What Ever Happened To The Arena? (El Paso, Wheeler: home, construction, college)

[Six Foot Three]

Remember all the ''Arena'' talk earlier this year from EP Mayor Cook and others. Is it the financial meltdown, economy or construction costs stopping this???

Will it happen in a year or so??

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I would venture to guess none of the above.

What will they do with it? El Paso has proven that it cannot sustain a fan base large enough for sports to pay for such venues. Even if there was, what would they do to pay the bills at idle times?

Keep in mind that if your urge is to answer that an event that currently exists elsewhere might fair better in a new arena, then what does the other venue that currently hosts a said event do to pay the bills? Every day maintenance costs are huge for large venues.

It's a chess game for sure. But developers never go into business to please the citizens. They may say so on brochures, or proposals, but the truth is they build venues to make a profit. If there is no guaranteed profit, they will not build it, and I stress guaranteed profit. As an investor myself, I would not put my money anywhere on a promise for a return, it has to be guaranteed at some level. The 'Build it and they will come' theory does not work most of the time.

From what I recall, the politicians keep shooting themselves in the foot for such things in El Paso. The proposed 'Fountains' at the old Farah site is a prime example.

[mistabinks]

I disagree that we can't support a team that can be the backbone of a new arena. There were 4K people in the stands for every El Paso Buzzards home game. The city council at the time practically ran the Wheeler family out of town. The Wheelers even offered to build an arena on their dime. They just wanted some vacant land around the arena. The city council said no. Why? Because the Wheelers would make too much money. Duh! Why do you think the Wheelers were doing any of this? Charity?

[Smooth from ELP]

If you BUILD it...THEY will COME!!! The point is to take that chance and just do it man. ELP has soccer team now an ILF team. Between the two teams you can get revenues to pay that bad boy off in less than 10 years (or so).

[mistabinks]

The people involved just need to take all things into consideration. Don't run a team in a league during college basketball or football. Don't compete with UTEP. Be realistic with the ticket and concession prices. Things like that.

Oh yeah, and giveaways@!