Oh, no! I made you shudder. Actually, my point was that coming from Boulder, a location that has pretty good access to the Jeffco location (which is the location we were talking about, Bonji) it still took almost half an hour (I don't know about you, but I consider 25 minutes to be pretty close to half an hour). If you were coming from Aurora, Thornton, or most locations other than Golden/Arvada/Westminster, it will take longer. Not because of the distance, but because you basically have your choice of two-lane roads to choose from. Yes, it currently takes me roughly 30 minutes to get to Mile High. But it takes most people roughly 30 minutes to get to Mile High. That's the point - it's nice and central. Hardly the case with that out of the way Jeffco field (which I happen to like, but not for the Rapids stadium).
The Highway 93 location would be beautiful and look really good on TV--set up against the foothills with a great view of downtown in the distance. But I have to agree that there's very limited access from most of the metro area. Most people would have to come through Golden. Of course there's talk of finishing the W-470 wrap-around and that would probably change things somewhat. But there's little chance of any public transportation. I'd have to say the Commerce City site is a better choice. The 6th and Kipling site is going to have a long-term fight with the neighbors before it can be built.
Sorry about coming on your board, but this is exciting to me as well. http://www.ussocceruk.com/news/?CatTypeId=2&ContentId=1537 Good news: Bergin thinks it will be near the Pepsi Center. And it will be "influenced heavily by European architectural influences."
If any of this is remotely true, it's a good day to be a Rapids fan. A stadium right downtown, European influenced, everything that the Rapids fans on this board have been hoping for. Can't wait for the announcement. Anyone on these boards going to be in attendance today???
I live in Fort Collins, and I wish it only took 30 minutes to get to the Rapids games! Even so, I decided to support the team and get the half-season ticket plan.
This Bergin info is extremely exciting. However, I was told by a high level KSE source of my own within the last two weeks that a stadium complex needed fifty acres. I don't know where this might be around downtown. He told me that the Auroria campus is not going to happen because of politics. Also said on the grounds of current KSE facilities (Pepsi Center and surrounding areas) is not possible because of a lack of room for parking, etc. Hopefully someone from the board is going to the lunch and can report. Very exciting!
FYI, just so you know (and I posted this elsewhere) Bergin did not write that article. It was Aris Ohanessian, BuffloSoldier on BigSoccer and a professional journalist. I'd give this report high credibility.
Well, if the stadium ends up being downtown as recent news reports have suggested, you can take 25 south to Thornton, and then take the commuter rail downtown from there because of Fastraks.
So??? Are you gonna get any rail transit at any of the other locations mentioned? And who cares anyway? All KSE announced was that HOK is doing the stadium design...big f'n whoop.
http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/newsdetails.asp?ID=276 Rapids' Official Site says HOK S+V+E has been selected as architect.
A big let down... Looks like today was just the architect anouncement. If anyone in attendance want's to comment. For now we can go off this article. http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/newsdetails.asp?ID=276
"Rapids' Official Site says HOK S+V+E has been selected as architect." <sarcasm>Big surprise.</sarcasm>
I know you all disagree with me ... but 20,000 seats in my opinion is perfect. Will generate more demand for season tickets.
My only worry is that what we want to have happen, soccer popularity in the states grows, the stadium will be outdated and too small in a short amount of time. I like something closer to 30,000 because the team can have more room to grow, big games can gross more, and the other events can hold more people.
My guess and I have not heard yet is that it will be like the Capacity of the other stadiums 25-35,000 people don't you think? That would make the most sense. After all the Pepsi Center does not even hold 30,000 people. It has a capacity of 21,000 Granted IFAMH seats what 60 + but soccer will never sell that with in the next 25 years! 30,000 is a great number...and could meet the demand.
I think the stadium should be built on top of a mountain so its 2 miles high and you get a real home field advantage.
"Since its inception HOK S+V+E has designed more than 40 worldwide soccer projects that include: Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Arsenal FC Stadium at Ashburton Grove, and Reebok Stadium, all in England; Faro Stadium and Benefica Stadium in Portugal; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida; Telstra Stadium in Australia and the New Wembley National Stadium in London." At least they know what they're doing.
I noticed on the website article that there were graphic renderings of what the "blue seated venue" would look like. Can anyone who was there comment on this?
No dis on Ohanessian here, but it looks like his source fed him some bum info. Every other report about the stadium from the past 2 days is making it clear that the stadium will have adjoining fields and not be located downtown. It was also interesting to see that Garber stated during the luncheon that the stadium would be modeled after the Frisco project for the Burn, both in terms of facility design as well as in terms of funding. Not quite a 180-degree spin from modeling the facility after the Toolbox, but with the news that 2006 is going to be a questionable opening date... if not for having a quality architect on board this whole KSE stadium commitment thing would sure reek of "bait and switch." Is it a coincidence that the Rapids as well as many media outlets make a strong point of mentioning that HOK S+V+E is also the architects of "new Wembley," a stadium project which has been notoriously delayed for years and years, and has many in England questioning if it'll ever be finished?
I don't know where the hell ol' Aris got his info about the footy stadium being next to the Pepsi Center, but I hope he's right. The phrase "sources close to Kronke" doesn't really give me all that much faith in his article. I want Kronke himself to confirm the stadium location dammit.