOING TO PARK,WHEN THERE IS A BALL GAME GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME ?
First, while I am a huge proponent of downtown development, I am skeptical that a downtown arena--without an anchor team--could survive. Unfortunately, I'm inclined to think the downtown arena ship already passed
That said, unlike the uninspiring mentality of every single person who commented above, I am at least willing to consider such an idea. The comments from the above individuals perfectly illustrate why people of my generation (Gen X) and Millenials left this town in droves. The "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality is about as inspiring as a professor of classic literature lecturing in monotone. Well, I'm here to tell you that it is broke. If your young people are leaving your city, it's broke.
The Tincaps' stadium, and subsequent surrounding development, has gone a long way towards keeping young people here, and it has been successful economically--an example of the demand for downtown development.
I find concerns about parking almost laughable. If that was a real issue, then Tincaps games would not regularly sell to capacity. On top of that, here's an idea: park a few blocks away and...wait for it...walk. Part of the allure of a vibrant downtown is that one can leave the car behind and walk: walk to a restaurant, walk to the game, then walk somewhere afterwards. Having to drive everywhere is a hassle, and in more recent years, expensive.
My final thought is that rather than spending $40 million to $60 million on an un-anchored downtown arena, put that money toward an already-popular plan--riverfront development.
I think the if they want to build an arena they should do in South Town. There is nothing in the open fields and abandoned buildings. That area is really starting to look run down and miserable. Traffic out north and west is horrible. There is hardly any parking downtown. They should invest in the South Side of town. There is so much space and land waiting to built on. No arena downtown.
Too much is already downtown right now. Parking isn't great. Handicap people would like to attend functions also, but yet they have a difficult time getting to different functions. Use funds on South Side of town. There are more than plenty of areas that can be used to build and buildings to be renovated on the South Side. Get it together people. It's so congested in other areas of town(North, East, and West) that it is absolutely ridiculous. Definitely wasting tax payers money. You keep upgrading all areas of town. Start putting our taxes on the South Side! After all, the South Side of town pay taxes also!
Derby Girls and Mad Ants should be ashamed of themselves for being so selfish. "Hey kids, you don't have transportation to school and you now have to walk a mile to get there and there are no programs to keep you positive during the summer due to budget cuts, but hey we have a new arena that will shield the fact that our crowds are small and don't bring in enough money to pay the bills let alone give back to the community. We all should be happy right?" That is sick. They wouldn't feel so small at the Coliseum if they would get out and get more fans. They should keep renting space, because their crowd isn't large enough to have a facility of its own. Kids are who is going to take care of us when we are old. How will they do that effectively if the funding for their education is the only thing that constantly keeps getting cut. Why didn't they cut the cops take home cars program and add the cops pay for their own gas program? Or maybe they should add the if you want to drive a 2015 Tahoe or Charger for the city you have to pay the car note on it program. Even better bring jobs by getting the crown vics back and employing massive amounts of auto mechanics? I drive a minivan that I paid for in full with my own money. If I can't afford to have a 2015 Tahoe or Charger, why should I be paying for someone else to have one to ride their families around in and get free gas at the expense of tax payers. Building up a city starts with building up the occupants. The city is only as good as its worst side of town. So you can build build build, but the city will still get an F because of the area that is neglected the most. Just curious, if they want to know what the people want, why do they ask some off brand person that is not even from here what they think we need? Why don't they have a vote? They vote on everything else.
Who is going to pay for this? Where are the examples of events that will fill it? This could take money from the coliseum making it unprofitable and then the tax payers will have to foot that bill also.
I agree 100% with jim C above. Stop wasting tax dollars and moving restaurants yet AGAIN!
The Southeast part of the city wants more investment--then put the arena there--The mayor has offered a free lot for investment-- We already have the coliseum on the north side of town--the Tin Caps downtown--put the arena at south town--
a big waste of tax money, the coliseum is just fine, and then think about the parking,,, the downtown is growing way too fast, now please concentrate more to building ,bringing business to the south part of town,, say , the empty , old buildings where the old target or k-mart stores were ,, please do something there,,, then we can talk
There was nothing wrong with the previous ball diamond that was at the Coliseum, no, got to spend the tax payers dollars and build another downtown. Had to spend the tax dollars for a big elaborate bridge going into downtown, could've just updated old one. Then spend the money on the fancy parking garage that we don't need. Now they want to spend more money on an arena that we don't need ?
I don't agree !
There are other things we need, education money, school bus service for our school kids next year, city sewer/water upgrades. These are just a few things that money needs spent on.
All these other things are just for some rich people to get richer. Fort Wayne officials seem to waste a lot of peoples tax dollars !
Build the infrastructure before building anymore buildings. Streets, water, and sewers should come before any new builds.
WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE GOING TO PARK,WHEN THERE IS A BALL GAME GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME ?
a waste of tax money we already have the coliseum