Why doesn't Cincinnati get much national recognition? (Columbus, Cleveland: house, theater)

[ms12345]

Time marches on and cities in this part of the country have done little re-invent themselves and distinguish themselves on the national stage in the last 100 years. Another mediocre professional sports team is not going to do it. I do like what Indy has done in establishing themselves as a major AAU sports destination however.

I wonder what would happen if nearby cities, Cincinnati, Columbus, Indy, Louisville, could get past their provincial in-fighting and "we're better than you" attitude", and cooperate on a regional basis to promote the region, its unique flavors and character, and its strengths, and move forward this rather small intertwined area of the country.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Well, with Cleveland's revised msa population, it is now comparable to Indy, Cbus and Cinci. Cleveland's CSA is closer to 3.5 million, which is why there are 3 pro league teams. Akron's msa, though adjacent to Cleveland, is not counted any longer with Cleveland. NEO has about 4.5 million to pull from for Cleveland teams.

I posted the kind of the same thing a bit upstream here.

Northeast Ohio collectively is between 4.3-4.5 million people; a decent draw to support 3 pro sports teams.

[motorman]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Northeast Ohio collectively is between 4.3-4.5 million people; a decent draw to support 3 pro sports teams.

Ironically, all these people couldn't even nail the IKEA store that they had so hoped for - just another championship game kissed goodbye... (Cbus-1/Cleve-0)

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by motorman

Ironically, all these people couldn't even nail the IKEA store that they had so hoped for - just another championship game kissed goodbye... (Cbus-1/Cleve-0)

I'm happy that Cincy has IKEA. :-)

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by motorman

Ironically, all these people couldn't even nail the IKEA store that they had so hoped for - just another championship game kissed goodbye... (Cbus-1/Cleve-0)

That's your zinger come back, IKEA? Who cares about IKEA, a soon to be passe retailer anyway. That said, IKEA will open a NEO store, the Brooklyn site didn't work out. Big deal. It's pretty bad when you have to grasp for one-ups because of a friggin' store.

This was all premised on the poster stating the Cleveland is ''blessed'' to have an NBA franchise with its same-size market at Columbus, Cinci, Indy. Trust me, I'd much rather have an NBA franchise than an IKEA store, especially in the case of ''Cinci's IKEA'', in Butler County

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by SWOH

True. Very true.

What gets me is the pervasiveness of the closed-mindedness of people here vs. other comparable cities.

I never hear this kind of hate for inner-city Columbus from Dublin people. Or downtown Indy among Greenwood people, etc.


That's why I blame it on the provincialism. People here don't change. More outside perspective influencing the city/region, from those who have experience with successful urban areas and an active interest in preservation and local culture would be a blessing.

Dayton was like that when I lived there in the 90s. You heard that contempt for the inner city from folks that had either moved to suburbia, or grew up there.

[goofy328]

Culturally, a lot of cities are Midwestern. You can add not just Pittsburgh, but pretty much all of Western Pennsylvania and even throw in Northern New York State in for kicks. Where I'm at now in Virginia feels Midwestern at times. But I'm never ashamed of any of the cities in the region, no matter how good or bad, and I still consider myself to be Midwestern even though I haven't lived there for over 10 years. Midwest, like West Coast, East Coast, South, etc just as much of a mindset as it is a physical location.

Cincinnati is a great city. Sure it has it's neighborhoods and it isn't perfect, but it isn't that bad either. Someone mentioned the highways not going through the city, and where the office parks are located. That actually describes a lot of cities. Only cities I know of where the highway actually goes into the city are Akron, Columbus, Cleveland. Not sure about Toledo or Youngstown though. I think that's a moot point. Going "through" Baltimore I didn't really experience the city either, but I think that people's opinions of that city have nothing to do with whether or not they are forced to drive through neighborhoods, or downtown. Some of the older cities in this country are unavoidable. Think NYC, LA, Chicago, Atlanta. But that is more of a function of how those cities are built and developed. And in NYC, people still think the world of Manhattan, even though they can't drive through it. Are people's impressions of that city jaded because they are forced to drive through the outer boroughs? Is it better to drive through tunnels or do we need to see the city at street level?

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by goofy328

Culturally, a lot of cities are Midwestern. You can add not just Pittsburgh, but pretty much all of Western Pennsylvania and even throw in Northern New York State in for kicks. Where I'm at now in Virginia feels Midwestern at times. But I'm never ashamed of any of the cities in the region, no matter how good or bad, and I still consider myself to be Midwestern even though I haven't lived there for over 10 years. Midwest, like West Coast, East Coast, South, etc just as much of a mindset as it is a physical location.

Cincinnati is a great city. Sure it has it's neighborhoods and it isn't perfect, but it isn't that bad either. Someone mentioned the highways not going through the city, and where the office parks are located. That actually describes a lot of cities. Only cities I know of where the highway actually goes into the city are Akron, Columbus, Cleveland. Not sure about Toledo or Youngstown though. I think that's a moot point. Going "through" Baltimore I didn't really experience the city either, but I think that people's opinions of that city have nothing to do with whether or not they are forced to drive through neighborhoods, or downtown. Some of the older cities in this country are unavoidable. Think NYC, LA, Chicago, Atlanta. But that is more of a function of how those cities are built and developed. And in NYC, people still think the world of Manhattan, even though they can't drive through it. Are people's impressions of that city jaded because they are forced to drive through the outer boroughs? Is it better to drive through tunnels or do we need to see the city at street level?

When you are in love, the whole world is Midwestern. :-)

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by Kamms

That's your zinger come back, IKEA? Who cares about IKEA, a soon to be passe retailer anyway. That said, IKEA will open a NEO store, the Brooklyn site didn't work out. Big deal. It's pretty bad when you have to grasp for one-ups because of a friggin' store.

This was all premised on the poster stating the Cleveland is ''blessed'' to have an NBA franchise with its same-size market at Columbus, Cinci, Indy. Trust me, I'd much rather have an NBA franchise than an IKEA store, especially in the case of ''Cinci's IKEA'', in Butler County

Judging by the growth of IKEA, many people care about the place. What would you prefer to see a chain of Happy Hun Hamburger stands in its place?

Cincy had an NBA team at one time. Don't know the circumstances surrounding their departure. But I would venture a guess that if someone does some marketing studies they can determine if a team can survive in the region. Since college basketball is big in SW OH it may be possible to land a NBA franchise if someone ponies up the money to make significant upgrades to the current arean or build a new one. Will need private money to pull it off since public money for such projects is not available.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by ms12345

Time marches on and cities in this part of the country have done little re-invent themselves and distinguish themselves on the national stage in the last 100 years. Another mediocre professional sports team is not going to do it. I do like what Indy has done in establishing themselves as a major AAU sports destination however.

I wonder what would happen if nearby cities, Cincinnati, Columbus, Indy, Louisville, could get past their provincial in-fighting and "we're better than you" attitude", and cooperate on a regional basis to promote the region, its unique flavors and character, and its strengths, and move forward this rather small intertwined area of the country.

I have thought about this for a long time. Don't forget Dayton and Lexington too. This is geographically and economically a super region....would love to see some collaboration. But with 3 states and a lot of egos, not likely to happen....