Arena Designs - Which do you prefer?

[vbird53]

Once we build this 15,000 seat arena, I can't wait for the NCAA committee to come out and announce that they will be increasing the minimum size for an arena to host an NCAA men's basketball regional to 16,000!

[Tasmanian Devil]

I like D, none of the above.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Things learned from tonight's meeting:

The bowl and video board will have a marquee just like Greensboro. That will be first class.

Option B is my choice, but I too would like to see it turned as in Option A. Many arena's 'wow' factor is on the inside. The Pyramid in Memphis sits right on the bank of the Mississippi. Cool to look at it, but there's nothing around it so it looks industrial & barren. Verizion Center looks like a typical store front entrance, but inside it's very very nice. Greensboro is a non descript limestone exterior but (other than the interior easter egg colors) has a wow factor.

Parking -- Rupp Arena's front entrance has a small lot right across the street. The lower level of Rupp Arena has the UK Hall of Fame Museum ($5 tour), restaurants, and upscale stores (clothing, jewelry, etc). With the appropriate street atmosphere, walking the 2-3 blocks to an event makes the event you are going to more fun.

Capacity -- build it so we can add 2,500 to 5,000 seats at a later date.

Option B looks like part Koch Arena and part Edward Jones Dome. Something like Conseco Filedhouse would fit Old Town yet also be futurisitc.
http://www.ellerbebecket.com/portfolio_template_34.html

Capacity -- build it so we can add 2,500 to 5,000 seats at a later date.

I spoke with a city representative at length and convinced that person that we really need to look into the possibility of building it with the option of expansion over the next 20 years. That person gave me an estimate of 5-7 million to "over-build" an unfinished area for future additions. If we do not build the arena with expansion in mind, we are stuck with 15k for the life of the building until we demolish it. This person seemed surprised at my comments about CU and the Quiet Center's expansion and said that their expansion history would be looked at over the next week and brought up to the board.

As much revenue that is flying in with this sales tax I would think they could squeeze in 5-7mm without very much problem. I think they will find that after we are awarded an NCAA regional and a few big name acts come to town that 15k was a bit too conservative. The main reason for the under-sized plan was to keep the C.A.V.E. people from lighting themselves on fire and burning down the city.


T


...:cool:

[DaShox]

Things learned from tonight's meeting:

The bowl and video board will have a marquee just like Greensboro. That will be first class.

Option B is my choice, but I too would like to see it turned as in Option A. Many arena's 'wow' factor is on the inside. The Pyramid in Memphis sits right on the bank of the Mississippi. Cool to look at it, but there's nothing around it so it looks industrial & barren. Verizion Center looks like a typical store front entrance, but inside it's very very nice. Greensboro is a non descript limestone exterior but (other than the interior easter egg colors) has a wow factor.

Parking -- Rupp Arena's front entrance has a small lot right across the street. The lower level of Rupp Arena has the UK Hall of Fame Museum ($5 tour), restaurants, and upscale stores (clothing, jewelry, etc). With the appropriate street atmosphere, walking the 2-3 blocks to an event makes the event you are going to more fun.

Capacity -- build it so we can add 2,500 to 5,000 seats at a later date.

Option B looks like part Koch Arena and part Edward Jones Dome. Something like Conseco Filedhouse would fit Old Town yet also be futurisitc.

http://www.ellerbebecket.com/portfolio_template_34.html

[SpanglerFan316]

Oh, and the difference between this and Riverfest the arrival and depature of cars is spreadout over the course of the day rather than concentrated into a small time frame. Compare the usual congestion at WSU on any given weekday to the congestion of trying to get on or off campus for a men's basketball game.

A good point. However the WSU/city police help traffic leave WSU after a game; it isn't that bad. If there were things to do before and after a game/concert (e.g. eating, movie at the Old Town Warren, blues/jazz bar), maybe the traffic rush would be spread out. I can see myself parking in one of the free lots near River City Brewery, eating a meal, walking to the new arena, etc.

[rjl]

The proposed designs show less than 400 parking spots as they are being presented. I had no problem walking 15 minutes in St. Louis from the Adam's Mark to the Savvis Center. Had I been driving to the arena I would not know where to park or where available parking is located but I understand that there are lots and garages near by.

I didn't know an exact number of spots on site. I imagine it would vary depending on what design they went with and the orientation of the arena on the property.

As much as they've said people will have to expect to walk a little, they've got to know it will be a dealbreaker if it gets too difficult to figure out.

Wonder if an underground parking garage is out of the picture? Cost may preclude it.

[engrshock]

The proposed designs show less than 400 parking spots as they are being presented. I had no problem walking 15 minutes in St. Louis from the Adam's Mark to the Savvis Center. Had I been driving to the arena I would not know where to park or where available parking is located but I understand that there are lots and garages near by.

[rjl]

What I don't want is to drive around for an hour to find a parking spot that is 10 minutes hard walk away from the arena. I understand that the hope is that people will park and walk and visit various establishments ontheir way in or out from the arena. Maybe you know where you can park and be able to walk to the arena but I am not familiar with downtown parking other than over by the Exhibtion building, library and CII. If I planned on parking there and walking and arrived to find that the lots were full then what?

Also one of the comments I have heard from a season ticket holder to Thunder games is that he does not want to park and walk a long way to a game in 0 degree weather. His choice would be to stay home. I believe that is the type of attitude that exists in Wichita. The parking is not a side issue it is a critical issue that if not addressed to make it easy to find parking will lead to failure of the arena no matter how it looks.

