What, the same guy who thinks SRFC doesn't have enough money to make it through this season without a buyer?
I skimmed Warren's and Graham's Reddit AMA from yesterday. Absolutely nothing of interest (to me) but this: Q: If the Republic is given the 2018 MLS expansion spot, will the Republic play at Hughes Stadium considering that construction cannot commence at the Railyards until 2018? WS: Our focus is about the awarding of the MLS franchise and that would be a problem that we would enjoy to solve should it arise. Not exactly a denial that ground-breaking before 2018 is impossible. Anyone here have any insight?
Don't know where the person posing the question got 2018. I've heard consistently that construction could begin late this year or early 2017. It's all contingent on when the Railyards is ready
Agreed. I attended the city environmental impact hearing thingie a month ago where they discussed the current plan. The question was asked regarding construction and, assuming Sacramento is announced as an expansion city during the All-Star game, ground breaking shouldn't follow too far afterwards. They said October-November for final city council approval. We all know KJ won't be a roadblock for this. Sent from my plastic brick
KJ won't be a road block, and if anything they will want to get it through under his tenure before his term is done.
Personally I would prefer construction to begin prior to KJ leaving office, if for no other reason than my complete and total distrust of Steinberg.
Steinberg is a weird guy. He's definitely a "big business pro-establishment" Democrat with some deep connections in city and state government.
Designers Refine Proposed Stadium Plan - CBS Sacramento, 9/8/16 "Designers of the MLS sports complex have made some modifications and plan to move the stadium 40 feet to the north and additionally reduce 10 feet on all sides of the stadium." It's not clearly stated, but the inference seems to be that this is to alleviate game-day traffic concerns. "The final phase is expected to be presented on Oct. 20."
Well hmm... So the footprint is being reduced 10 feet on all sides, or the height? I wonder if moving it north had more to do with noise impact than anything else. There is the existing railroad berm along the south of the site and another berm on the north, so I'm not sure what exactly they're planning on around the stadium now. Are there any new maps or documents of the new plans??
and so it begins.......... " Republic FC executives say the stadium would likely be used 33 times a year and has room to grow and could be alternatively be used for concerts." So, homeowers caused you to move your stadium over the concern of the noise of trucks, and you think you are going to host concerts? Knowing Sacramento City Hall, they will approve concerts with two conditions: 1. they can't exceed the noise of traffic 2. lights out by 11:00.
Nah. Council wants the stadium. This is paper gamesmanship. Move the stadium north 40 ft., adjust the roads closer to stadium (which makes property between road and affected neighborhood bigger), which allows more development between stadium and neighborhood. Developer makes a bit more money (because some of the open space around the stadium is now developable), and neighborhood is happy with the token effort to address their concerns.
This hasn't changed. Initial stadium build will be for +/- 20K, with capacity expandable to 25K Personally, I wish they were starting with 25K with a stadium design expandable to 30+, but was told that capacity is restricted with the steep rake they want to use. If you added a third or upper level, it would be very high, and looking straight down. Going to 30K+ requires a shallower rake, which makes stadium wider, and places fans farther from the field. This is why NFL stadium lower bowls are so shallow; need to spread the foot print to allow for multiple seating levels, and decent viewing angles.
It was the plan all along for it to be a multi-use venue. However, concerts can exceed the noise of a soccer game, so that's probably a touchier subject. I expect an outdoor concert could be heard far away, even downtown. Moving the stadium 40 feet won't really accomplish anything in the grand scheme of things.
I don't think they're going to be able to develop anything else next to the stadium, that space is so confined and has the existing railroad there I don't think they'll be able to squeeze anything. Maybe a parking structure or a fast food joint, but it's not the ideal location for a business.
From the plans I saw, Railyards Blvd is going to cross over 7th st, and be the southern boundary of the stadium property. It will curve up past the stadium and tie into North B St and 12th St. Between Railyards Blvd and the RR tracks, is developable commercial land.
Re noise concerns... let's remember that some folks raised a noise concern about Avaya Stadium in San Jose, which is sandwiched between SJC airport and the SP railroad, and is roughly three blocks away from the Nimitz Freeway. The prospect of "noise concerns" is just another excuse for certain parties to try and enter a project at the late stages of approval and collect their vig.
I see now - so there's not really anything directly south of the stadium site other than the road, there's a big triangle plot that tapers off between the road and railroad. I think the shift of the stadium 40 feet north means they plan on taking out that berm, it looks right up against it in the plan drawings. (You have to imagine the site drawing rotated 90 degrees clockwise) Again, there's not much room to cram something south of the stadium.