East Downtown (EaDo) Promenade & Houston Dynamo Stadium (Dallas, Howe: townhome, place to live)

[AmberAzeneth]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

Why the doubt?????

I just do not believe that soccer has the fan base for a huge revitalization of the area. But I do hope to be proven wrong. That area deserves a sort of renaissance.

[SouthernBoy205]

It may. Soccer more of an international thing more than it is a US sport. Considering that Houston has suck a large international population, I don't see why wouldn't there be a large fan based. Also, this stadium is going to be new. People love new things! New things are attractive!

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by amberazeneth

I just do not believe that soccer has the fan base for a huge revitalization of the area. But I do hope to be proven wrong. That area deserves a sort of renaissance.

you are forgetting Houston's huge international population

[AmberAzeneth]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

you are forgetting Houston's huge international population

No, Not forgetting the international population, just doubting the embrace of the mainstream population base.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by amberazeneth

No, Not forgetting the international population, just doubting the embrace of the mainstream population base.

that is why they are building more than just a soccer field

[TheEconomist]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

It may. Soccer more of an international thing more than it is a US sport. Considering that Houston has suck a large international population, I don't see why wouldn't there be a large fan based. Also, this stadium is going to be new. People love new things! New things are attractive!

This is pretty weak analysis. You have ignored that we already have a football stadium by the old baseball stadium and it hasn't led to a revitalization there. Soccer is incredibly popular. That is true, but the evidence is that sports stadiums don't revitalize areas. They are huge facilities that people come to from out of the immediate area. Few people live by Reliant, but everyone shows up on the game day. In fact, few people want to live by a stadium. So, the investment may actually drive people away.

I'm not opposed to a stadium, but if it made sense financially then it would be financed by a profit seeking enterprise, not the taxpayer. But, you have countered that with "People love new things! New things are attractive!"

But A&M Bulldog is correct. People do love new things. Look at the CityCentre development by Memorial. That is new and people love it. But, it was financed by the private sector. It was designed to create what people wanted, a walkable area with nice shops and restaurants. People generally don't want to live next door to a huge stadium and have all that pedestrian and vehicle traffic in their area.

And, the private sector located CityCentre in an area where it didn't have an albatross around its neck in the form of a failing school system.

To be certain, the stadium will be enjoyed. But after the game, people will leave.

[AmberAzeneth]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

that is why they are building more than just a soccer field

I just hope that what ever does get developed in the area gets embraced and supported by the whole city/population base. When El Mercado Del Sol was developed in the mid 1980's it was not embraced by any population base and that building is located just around the corner from this vicinity.

[SouthernBoy205]

Originally Posted by TheEconomist

This is pretty weak analysis. You have ignored that we already have a football stadium by the old baseball stadium and it hasn't led to a revitalization there. Soccer is incredibly popular. That is true, but the evidence is that sports stadiums don't revitalize areas. They are huge facilities that people come to from out of the immediate area. Few people live by Reliant, but everyone shows up on the game day. In fact, few people want to live by a stadium. So, the investment may actually drive people away.

I'm not opposed to a stadium, but if it made sense financially then it would be financed by a profit seeking enterprise, not the taxpayer. But, you have countered that with "People love new things! New things are attractive!"

But A&M Bulldog is correct. People do love new things. Look at the CityCentre development by Memorial. That is new and people love it. But, it was financed by the private sector. It was designed to create what people wanted, a walkable area with nice shops and restaurants. People generally don't want to live next door to a huge stadium and have all that pedestrian and vehicle traffic in their area.

And, the private sector located CityCentre in an area where it didn't have an albatross around its neck in the form of a failing school system.

To be certain, the stadium will be enjoyed. But after the game, people will leave.

I disagree with stadiums not spurring off development. Birmingham is getting is own dome in the future. A new Westin hotel and an entertainment district are in the works. When people leave a game from a stadium, they want to stop by nearby places for shopping, entertainment, rest, eating, etc.

[TheEconomist]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

I disagree with stadiums not spurring off development. Birmingham is getting is own dome in the future. A new Westin hotel and an entertainment district are in the works. When people leave a game from a stadium, they want to stop by nearby places for shopping, entertainment, rest, eating, etc.

I thought we were shooting for higher than just another shopping / food / hotel area. Anytime the taxpayer spends billions on something, I would hope at least a few restaurant jobs are created. Reliant did get a hotel in the immediate area but it did not create what you are hoping for.

[SouthernBoy205]

I'm not hoping for anything. I'm just going against what you are saying. Developers and whomever knew what kind of economic boost this stadium will have; that's one reason why it's getting built.