[brad_in_omaha]

Finally found some time and weather to get photos shot!

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5. Looks like they built this ticket gate structure at all entrances.


6. I am guessing this will be some sort of Digital Video board on the far north east end right on Cumming street.


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[McBain II]

That stadium is so badass!

[Calvinist]

for a stadium we didn't need...yah, it looks nice. I still don't understand why we built it.

[McBain II]

Originally Posted by Calvinist

I still don't understand why we built it.

Yes you do, because it's been explained a thousand times over the last 4 years.

[nebr]

Originally Posted by Calvinist

for a stadium we didn't need...yah, it looks nice. I still don't understand why we built it.

I knew you'd say that.

[McBain II]

Originally Posted by nebr

I knew you'd say that.

Some people just can't let it go. They might as well get used to it though, because obviously this is a done deal and Omaha is already seeing significant benefits.

[Calvinist]

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

Some people just can't let it go. They might as well get used to it though, because obviously this is a done deal and Omaha is already seeing significant benefits.

what benefits? sell me on it. shouldn't be hard to do if it's been explained a thousand times over. I know it keeps the CWS here (a renovation of Rosenblatt would have done that). I've heard the NightHawks will play there. Supposedly Creighton will use it.

Are we actually going to make a profit on it? I am skeptical. It's not just sour grapes--I'm just not convinced that there will be more benefit than cost. The city can't afford to spend money on a stadium that doesn't have a full-time occupant.

[brad_in_omaha]

The Stadium is Awesome! Its going to be a Great Asset to the city and its already helping the surrounding neighborhood.

Its filling up fast too.
March - May = Creighton
June = CWS
July = Red Sky Music
Aug - November = Omaha Nighthawks

I think its time go get past the crying. The thing is built, we can't turn back now. Everyone needs to support it because its not going away.

[McBain II]

Originally Posted by Calvinist

what benefits? sell me on it. shouldn't be hard to do if it's been explained a thousand times over.

The problem with you (it's not just this issue) is that you've made up your mind and nothing is going to change that. Whatever "sell" you get you'll simply dismiss because it doesn't fit your dogma.

Anyways, I know this is going to be about as fruitful as slamming my penis in a car door, but here it goes.

I know it keeps the CWS here

For the next 25 years.

(a renovation of Rosenblatt would have done that).

No it wouldn't have.

- I don't believe (I could be wrong) that there was any actual acknowledgment by the powers that be that a renovation would keep the CWS in Omaha. It was more or less assumed by the Save Rosenblatt crowd.

- Several cities, mainly Indianapolis, were actively making sales pitches for the CWS.

- Rosenblatt was in such poor shape that a renovation would have entailed 40-60% of the total cost of the new stadium.

- Assuming the renovation came with a contract renewal, it would have only got us another 3-5 years rather than the 25 the new stadium got us.

- The stadium also came with a clause in the contract stating that the NCAA would have to pay off the remaining balance of the stadium should they breach the contract. The risk/reward was incredibly slanted towards the new stadium.

I've heard the NightHawks will play there. Supposedly Creighton will use it.

Correct.

Are we actually going to make a profit on it?

Of course we are. The stadium is being funded mainly on rental car and hotel room taxes meaning that other people are essentially going to pay for it, leaving the $30-$40 million in economic impact solely for our benefit.

I am skeptical. It's not just sour grapes--I'm just not convinced that there will be more benefit than cost.

What benefit has Rosenblatt brought us? In 60 years it's brought about almost zero economic development to the 13th Street Corridor, while TDA Park has spurned significant development before it was even completed, and development = tax dollars. There is simply no competition between the two of them. TDA Park also carries the added benefit of allowing us to demolish Rosenblatt, letting the Zoo (an actual attraction) expand.

The city can't afford to spend money on a stadium that doesn't have a full-time occupant.

Then how do you propose the city would afford to do a full scale on Rosenblatt? You're still looking at over 50% of of the cost of TDA Park and no real full time occupant. The Royals were already looking to jump ship and the stadium issue was just a convenient excuse to go. Rosenblatt almost certainly prevents us from getting the Nighthawks (brings in far more attendance than the Royals) and Creighton (can probably equal or surpass most Royals games) would have played in another stadium as well. Oh, and if we had renovated Rosenblatt and lost the CWS in a couple years, who do you think would be on the hook for paying for those renovation costs?

The bottom line is very, very simple. With the exception of sentimental value, there is no conceivably logical argument to support keeping Rosenblatt over the new TDA Park.

[Calvinist]

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

The problem with you (it's not just this issue) is that you've made up your mind and nothing is going to change that. Whatever "sell" you get you'll simply dismiss because it doesn't fit your dogma.

Actually, I was a supporter of the Qwest center, and was an initial supporter of a new baseball stadium. Until I found out we could keep the CWS by renovating Rosenblatt. I am also leery of adding yet more stuff into NoDo--an area that isn't easy to get in and out of.

- I don't believe (I could be wrong) that there was any actual acknowledgment by the powers that be that a renovation would keep the CWS in Omaha. It was more or less assumed by the Save Rosenblatt crowd.

Only a statement by a MECA board member that sounded pretty convincing.

- Several cities, mainly Indianapolis, were actively making sales pitches for the CWS.

Your point? Are we going to get enough benefit from building the stadium for that purpose only?

- Rosenblatt was in such poor shape that a renovation would have entailed 40-60% of the total cost of the new stadium.

I believe I had heard estimates in the 20's of Millions of $.

- Assuming the renovation came with a contract renewal, it would have only got us another 3-5 years rather than the 25 the new stadium got us.

I had heard 10 years.

- The stadium also came with a clause in the contract stating that the NCAA would have to pay off the remaining balance of the stadium should they breach the contract. The risk/reward was incredibly slanted towards the new stadium.

I had not heard that. If that is the case, that's a plus.

Of course we are. The stadium is being funded mainly on rental car and hotel room taxes meaning that other people are essentially going to pay for it, leaving the $30-$40 million in economic impact solely for our benefit.

And commuter taxes...and wheel taxes....

No...not directly, but it all comes out of the same pocket.

What benefit has Rosenblatt brought us? In 60 years it's brought about almost zero economic development to the 13th Street Corridor, while TDA Park has spurned significant development before it was even completed, and development = tax dollars. There is simply no competition between the two of them. TDA Park also carries the added benefit of allowing us to demolish Rosenblatt, letting the Zoo (an actual attraction) expand.

Any tourism/tax revenue gained annually from Rosenblatt is gravy at this point--it's paid for. It was also occupied.

Then how do you propose the city would afford to do a full scale on Rosenblatt? You're still looking at over 50% of of the cost of TDA Park and no real full time occupant. The Royals were already looking to jump ship and the stadium issue was just a convenient excuse to go. Rosenblatt almost certainly prevents us from getting the Nighthawks (brings in far more attendance than the Royals) and Creighton (can probably equal or surpass most Royals games) would have played in another stadium as well. Oh, and if we had renovated Rosenblatt and lost the CWS in a couple years, who do you think would be on the hook for paying for those renovation costs?

Have other communities built stadiums for teams of the NightHawks' caliber?

But to answer your other questions, Creighton-- has been playing there already...no reason to believe they'd move. And since we've kind of had a revolving renovate/contract going on with the CWS there was no reason to believe they'd seriously consider moving anytime soon.

The bottom line is very, very simple. With the exception of sentimental value, there is no conceivably logical argument to support keeping Rosenblatt over the new TDA Park.

I actually came out initially in support of dumping Rosenblatt for a new stadium. I'm not convinced that it really makes sense, though.