You could have made the same argument about Trenton when they built the arena there and the Titans drew very well. The reason why attendance plummetted there was because of the Devils, not because the area isn't safe.
That said, the mayor of Allentown is looking to improve his city. He certainly isn't going to recommend that the arena be built in another city to improve his city.
I know it is a different sport, but the Philadelphia Union stadium in Chester is not exactly in a great area, but they draw well and have plenty of security and police around to make those attending the game feel safe. So, as long as there is a police presence I don't think that safety will be a big concern.
Assuming the arena gets built I think they will draw very well.
True peltsy but from what I understand the staff in Trenton are rude now, which would lead you to believe maybe the Devils weren't to blame as I have been informed it's the same staff as last years.
I don't know much about Trenton or the Titans, so I won't comment on them.
But putting the team next to the Iron Pigs is still in Allentown. Just a different part of town. One that is closer to a more affluent district with readily available parking, much less crime, and a stone's throw from Route 22, the major thoroughfare for the entire Lehigh Valley. And because it's so close to the airport, you have a bunch of shopping malls, hotels, restaurants (although mostly national chains like Red Robin or the only Sonic within 50 miles) close by. Compare that to downtown, which aside from Hamilton St.'s little shops and boutiques, is almost entirely residential. There wouldn't be much of an industry to be gained from the arena.
My suggestion of putting it on the West End was probably wrong, because as I think about it more, there's nowhere to put it that would be feasible and within city limits.
And I'm a big Union fan, so I know all about them. Putting them in Chester worked because the Sons of Ben were going to come out in droves if they put the stadium inside a prison. There are a bunch of Flyer fans in the Lehigh Valley, but I don't know that there are enough to think an arena deep within the heart of downtown would thrive. I want it to work. It saves me about an hour driving both ways to see a hockey game instead of going all the way to Philly. But I'll give it 5 years, especially if the team sucks like in recent years, this first month notwithstanding.
My apologies, I thought the airport was in Bethlehem. I agree that a sports complex like south philly could have been a good idea.
That said I thought one of the points of building it downtown was to boost that economy so it's possible that the arena could lead to new restaurants and shopping.
As for the union, the sob's make up a very small percentage of the 17000+ that come out to the games. The reason why so many fans go back is because the police/security presence does a great job of making it a safe environment.
True peltsy but from what I understand the staff in Trenton are rude now, which would lead you to believe maybe the Devils weren't to blame as I have been informed it's the same staff as last years.
I haven't been to a game yet this season so I cannot say if that is true or not. That said the devils absolutely were to blame to think that a devils affiliate could work less than an hour from philadelphia and for doing the bare minimum when it came to marketing the team.
I haven't been to a game yet this season so I cannot say if that is true or not. That said the devils absolutely were to blame to think that a devils affiliate could work less than an hour from philadelphia and for doing the bare minimum when it came to marketing the team.
And this is why the Devils are on the verge of bankruptcy. Lol
Ideally the best thing would to let this arena fall through and send the Phantoms elsewhere. Since the Flyers want an affiliate in Pennsylvania so bad, why not swap affiliates with WSH and put their prospects in Hershey. Adirondack, as a WSH affiliate, could probably go to Baltimore or Richmond and do well there.
Glens Falls will support any hockey (they supported the UHL and the Frostbite died for reasons not tied to fan support) and when the Phantoms leave, it'd be foolish for the Q or the ECHL to ignore that market.
GF hasn't had a profitable team in long time which was the doom of the frosty bites.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Men Rule
And this is why the Devils are on the verge of bankruptcy. Lol
Then why are so many other teams on the verge of bankruptcy?
Sounds like it may not have gotten off on the right foot. There were protesters at Mayor's open house to discuss the new arena.
Quote:
Allentown held the first of three open houses Tuesday night concerning its proposed hockey arena project.
Greeting people were protesters from Occupy Allentown, who believe the money, which is actually coming from bonds, could be better spent elsewhere.
It's not exactly the greeting Mayor Ed Pawlowski wanted at the first open house for his downtown hockey arena project.
A market study projects the arena will bring in 500 full-time construction jobs and at least 75 part-time jobs once the facility opens for the 2013 minor league hockey season. Link
The article is a transcript of the news broadcast, so if you don't feel like reading it, watch the video at the link.
