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For an area of 2+ million, there is very little to do in terms of unique recreational assets (ie things that most other metro do not have). That is very important to the average American family.
I don't think unique recreational assets are very important to the average American family; most are fine with the standard suite of parks, greenways, trails, water-based recreation (natural or man-made), hiking opportunities, etc. Every city can't be Denver or Phoenix.
But even so, it would seem that Austin has a few unique recreational assets like its natural springs/swimming holes and it's on the edge of the Texas Hill Country. And I've seen enough pictures to know how popular Lady Bird Lake is. Overall it's hard to see how Austin comes up short in the recreation category.
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Though light rail is nice, the cost-to-benefit ratio in terms of ridership vs. $$ is foolish. No wise person would do that in their personal finances.
You only think this because of all of the hidden costs involved in driving and parking that aren't directly passed on to drivers; vehicular infrastructure is much more heavily subsidized than rail transit infrastructure.
When there is sufficient demand/density and there's not much in the way of elevational changes, rail transit can certainly be cost effective over the long run. https://www.researchgate.net/publica...fits_A_comment
Austin will never be a pro sports mecca because it is three hours from 8 professional sports teams. Jerry Jones would never let an NFL team in Austin or SA.
Austin will never be a pro sports mecca because it is three hours from 8 professional sports teams. Jerry Jones would never let an NFL team in Austin or SA.
Lack of a tech scene is a true blessing. GO NASHVILLE!
Say it louder for the people in the back!!
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Originally Posted by PolarSeltzer
Actually, Nashville has a very strong, distinct culture. Even moreso than Austin I’d say.
Other than the high concentration of bars, and literally natural pools minutes from downtown, Austin has a very average, any city USA vibe. Nashville is very southern.
Austin will never be a pro sports mecca because it is three hours from 8 professional sports teams. Jerry Jones would never let an NFL team in Austin or SA.
Good thing it doesn't want to be. But in about another decade, it could probably host an MLB team which would serve the joint Austin-SA market.
Good thing it doesn't want to be. But in about another decade, it could probably host an MLB team which would serve the joint Austin-SA market.
Yeah, idk. I'm curious if the Astros and Rangers have agreements with MLB to where they won't put another team within 3 hours of their market? If you notice, Nashville doesn't really have an issue as they basically own the mid south market. There's not a lot of pro teams there.
Yeah, idk. I'm curious if the Astros and Rangers have agreements with MLB to where they won't put another team within 3 hours of their market? If you notice, Nashville doesn't really have an issue as they basically own the mid south market. There's not a lot of pro teams there.
I'd hope not. The local market for both teams is big enough and then some.
Currently Nashville is at about 2+ million population and Austin is at about 2.2+ million population. Honestly anything could happen, but Austin will probably still be ahead. It really depends, Nashville is starting gain traction, so the gap may not be as big in a couple decades. One major advantage Nashville has is that there's no other major competition within a 200-250mi radius, excluding Atlanta.
Realistically, I think Austin is only pulling away from Nashville further. I could see a future where it may become the most important city in Texas as Houston will grapple with issues from climate change and DFW's vast sprawl and featureless landscape may limit it's appeal in the future (last one's probably a stretch though -I lived there for 10 years and could get past it), although probably not in the near future.
I'm in Austin frequently as my SO grew up in the area and went to school there. There are infrastructure concerns though. It was not designed to be as big of a city as it has become, let alone what it may be in the future. Traffic is brutal for a city of it's size, and outside of the core you can argue that it's as sprawled out as the other cities in Texas.
I think these can likely be overcome. Whether Austin should want to become a city like that is one that I can't answer. It built it's reputation as the quirky underdog, but much of that is already gone (although a sanitized version of "on-brand Austin" is still making $$$). It's inevitable with the influx of publicly-traded corporations and techbros that it will become what it has been mocking forever.
Less familiar with Nashville, other than it may eventually face the same challenges as Austin. That's the thing with boomtowns...
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