Yes- the "Avid save the crew supporter" who knows so much about the team that he calls Obetz World class.
Parking didn’t seem to be an issue on Saturday with the Arnold and there is 0 chance any event using the fields (non-concert) would come close to drawing as many people as opening day.
The fair uses every bit of that land, plus the area between the OHC building and 71. I'd imagine the horse show uses similar amounts, plus they need the land for the trailers.
So checking into this the guy quoted, Virgil Strickler, is the GM of the Expo Center but he isn't in charge. He is one of nine people on the Board of Commissioners for the Expo Center and does not hold a rank on the Board. So he isn't a chair, vice chair, or anything. He is the GM of the Expo Center in charge of overseeing daily operations, not making big decisions. So when he says he wasn't consulted...cool...maybe they talked the Chair, Vice Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer? Which incidentally would be 5 votes, enough to approve the deal. Notice that the Spokeswoman never said the Board hadn't been consulted at all, just that she spoke to the terms of the lease. Also, all the Commissioners are appointed by the Governor for a duration of their choosing. Meaning Strickler could be replaced tomorrow if DeWine wants. Seems like this guy was offended that no one wanted to talk to him after he made a mess of the Browns deal a couple of years ago so he went to the press and the Dispatch was happy to run a story it new would get some clicks.
My guess is the solution presented is that a multilevel parking structure is built for joint use with Mapfre and the fairgrounds. You reclaim some of the spaces you lost with the development and everyone wins.
It doesn't even have to be that big of a project. Paving of the existing grass areas can make the space more efficient parking wise. The re-purposing plans really only takes up the VIP parking areas so it's not like there's a huge chunk of parking disappearing. The articles reads like political posturing. The Expo Center wants (and deserves) a say in what happens on their land. Linden can get some guarantees on use rights. Plenty of time to figure out what works best for all involved. Not sure what Bret Adams' angle is but we're talking about him so he's probably getting what he wants.
I just looked at the board too and you know why I think your right? Because low and behold two of the Commissioners are representatives in the Ohio Senate and House. Even more amazing when I checked their voting history and public comments...they both voted for the plan when it went up for a vote in the House/Senate. Then I checked and a third Commissioner is the head of the Ohio Development Agency...who also publicly supported the plan. So if five votes are needed to pass something and three are already likely on the Crew's side....
The Exposition commission is part of the state department of agriculture. The governor appoints the director of the department and the fair board members. The new proposal does take more land than the Crew currently are leasing, though a lot of it is currently unusable such as the drainage basin to the west of Mapfre. Unless DeWine has a falling out with others, the project should stay on track.
Bret has been commenting on FB. https://WWW.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156316258937055&id=8945512054
Bret Adams was quoted by Kneepads Chris Bils in the Austin Statesman as an authority on soccer in Columbus. He seemed to agree with Precourt as I recall. He lost all credibility with me.
If obetz is world class what's ohio state's practice facility considered? It is also partially funded by taxpayer money.
Bret Adams says he represented Tom Fitzgerald and Greg Andulus. His view of MLS is very 20 years ago. Obetz was never World class but was maybe amongst the tops in the US at that time. Not any more. Alex Fischer will deal with this guy and the Fairgrounds board. I don’t expect there is much to see here.
Bret Adams is on the same list as every former Crew FO employee that moved to the south, PSV and all those damn "fans" of the proposed team in the capital of Texas. Don't give a flying turd what he says or thinks ever. Listening to his opinions is just inviting yourself to be trolled. I have an old bike without a seat that he can take a ride on down a bumpy street.
I'd love to hear GoCrew's take on all of this. My money says that Fischer, the Mayor, The Haslams, MLS, Dewine, etc., know more than this Bret Adams guy, and that the fairgrounds were involved in some way.
these concerns make very little sense. Strickler is worried that taking a few hundred parking spaces away to make fields will lead to a parking shortage during QHC and the Arnold. Guess what? We all just went to a game on Saturday THAT OCCURRED DURING THE ARNOLD. Arnold-parkers were in no way budding up with parking for the game. Same with every game I've ever been to during the QHC and sold-out fall games. This plan facilitates getting the team OUT of the fairgrounds and into downtown. How does removing the team from there do anything but give you a net gain in parking for the fairgrounds? This guy is one of two things: 1) not understanding the impact this has, or 2) upset with how much money his agency will lose from not being able to charge Crew fans for parking any more. Actually, he is probably both. The only point I agree with: Folks living in Linden probably won't get the most use out of the park. But guess what? 1) they'd get even less use out of that land if it remained in the team's exclusive control, and they currently get ZERO use there, and 2) It will become a heroin den if you let it sit there and rot. The insinuation that Obetz is something more than an embarrassment to major league american sports is delusional. As one tidbit, it's poor condition was one factor in Meram leaving to Orlando. The park doesn't need to pose as a resource for Linden. It's being built to benefit the whole metro area. There is no better solution possible.
He was asked if he or his new agency is working for anyone involved in the story. His new agency offers "Entertainment Venue Media & Business Consulting" as well as "Real Estate and Development Consulting". So he could be working for Obetz or someone else and have a total agenda.
AMAZING UPDATE: Adams pulled down the website for his new business (launched in December) after he got called out on Facebook! Literally it was there yesterday and listed Event & Entertainment Venue Consulting along with Real Estate & Development Consulting. He was asked if it was providing any of those services to Obetz or anyone in the story and didn't answer. Now it's been pulled down. Think we found the root of his involvement folks?
Um, the tax payers do pay some of the stuff for athletic facilities on occasion. Not sure about here, but it's not unheard of.
The terms of the current lease state that the stadium be returned to it's previous condition so if this doesn't work out the team will need to demolish it and flatten the land. All of the available parking areas outside of VIP are used for the fair and AQHC. If any of those spaces are lost it is an issue for those events and the contracts the fairgrounds has with AQHC. Not that there can't be remedies. I'm all for figuring it out. I'd also be perfectly fine if they demoed it and let some of the local suburbs fight to get a Crew training facility/public park complex built if the fairgrounds land proves impossible. I have very little room for nostalgia in my life. I'll always have fond memories of CCS but I don't need to physically see it to retain them. Sitting in it to watch a Crew u-19 team play a DA league game in front of 800 people might tarnish my memory more than add to it. That's the one thing about the re-purposing I didn't really get. What is the need that this relic will serve for the next 20 years that the new stadium couldn't handle? Aside from saving the costs of having to tear it down.