Final agreement reached for Cerner-Wizards development in WyCo

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Do they still hope to break ground in the next 23 days?

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

yes.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

cool... I hope this happens. People seem (reasonably) satisfied with the location here, right?

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

It depends on who you act, some people aren't happy with it's location (myself included) because it's way on the western edge of the metro area while the Bannister location was closer to the population center of KC. Still I understand the reason for it's location being out there.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Unfortunatly, no location will satisfy everyone. Hopefully whatever location is chosen will afford the Wizards a chance to focus on building a good solid fan base over the next decade. I look forward to attending a match out there once you guys get your stadium built.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

What's awesome about this situation is that there are two locations fighting for an MLS team. My hat is off to OnGoal. I used to bag on KC all the time. Since I interviewed Rob Heinemann about 18 months ago I have been rooting for this franchise and confident that they will be a success.

Hats off to KC. Either location would be great.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Okay, but it seems that neither of those two locations has offered a deal that is agreeable to OnGoal. Perhaps OnGoal is just trying to use its leverage to get the best possible deal it can get before accepting one, but we are getting precariously close to Heinemann's own "we will break ground by the end of the year unless the world falls OnGoal does seem to be an active owner, but let's wait to see if they actually work something out on either side of the border before handing out any kudos on the stadium situation.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Knowing next to nothing about the metro and it's population, my only hope is that they make the best long-run choice. Whichever location that may be.

 

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If there is one local ownership group I have faith in it's these guys. They really have been a breathe of fresh air IMO.

KC fans...am I wrong?

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Absolutely 100% correct.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

are the KC supporters actively lobbying to get input into the design of the stadium?

 

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In the past on BS, Heineman has posted questions and thoughts for the potential stadium and what fans would like to see there. So in a way yes.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

great. would love to see more terrace sections in MLS (no seats where the supporters are)

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Why?

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

In Kansas City, you could get that for $160 million

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Europosing.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Terracing is a safety hazard in my opinion.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

It can be done very safely and effectively and can add greatly to the game experience. Germany has proven all of this.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

The ADA, IBC & NFPA agree with you

Given that the ADA, in it's current language states that you have to provide wheelchair accessible seating in all seating and price groups, it's not usually worth building if you have to come along and heavily modify it or tear it all out a few years down the road if someone comes along and decides to file litigation under the ADA.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

This seems a bit odd to me since there are standing only sections in the Dean E. Smith center that don't seem accessible to me.

Even then, is it really that difficult to have wheelchair seating at entrance level? Either at the top of the standing section or in a wide central isle.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

Those changes are from the most recent update to the ADA, which are only triggered by new construction or renovation in the affected area. This would be new construction.

Difficult, not really. An additional cost, certainly, and you're at the mercy of the interpretation of local code officials on one hand and possibly a judge/jury on the other. The additional cost of a wide central mezzanine that would allow both safe circulation and safe egress for both able and disabled visitors is not only an expensive proposition, but it reduces the number of available seats you can sell, reducing your revenue from attendance.

Further, designated viewing that is not provided with seating requires additional SF/Person, again meaning that you can't sell as many entries to that area because of the threat of a panic/crush situation.

In short, thanks to the Who Concert crush, dozens of soccer and othe sports related panic/crush/fire incidents and ADA legislation, all being incorporated into Fire/Design/Safety/Accessibility codes in the US, it becomes so much more difficult/costly to provide this type of viewing area than it's worth to build it and appease an tiny minority of fans.

 

Re: Kansas sweetens offer for Wizards, Cerner...

AKA the Supporter's Groups.

Trifle with them at your peril.