New Baltimore Arena?! BREAKING NEWS

[MasonsInquiries]

15,000-16,000 seats? the maryland stadium authority has to be kidding. those numbers will never work. here you have MUCH MUCH smaller cities getting 2 & 3 arenas @ a time (19,000-20,000 or more)and we're struggling to get even ONE built.

[jamie_hunt]

At least one of those seven is going to propose an 18K+ seat facility.

[cgunna]

yea...

if none do, its a c-o-n sperrecy

[Interestedreader]

Originally Posted by jamie_hunt

At least one of those seven is going to propose an 18K+ seat facility.

Its not a matter of what is proposed, its a matter of what the city is willing to pay for and if they think the market can support what they are paying for. Remember, this project will be predominantly financed via public dollars. Now, if someone proposed a NHL or NBA team as a part of their package, that's a different story.

[UCTerp]

When (if at all) can we expect to see renderings of the proposals?

[PeterSmith]

Seven proposals is a surprised number. We can safely assume that the Cormony proposal is for Gateway South and the Turner Development Proposal is for Westport, and the Hale Properties proposal is of course in Canton somewhere, but what about the others? Do you think they're all for the current arena site? I'm particularly curious to know where Struever's bid is located.

[MobtownManiac]

I think you can probably count on at least one, if not two, being for the site of the current arena. I would actually hope that those were also the larger proposals. Let Hale build his smaller version in Canton but keep the city's eyes on a bigger prize downtown.

[PeterSmith]

If Hale's proposal doesn't get chosen, I wonder if he'll still pursue building his own arena at Canton Crossing.

Part of me would like to see the new arena in Canton Crossing. All the renderings of Canton Crossing look fairly bland and even suburban to me. A major development like the arena might be just the right thing to spice up the neighborhood.... Then again, just about every neighborhood in the city could use the vibrancy that the new arena will bring, including downtown.

[UCTerp]

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

If Hale's proposal doesn't get chosen, I wonder if he'll still pursue building his own arena at Canton Crossing.

Part of me would like to see the new arena in Canton Crossing. All the renderings of Canton Crossing look fairly bland and even suburban to me. A major development like the arena might be just the right thing to spice up the neighborhood.... Then again, just about every neighborhood in the city could use the vibrancy that the new arena will bring, including downtown.

I can see the appeal in Canton Crossing, being on the water and near 95, but I really think the arena needs to be downtown. It's really important for people to be able to funnel into downtown after events to support the economy there. An arena in Canton Crossing would not have that same effect. Gateway South or the location of the Staples might work, but they would be the absolute farthest from downtown that I'd want an arena.

[jamie_hunt]

Originally Posted by Interestedreader

Its not a matter of what is proposed, its a matter of what the city is willing to pay for and if they think the market can support what they are paying for. Remember, this project will be predominantly financed via public dollars. Now, if someone proposed a NHL or NBA team as a part of their package, that's a different story.

Good points. FWIW: casino dough is helping to pay for Pittsburgh's new arena.

[StevenW]

Beautiful, isn't it?

[Interestedreader]

Originally Posted by jamie_hunt

Good points. FWIW: casino dough is helping to pay for Pittsburgh's new arena.

Interesting. I wonder if the state would take the burden from their cut of the slots revenue. I believe the city has earmarked a chunk of its portion to Pimlico.

[Maudibjr]

Originally Posted by Interestedreader

Interesting. I wonder if the state would take the burden from their cut of the slots revenue. I believe the city has earmarked a chunk of its portion to Pimlico.

Thats why I was asking if the MD lotto funds are still financing the MD stadium authority.

[Maudibjr]

Originally Posted by StevenW

Beautiful, isn't it?

I think the ads actually improve its appearance.

[StevenW]

You know, from that view, I'm not sure, but I think that a new larger arena might just fit there. Make it a little wider and longer, deeper and higher and it may just work. Although, the "retail" portion may just make it a little more difficult. But a 16,000 seat arena could go there, I believe. A larger one, 19,000 or more, I think, would be a lot harder to do.

[StevenW]

I think that a 19,000+ seat arena could happen if all the parking went under ground.

[MobtownManiac]

Here are the proposed sites:

[Interestedreader]

Originally Posted by MobtownManiac

Here are the proposed sites:

Interesting how everything is on the west side except for Hale's proposal. Remember, this isn't all of the choices as two of the teams didn't respond to media requests.

[Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore]

I will submit my vote and say that I think the arena should go next to M&T Bank stadium. It will combine all three sports facilities to create one big sports complex.

[Northern]

Originally Posted by StevenW

I think that a 19,000+ seat arena could happen if all the parking went under ground.

Absolutely, if they demolish that parking garage, there will be plenty of space for an arena to accommodate that many seats. Couple of weekends ago I went to an event at Newark's newly constructed Prudential Center (see pic). That arena is great and very accessible via mass transit. It is also in the midst of a myriad of surface lots, which makes for a nice view of the surrounding urbanity from the inside.