Oh, I understand wanting some clarity about where to park, and what distance it's going to be.

In that immediate area there are several parking lots and even a parking garage or two normally used for offices and businesses. I imagine some of the poorer quality lots will be refurbished, and I imagine there will be some additional signs to make the experience as user/audience friendly as possible.

Yes, you will have to walk. Get there early, you have to walk less.

Currently, a the largest croud that ever goes to a Thunder game is around 6,000. Assuming most people are at least 2-to-a-car, I imagine the official arena parking lot would cover a majority of that.

Figuring the newness and location of the arena will attract as many as 10,000 people to Thunder games, it will become a little more congested, but certainly livable. I'd guess, however, that season ticket holders might get some preferential treatment when it comes to parking.

[The Mad Hatter]

I went to the design open house at Exploration Place last weekend, and one of the architects told me the county WILL be examining the parking situation very soon. It might be next on the agenda after finalizing the design. They want to have some kind of plan in place so people know what is available for events and won't be driving around downtown for hours looking for a spot.

It's important in the arena process that when we have concerns we ask someone who has knowledge of the situation instead of worrying or assuming things. I believe the idea of an English street pedestrian mall, which apparently is being considered very seriously, was actually brought up by citizens who went to these arena open houses.

If you have concerns or questions about the arena, please let a county representative or the arena design consortium know them. This is a project that is very sensitive to public input.

Thanks for the info. That is good to know.

[sdshox]

I like B the best, but have one hang-up. For those of you who have made the trip to Omaha, is it just me, or is there a striking similarity to the BlueGays' Qwest Center? I love the downtown arena idea, just don't want to copy anything Creighton, that's all.

[shocker07]

I went to the design open house at Exploration Place last weekend, and one of the architects told me the county WILL be examining the parking situation very soon. It might be next on the agenda after finalizing the design. They want to have some kind of plan in place so people know what is available for events and won't be driving around downtown for hours looking for a spot.

It's important in the arena process that when we have concerns we ask someone who has knowledge of the situation instead of worrying or assuming things. I believe the idea of an English street pedestrian mall, which apparently is being considered very seriously, was actually brought up by citizens who went to these arena open houses.

If you have concerns or questions about the arena, please let a county representative or the arena design consortium know them. This is a project that is very sensitive to public input.

[engrshock]

Some people would rather drive around for 30 minutes trying to find a close spot than park a little bit away and walk 10 minutes to the arena.

If you're that opposed to walking anywhere, maybe "big-city-livin" aint for you.

What I don't want is to drive around for an hour to find a parking spot that is 10 minutes hard walk away from the arena. I understand that the hope is that people will park and walk and visit various establishments ontheir way in or out from the arena. Maybe you know where you can park and be able to walk to the arena but I am not familiar with downtown parking other than over by the Exhibtion building, library and CII. If I planned on parking there and walking and arrived to find that the lots were full then what?

Also one of the comments I have heard from a season ticket holder to Thunder games is that he does not want to park and walk a long way to a game in 0 degree weather. His choice would be to stay home. I believe that is the type of attitude that exists in Wichita. The parking is not a side issue it is a critical issue that if not addressed to make it easy to find parking will lead to failure of the arena no matter how it looks.

[The Mad Hatter]

I lived in Los Angeles for 7 years, so my opinions on parking are not just from someone unaccustomed to the 'big city'. The worst idea in the world is just to do nothing about parking. If you don't plan these things out, inevitablly there will be problems, and I fear that the council is just crossing their fingers and hoping a) there will be enough parking and b) it will be well marked and clear to visitors where they are supposed to park. If they really have planned it all out, crunched the numbers, etc. and found out that additionaly parking is not needed, then fine. But if they are just leaving it to chance they are begging for problems.

I'm not saying that parking shouldn't be planned, but I AM saying if you're looking for parking right by the front door you're going to be looking for a while.

Congestion? 20,000 people work in downtown Wichita and leave every day at 5. Admittedly, their area of departure is more spread out than a single arena point, but the infrastructure already exists to expedite the traffic. By spreading the parking around the area and not centered on two large lots, traffic should be thinned a little more.

Cool, I follow you. I just fear (from how those in charge have talked at times) that they just think that they can just do nothing and parking will work itself out.

[rjl]

I lived in Los Angeles for 7 years, so my opinions on parking are not just from someone unaccustomed to the 'big city'. The worst idea in the world is just to do nothing about parking. If you don't plan these things out, inevitablly there will be problems, and I fear that the council is just crossing their fingers and hoping a) there will be enough parking and b) it will be well marked and clear to visitors where they are supposed to park. If they really have planned it all out, crunched the numbers, etc. and found out that additionaly parking is not needed, then fine. But if they are just leaving it to chance they are begging for problems.

I'm not saying that parking shouldn't be planned, but I AM saying if you're looking for parking right by the front door you're going to be looking for a while.

Congestion? 20,000 people work in downtown Wichita and leave every day at 5. Admittedly, their area of departure is more spread out than a single arena point, but the infrastructure already exists to expedite the traffic. By spreading the parking around the area and not centered on two large lots, traffic should be thinned a little more.

[The Mad Hatter]

Oh, and the difference between this and Riverfest the arrival and depature of cars is spreadout over the course of the day rather than concentrated into a small time frame. Compare the usual congestion at WSU on any given weekday to the congestion of trying to get on or off campus for a men's basketball game.