Can You Dig It?! The Columbus/Austin shared news thread.

Discussion in 'Austin FC' started by unlikelyfan19, Dec 6, 2018.

  1. unlikelyfan19

    unlikelyfan19 Member

    Fiorentina
    United States
    May 29, 2018
    Let's use this thread for Columbus/Austin cross-talk. The stadium looks great. My first thought is that it looks similar to the Nashville renderings. Wish you guys would have gone with a more industrial look with more black metal, and glass. None-the-less, great looking stadium. And 20k seems to be the sweet spot. If anyone in the league can consistently fill that, they are doing something right.
     
  2. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    The renderings today aren't necessarily the final product, particularly the exterior. It might end up more curved and less angular.

    There's also some question about capacity. It's been announced as a 20K venue but adding up the different types of seats comes to about 23K.
     
  3. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    I don't mean this to sound like gloating but PSV assured people less than a year ago that it wasn't possible to get a new stadium deal done in Columbus and the market wouldn't support MLS. Maybe they'll have better luck in Austin.
     
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  4. Jay34

    Jay34 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    Aug 26, 2018
    Austin, TX
    #4 Jay34, Dec 6, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2018
    I noticed the Ohio flag motif in my initial look at the renderings. Hopefully it's not just a rendering/perspective trick and is noticeable in person. If you've got one of the the seven actually decent state flags (CA, AZ, NM, TX, CO, MD, and OH), why not have a nod to it in your capital city-based stadium?
     
  5. Jay34

    Jay34 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    Aug 26, 2018
    Austin, TX
    I mean you should be proud that Ohio has proven people wrong. At least on one front. You still have the battle to draft in new fans. I'm sure it'll be easier with a downtown location.

    Also, the idea was local ownership, right? I personally didn't ever consider that someone from Cleveland would get involved, and I wouldn't consider that local. So the parameters changed a bit, and a successful Crew makes a bit more sense now. Given the way the stadium situation is structured, it seems it's about more than just saving the Crew. It's a way getting Haslem invested in the future of Columbus, perhaps hedging his bets on the future of Ohio cities?
     
  6. unlikelyfan19

    unlikelyfan19 Member

    Fiorentina
    United States
    May 29, 2018
    I mean. If they were already out the door, why would they try and make it work. MLS was behind this more than AP was IMO.
     
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  7. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018
    it may not matter to you, but you do realize that this is what MLS originally wanted (To be in Austin/ new stadium in columbus) Before threat of relocation, Columbus city council would have been hard pressed to spend any money on a second sports subsidy so soon after the first one. Now they are more then happy to spend major tax payer dollar and give away prime real estate.

    Its literally in the proposal. All you have to do is look it up, quit spreading rumors.
     
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  8. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018
    Seat count: 20,118
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018
    I don't mean to sound like I'm gloating, but the stadium that precourt is 100% privately funding, precourt has promised through legal contract that he would be creating millions of dollars a year in community benefits, volunteer hours, etc. Were getting a park that connects to a railstation and a trail system. Were cleaning up an ugly part of an urban location. And best of all, we didn't have to empty our pocket for any of it, actually Precourt is paying us to use the facility, that hes building for us.

    Columbus residents are so hard pressed to accept that precourt is actually succeeding in Austin. That hes done well for our community, and will continue to invest in his venture to make sure its successful.
     
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  10. MjrGrubert

    MjrGrubert BigSoccer Supporter

    May 22, 2003
    Whitefish, MT
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Looks really awesome. Happy for Columbus.
    I would suspect that the additional office/apartment development future income/profits are likely helped by the assumed low basis in the land thereby helping the overall deal which is crafty.
    Any info on whether the stadium will be owned by the city and leased back thereby avoiding property taxes on that portion? Wonder if that is part of the $100m subsidy.
     
  11. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Primarily it will be about winning back former fans. We'll probably get a new stadium boost in year 1. But there's no reason we can't average 18 with sellouts during good weather.

    Haslam is the deep pockets but Edwards will probably be running things and making the big decisions. He's been part of MLS for more than 20 years. Haslam is interested in building up the Browns in central Ohio and there have been rumors that he'll move Browns summer training camp to the new soccer park once it opens.
     
  12. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    I'm not sure which you consider the first sports subsidy? Nationwide Arena or Huntington Park? They're owned by the county. Mapfre stadium wasn't subsidized to any great extent. City isn't giving away prime real estate. The site was originally going to be used for a casino but the gambling company preferred to be on the west side near freeway access. So this site has been a vacant lot for years. Sorta like McKalla.

    At the announcement they said it would have 17K GA seats, a supporters area with safe standing for 3K and about 3K in suites. Apparently they were including the supporters area in the 17K GA count.
     
