Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What's the niche/need for a MLS team? I would love to see whatever (MLS, MLB etc), be built downtown.
MLS has thrived in mid-level cities that can support professional teams but don't have a plethora of them already (Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake, Montreal etc.). It tends to attract a younger demographic, and there seems to be an overlap with the hipster crowd. There are 18 home games staged a year (league games, not counting other competitions) in stadiums that sit up to 20,000 people. All those elements lead me to believe it might be a solid fit in the triangle. I guess the question is where. Wake-Med is a lovely stadium with expansion plans laid out, but I wonder if a downtown field (be it Raleigh or Durham) would be needed in order for the team to prosper.
As for interest from the league, they don't have any teams in the SE and seem to be looking to add in some markets there. Earlier this year they sent representatives down to explore the possibility and staged a meeting with the Railhawks. The MLS is pushing hard for a second NY team as the 20th club, but this area might make sense after that.
Last edited by TheRecneps; 06-26-2012 at 02:06 PM..
Reason: Added a paragraph
I agree 200% that anything that is ever built in terms of a stadium be done in downtown Raleigh. As someone mentioned, baseball is a 7 day per week sport and plays considerable more games than all of the other major sports. As a result, the games attract many more walk-ups sales and take less "planning" than most of the other sports. People leaving downtown buildings after work, or having dinner nearby or in town on business staying at hotels, etc will be attracted to the games on a spur of the moment. Football, for example, is much more of an "event"; something planned in advance. Many people in a city have already parked their car, or don't have one or are vistiting in a city setting.
Baseball is successful in "cities".....and lends itself to a city type of culture drawing fans from all backgrounds, cultures and ages. Baseball benefits from a city setting and the city benefits from the presence of MLB baseball. Look at Boston, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Cincinatti - all parks downtown as a major part of the city. MLB baseball outside of the city just doesn't have the same vibe - Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami before they moved, Tampa.
To me, "where" to build a stadium is a no-brainer - has to go into downtown Raleigh and be a visable, exciting and modern day landmark that the city can build upon.
The question to me is will an area that is so spread-out, so suburban, so family orientated and so unused to "city life" put enough fannies in the seats long-term. As someone mentioned, how will a Tuesday night "Raleigh-Miami" baseball game draw in the middle of August?
Also - is it too hot for baseball here? Look around - teams are either inside in the south or make scheduling accomodations to avoid the heat.
I personally think that the area is growing enough and there are so many transplants that have come from baseball cities that Raleigh would be successful on the long-run. It could help further revitalize and legitimize downtown Raleigh and if the right owner and finanical arrangements were made, I'd be all for MLB in the Triangle.
I've seen on the past ten years a revitalization of ITB. Just look at the construction going on already for apartments, and not college apartments but good high quality apartments. So think 15-20years plus out. By then we should be good, numbers wise. But it won't matter if there isn't any planing or pre-planing going on now.
If they could find some way to squeeze a stadium onto the land where the PNC Arena and Carter Finley stadium sit, it might work. then they'd HAVE to add bars and restaurants to the land. People need to be able to eat and socialize before and after the games, at all 3 facilities. This is something that this area is sorely lacking right now. Only the DBAP offers food and entertainment within walking distance. And I think it's a major hurdle to the PNC arena development.
Seems like that would just be repeating the mistake made when they put the ESA/RBC Center/PNC Arena in west Raleigh.
Exactly. Just because there are stadiums there doesn't mean that it's the best place for future stadiums.
As was mentioned above, many folks want to have stadiums in more urban areas, or at least with development around them. Fans want to be able to grab some food beforehand (especially on weeknights) and drinks afterward (especially on weekends).
With isolated stadiums, it will be hard for a business owner to survive. Sure, they'll have a raging time when the season's going, but then in the off season they'll have zero traffic. If it's an urban area, they'll at least get enough traffic in the off season to keep a dependable year-round staff.
Seems like that would just be repeating the mistake made when they put the ESA/RBC Center/PNC Arena in west Raleigh.
State Fair, October 11--21
Canes come home to play, October 26, 28, 11/2.
State hosts Florida State, October 6 and Virginia November 3
MLB playoffs begin October 3 and World Series on October 23 with 7 games running to TBD.
(Uh-h-h... We ARE going to the Series, aren't we? Why bother otherwise?)
State Fair, October 11--21
Canes come home to play, October 26, 28, 11/2.
State hosts Florida State, October 6 and Virginia November 3
MLB playoffs begin October 3 and World Series on October 23 with 7 games running to TBD.
(Uh-h-h... We ARE going to the Series, aren't we? Why bother otherwise?)
Could get a little congested over in W Raleigh.
Sounds great! Heck, the Staples Center hosted six playoff games in four days (two by the Kings and two each by the Lakers/Clippers), AND they had a major cycling race AND a Dodger game in LA, where traffic is already a nonstop nightmare. What an unbelievable boon the above would be for Raleigh and this state, especially with the great weather in October.
With isolated stadiums, it will be hard for a business owner to survive. Sure, they'll have a raging time when the season's going, but then in the off season they'll have zero traffic. If it's an urban area, they'll at least get enough traffic in the off season to keep a dependable year-round staff.
You build up a shopping and dining area around the stadiums. There's no reason why people can't shop and dine year round. It's just harder to do once the stadiums have been built first...already in an isolated area. I still blame **** poor planning. Not that having the arena downtown was a great idea either.
You build up a shopping and dining area around the stadiums. There's no reason why people can't shop and dine year round. It's just harder to do once the stadiums have been built first...already in an isolated area. I still blame **** poor planning. Not that having the arena downtown was a great idea either.
But the problem is still isolation, right? As in, it's easier to lure in a developer to build some shops and restaurant spaces near the stadium if the stadium is in an area that's fairly densely populated.
For example, do you think American Tobacco would've been rehabbed if the factory were on Duke St near the Durham County Stadium, assuming the Bulls or some other team played there? Sure, there would be some traffic during the 70 or so home games a year, but a development of that scale works because it is downtown.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