SIDENOTE (and let's not go to far off topic here): There is an Occupy Allentown? Really?
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Sounds like it may not have gotten off on the right foot. There were protesters at Mayor's open house to discuss the new arena.
The article is a transcript of the news broadcast, so if you don't feel like reading it, watch the video at the link.
SIDENOTE (and let's not go to far off topic here): There is an Occupy Allentown? Really?
Hard to believe, eh?
What I don't quite get is that these Occupy people are angry about the fact that the money could be spent elsewhere, but ignore the fact that such a project will create quite a few jobs.
What I don't quite get is that these Occupy people are angry about the fact that the money could be spent elsewhere, but ignore the fact that such a project will create quite a few jobs.
I never have understood the occupy ideas out there.
While this may create jobs i'm sure it involves tax payer money...
I laughed when I saw there was an "Occupy Denton (TX)" thing.
The fact of running an AHL team and losing money is that from the NHL club standpoint if the team lost $2 mil a year and throw another $1 mil on top for lost revenue from affiliation fees, that is nothing compared to their players salaries. They just have to dump one or two mid-level player(s) to recoup that amount. Just keeping their NHL roster at 21 instead of 23 will save them $1mil at the league minimum.
The arena in ATown should not be a drain on the taxpayers like the arena in Glendale AZ is. I hope they did the study using good information. So many of these estimates are "adjusted" to hit a number rather than them generating a number and then living with it.
Occupy wants some accountability from the economic terrorists of Wall Street, who have wrecked our economy for years, and in return, got three quarters of a trillion dollars from every single one of us. No consequences to the rich, and the 99% have to Pay for their profits. THAT is what Occupy is about, no matter what Faux News and the Koch brothers would pay to have you believe.
That said, I saw something about a developer opposed to the arena taking up tenancy in one of the parcels? Anyone know if this slows the project?
I laughed when I saw there was an "Occupy Denton (TX)" thing.
The fact of running an AHL team and losing money is that from the NHL club standpoint if the team lost $2 mil a year and throw another $1 mil on top for lost revenue from affiliation fees, that is nothing compared to their players salaries. They just have to dump one or two mid-level player(s) to recoup that amount. Just keeping their NHL roster at 21 instead of 23 will save them $1mil at the league minimum.
The arena in ATown should not be a drain on the taxpayers like the arena in Glendale AZ is. I hope they did the study using good information. So many of these estimates are "adjusted" to hit a number rather than them generating a number and then living with it.
I was surprised by the tents in downtown Rochester at Thanksgiving. I never saw any people or signs, just the tents.
Has an arena ever been built for a specific, out of town AHL team before? This just seems strange.
AHL-wise no. There is precedents in minor league baseball, the biggest and most recent being Gwinnett County, GA building a stadium to lure the former Richmond Braves.
AHL-wise no. There is precedents in minor league baseball, the biggest and most recent being Gwinnett County, GA building a stadium to lure the former Richmond Braves.
I believe that the arena in Wilkes-Barre was specifically built for the Pens.
I didn't think so. Seems like a big gamble of taxpayer money. The more I think about it, the stranger is seems.
They built the minor league baseball stadium in Troy, NY to attract the SS-A Pittsfield Astros, but that was a much smaller project (and a different sport). The owners of that team have made millions at taxpayers expense.
I thought that the Baby Pens were the former Cornwall franchise that was defunct, but the Penguins bought the rights to them. I could be wrong though.
Hans:
hate to be the bearer of bad news but Solution is correct, WB/S is indeed the Cornwall Aces franchise, the players and staff were transferred to Hershey until Lake Erie was moved to Cleveland.
I didn't think so. Seems like a big gamble of taxpayer money. The more I think about it, the stranger is seems.
They built the minor league baseball stadium in Troy, NY to attract the SS-A Pittsfield Astros, but that was a much smaller project (and a different sport). The owners of that team have made millions at taxpayers expense.
I totally forgot a third baseball case that is semi-OT: Coca-Cola Park in Allentown was built in anticipation of moving the Ottawa Lynx to the Lehigh Valley. The Phantoms situation is an attempt to repeat the same situation with the same results.