  13. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Not clear yet what the ownership arrangement will be. There is a city council meeting tonight about the city's contribution (around 50 mil) to the soccer park and infrastructure upgrades around the stadium. County is also kicking in 50 mil and there may well be state or federal subsidies too.
     
  14. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Could you tell me where this is from? I haven't seen this breakdown of the new Crew stadium seating anywhere else.
     
  15. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018
    sorry, i was talking about the austin stadium and thought you were too, because of our conversation about the Mckalla Place Renderings
     
  16. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018
    On the crew stadium rendering, it looks like a miniature version of Nashville's design. I do like the use of brick and steel, giving it an industrial feel that's very recognizable in the midwest. overall its nice, whether it be 20,000 or 23,000 seats.

    The interior bowl seating is odd. I don't fancy the upper deck in that trapezoidal configuration, you rarely see that in stadia design. And there's a lot of negative space.
     
  17. TracieB

    TracieB Member

    Oct 2, 1999
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It was said there would be 17,000 general seats not 17,000 general admission seats.
     
  18. Jay34

    Jay34 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    Aug 26, 2018
    Austin, TX
    "[...] and as you know we continue to make progress for the Crew to remain in Columbus, starting with a plan for the Haslem family and the Columbus-based Edwards family, to take over the club, potentially as early as next season."

    "In addition to the progress in Columbus with the next few years, MLS will become the first major sports league to have a team in the culturally-dynamic city of Austin"

    Interesting contrast in language. I'd imagine that means they know the Austin deal is signed (there's a rumor today that it has been, and today makes good sense for a signing date) and are just finishing up the Columbus deal. Or waiting for the council, is really why I imagine he's still being ambiguous about Columbus.

    Also, with the "potentially as early as next season" line, does that open up a possibility for PSV to be involved (if only nominally) in Columbus in 2019?
     
  19. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018
    You make an assumption in there where Precourt actually wants to be responsible for things in Columbus for another season on top of putting together a team and a stadium in Austin.

    No. The answer is no.
     
  20. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    PSV won't be involved with the Crew in 2019. They aren't part of the interviews for coach and GM which have been held so far. Not sure why MLS is waiting to make the transfer of ownership official. But the word in Columbus is the deal will be closed this month, maybe next week.
     
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  21. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018


    Columbus officials declaring an "Emergency" to provide $50million in funding towards the stadium development using a memorandum of understanding.
     
  22. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018


    Columbus mayor wants to enter into a memorandum of understanding, declaring an "Emergency" to provide $50million in funding towards the development. Still no talk of ownership structure or revenue sharing, no legally binding contract to use the money as specified, or the legal commitment of community investment dollars that the Haslam/Edwards group spoke of on Thursday. No idea how much money the community park will require to operate once the construction is completed, or a definitive timeline on when the park will be constructed. none of this information has been released publicly by any officials (If I'm wrong, post information below).

    As well, A very broad sense from the taxpayers perspective on where the financing will come from, but as they are declaring an emergency, it could possibly be from any part of the operating budget and replaced later.

    What we do know is that the memorandum of understanding implies that the money coming from the city can be used to design and construct themselves a community sports park, acquire property, and develop necessary infrastructure to the stadium and any anciliary development on the project.

    We do know that the memorandum of understanding implies the ownership group to invest at least $400 million dollars to the overall project. $640million was the number that has been circulating, unsure of where that came from.
     
  23. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Council designated it an "emergency" measure so it takes effect on passage. That lets the mayor sign the MOU next week instead of waiting 90 days like a regular ordinance would require.

    It's not entirely clear where the city or county's money is coming from but the city has several pots of money to draw from. We just passed a new operating levy for the parks and recreation dept. Part was for some land acquisition but most was for operating costs which I'd expect to more than cover any increased costs for the soccer park in 2021 and later years. We passed a package of 10 bond issues a few years ago and apparently there is still money there so that will be the bulk of the city's contributions, some from the parks and rec bonds for the soccer park and some from the street fund for various improvements around the new stadium. City is saying no money will go to construction of the stadium itself. City council will vote on Monday and is likely to approve the ordinance unanimously.

    The county commission meets on Tuesday so we'll know more about their $50 mil then.
     
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  24. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    If it's of interest, Columbus city council unanimously approved spending the $50 mil for the soccer park (which will go where Mapfre is today in 2021) and the infrastructure upgrades around the new stadium. Took about 20 minutes.
     
  25. wingman2468

    wingman2468 Member

    Austin FC
    United States
    May 25, 2018
    State of Ohio set to also pitch in another $15million into the Columbus project, this time for the construction of the stadium itself.



    If that is all the public funding, the various Ohio governments are set to pay $115 million dollars.
     

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