Now that I'm a bit more comfortable with Dragon stadium - I'd like to learn more about what's happening and what needs to happen in the future for the Burn to get the hell out of there. Last I heard - Frisco was going to make some sort of decision in February. Reading these boards it appears that they have $150-200 million to fund construction projects like this - and that the land for the project was already set aside. So, what are the next steps - and how realistic is it for the Burn to exercise the option to bolt Dragon after one year? I know HSG already has the plans - and the know how from Columbus - and if the financing is a matter of Frisco drawing from the fund - is it reasonable to expect that this whole project could move quicker than any other in MLS?
bump Anybody know what's the latest on Frisco - I'd be interested in knowing who holds the cards and what they may look like when they are eventually played.
The local Frisco paper is online. The article below suggests that they will either get a performing arts center or the stadium for the Burn. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6686918&BRD=1435&PAG=461&dept_id=185173
no, that's not what that means. The PAC and Stadium do not really impact the other. The financial support is from different sources. Generally, Frisco is close. Real close. I did not see SLC stadium on the horizon. We'll see soon enough how the two things are actually related. If at all... It's possible that they actually, are not directly linked. It could be that Frisco goes on as planned, and that SLC is just a convenient way to break even while Frisco is settled, built, and the ribbon gets cut. It may not be more complex than that. The fact that the contract is only 3 years long at most is evidence to support that it's just a thing they did to get close to break-even. A smart thing if HSG is preparing to write a check to MLS LLP to buy the Burn, and then write a check to a construction co. for their share of the Frisco stadium. It's a lot easier to cut those checks when writing the first one doesn't put you in the hole 1 million the minute you take over the team. It's also leverage on Frisco. The Burn are going to spend $$ to expand the Dragon's Den (my name for it today). If Frisco bargains too hard, then HSG can say "hey, we've got an alternative to you, much the same situation in a ritzy suburb with plenty of area to draw from. We want to be in Frisco, but you are not going to clean us out in the process."
So correct me if I'm wrong but the situation in Frisco as it stands now is as such: 1. Frisco is considering the Burn's proposal - having already done their research on the impact to the local economy etc. 2. If they go forward - they would then hammer out lease terms and construction issues. 3. There is $70 million that voters have already approved from the $190 million bond that is earmarked for project such as the stadium - and city council or the mayor or some qualified group can cut checks from it - without the need for another public vote. 4. The land and location where the stadium will be built is owned by the city and there would be no unusual obstacles in the way of the Burn dusting off the old Crew stadium plans and breaking ground soon enough to potentially be ready by teh start of the 2004 season. What did I get wrong - and what's the timing for the Frisco folks to make their decision?
One more thing about Frisco: What I've been led to believe so far is that the stadium there will be shared by the Burn and Frisco ISD. They're building a new high school there right now, and I would assume that they would need a place to play football. I'm sure that if it were a fairly nice stadium, that Frisco High would also like to play there, too. By doing that, it becomes a bit easier to get public money for the place.
OK Final question. Whose side of the court is the ball on? Is the mayor or council reviewing the Burn proposal? What is their timing on making a decision? Is there some legislative calendar that needs to be considered - or could these folks decide tomorrow to pull the trigger on the deal? Also - what is the next step? Do they say 'yes we want to do the deal' and then the Burn haggle over terms - or have they already passed that point - and are considering the final deal - with the next step of breaking ground?
Goddamn, why so far north? I wish someone would buy out Reunion, tear it down and slap a stadium into that pit. I'll take it anyway I can get it though I suppose. Far North Dallas has ZERO character IMHO. Flat as a board until you get farther north of Frisco.
I like the Reunion idea and then the Burn could rent it out or something. The one good thing about the stadium being in Frisco is how everything has developed and could benifit the Burn in a huge way. Now if they just determined WHERE they are going to put the stadium.
Great. I guess this means that we can count on football lines and a shredded playing surface for every "home" game. Or maybe an artificial surface?
no but High School Football will start just in time for the playoffs. But since it's our stadium, I think we should have the lines off and the pitch back to a nice surface. Maybe we should just pick up the Cotton Bowl's ground and put it in Frisco. Haven't heard much about it lately, so I'm with Alex Sanz, I'll believe it when I see it...
I wouldn't think so since Frisco still had a fairly decent stadium unless they plan on updating it or getting a new one for the new school. So lets assume the Burn Stadium is built and the school tries to pressure us into letting them use our field. It would be easy to avoid having them play at the same stadium with the two high schools. One is home one week while the other is away and swap back and forth. Problem solved.
And you can distract yourself from the lines by admiring your own clever sarcasm all during August, September, October, and November when they are playing!
You've answered your own question. There is an entertainment hole once you get past 635, therefore the RoughRiders and Burn are relatively attractive for some of the Colin County cities. Vice versa, the clubs would be moving into an area with lots of disposable income and not much near to spend it on.
Love the back and forth fellas - but could someone please provide answers to my last series of questions. What are the next steps for Frisco? Is the mayor/city counsel reviewing a proposal? What happens if they say yes - do they have the authority to cut a check right there on the spot - or does a committee have to meet to then review again. I'm curious to see how close we are to a Burn stadium in Frisco. Things in Columbus moved fairly quickly once the lease was agreed upon. Is that where the negotiations are right now? And when do the Burn expect to move to the next stage? Have Frisco officials made any commitments to a date when they hope to decide?
After the McKinney debacle, HSG has purposely been negotiating with Frisco and two other locations (one of them Southlake?) behind closed doors. Your questions are questions that we all would liked answered. Unfortunately, as members of Joe Public Citizen we don't have have access to the details. It is frustrating as hell.