I got a call from my ticket rep today and he told me they'd like to get fan input on where we would like the Stadium to be located. Send an email to Marcus Myrick stating where you'd like to see it and perhaps even why you would like to see it there. I'm guessing they would like to at least consider the suggestions of the more dedicated fans when it comes time to make these decisons. Remember the old saying, if you don't vote, don't complain. Send your emails to mmyrick@pepsicenter.com P.S. Westminster votes only please.
I guess we're the only 2 who care where it goes Marcus apparently reads through this board all the time.
Sweet, thanks for the info. The stadium MUST be downtown...simple as that. I'll be writing in to let him know.
I like how everything is so black and white for you. I don't think KSE is going to want to invest the money to be downtown. The costs are going to be sooo much higher for what they want. It is most likely prohibative.
Westminster is better. There's a lot of soccer in Boulder and Fort Collins and it be nice if it were some where near US-36
Holy Crap! What happened to all that "if you don't vote, don't complain" BS. Does that only work for people who want it down the street from their cul de sac and the happenin' Chili's where they meet the gang from church? If you want it downtown near every other Denver Metro facility of any importance whatsoever and tons of dining and drinking facilities, besides the mighty butterfly pavillion and a dying mall, you are a black and white thinking person irresponsibly spending a billionaire's money, regardless of the fact that KSE already purchased a facility and two major league teams for several hundred million. (They have since started another and own part of a fourth.) I'd like to think Stan can afford a stadium that will be central to EVERYONE, near the downtown amenities, and whose location will not be in an area best known for nothing. If there is room, it should go downtown with everything else.
This post pretty much sums up all of the points I was already going to make. No need to say anything more. Downtown is THE WAY TO GO. It's just that simple.
I agree that downtown is the way to go. However, there are a lot of things in the decision process that make downtown a grey issue. #1 I mentioned, the cost. #2 the space. Is there room for another sports stadium, the required parking, the secondary fields for youth training. There is obviously not room for another HDC which KSE has mentioned as a model. #3 the city. Does Denver want another sports stadium? Will city council allow a zoning change if needed? Politics are central to this thing. Westminster wants the stadium and they worked on the proposal to get the Rapids stadium out there. They will bend over backwards to get the stadium, giving KSE more concessions. One of the proposals they are considering is only 5 miles from central downtown. Probably 3.5 miles from the Pepsi center. Not exactly at the butterfly pavillion. I can tell you that KSE is looking for FREE ground for the project. That means not downtown. That means a city or county government which wants a team to be in their city. There are a lot of business decisions involved that do not have to do with bigsoccer passionate decisions. So when I say it is not a black and white decision i do not mean to take away your ability to bitch, moan and express an opinion. I am only trying to give a sense of reality. For KSE to build a downtown stadium they are going to have to want to spend a lot of money and battle a lot of politics. I don't know that they want to do this when they are looking for free ground. Please do not bring up the Nuggests/Aves/Mamouth and the Pepsi center as a comparable. They are obviously not comparable because of the popularity of the teams and venue. They are a worse comparable because KSE didn't build them, they bought them for hundreds of millions of dollars because they were successful. The owner who developed the Pepsi center bought that land for less than market rates because it was a depressed area that Denver was working to restore. The downtown amenities were not as strong then. There are different things going on now that proclude another stadium from being built in that area. The least of which is the land price that I heard was over $100 a square foot. Those economics do not lend themselves to sports stadiums.
This whole thread is a shot in the dark... Although I would prefer the stadium downtown, it's hard to make a decision without knowing all the details. Does KSE really own some extra land next to the Pepsi Center? What's the deal with the land in Westminster, is it free? Would the Rapids make more money from the parking at ther Pepsi Center or from owning their own spaces up North? What are the politics of Westminster vs the politics of Denver? What are the exact locations? What are the exact costs? etc. etc. etc. I think the original question was--"Where would you like the stadium?" Now most of this thread is arguing about things we know nothing about.
As Mugwump states, there are too many unknowns. I've read that HDC was part of a urban renovation that included other uses like shops and housing. Denver is all too in favor of basting away existing uses for new and improved ones. If Kroenke goes the way of HDC, he may get help from Denver in its effort to make shiny new things. Not knowing too much about Westminster individually but reading a lot about local government, the name of the game is sales tax revenue for these guys. I suppose that the HDC concept you point out if co development must be what they are looking for. If they make a great deal and get it, so be it. As has been pointed out, that is where Dalles went (Frisco) and where NY/NJ and Chicago may go, to the burbs. I know you are right in that Stan will cut his best deal and if it is in Westminster, there the Rapids will go. But the Pepsi Center comparison was made for a specific purpose, to show the guy will throw money at a vanity thing. From what I remember, and some quick research on the web did not give me anything, the Nuggets and Avs were not making money when Kroenke bought them. They were established teams in established leagues, but were not doing well financially. I remember an article in which Pierre Lacroix described his job in finding out how much money he was allowed to lose in a particular year. That was a big reason why Ascent wanted to dump them. Even with Pepsi in place, they wanted to go back to the TV and movie stuff they did. So if they are now profitable, it may have been because Stan turned it around with the new concert pavillions, TV deals, or whatever else he does. My hope for the Downtown argument is that he does an HDC in an area where Denver will help him get the land either cheaply or with huge incentives to put in more upscale amenities.
The new stadium has to be downtown. A suburban soccer stadium will bring small suburban crowds (with all of their kids) and not a true professional atmosphere that we've all been looking for. Plus, if KSE wants to expand its concert/entertainment capabilities with a medium sized stadium, a suburban site would drastically limit its opportunities. Don't forget the lameness and neighborhood complaints associated with Fiddler's Green. To me, the ideal site would be where Elitch's currently sits. Maybe they could move again.
Sorry, Burmm, this is America and families are the soccer fans. Last time I looked around Invesco, I saw that the birth rate was holding steady and the school system would have work to do for many years. I don't know what you consider a "professional atmosphere" but I wouldn't hold my breath about it happening.
Hey guys send them an email if you haven't already. They're asking where you individually think it should be. There is no wrong answer. Tell them what YOU think. They are the ones who are ultimatly going to decide anyways but our feedback may sway them one way or the other. They aren't going to read these posts so shoot Marcus an email so he has something to bring them. Garrett
Excuse me for butting in guy's but i'd like to give my opinion on the stadium. Although i can't suggest where your stadium get's built,I've never been to Colorado. Please urge the Rapids to make it a soccer specific stadium. Not a soccer/american football stadium like in Frisco for the Burn. I'd hate to see them build the stadium with the seat's 10 feet off the ground. They can get some good ideas here. http://www.footballgroundz.co.uk/
FWIW, 1) downtown Denver, 2) anywhere in Denver/Jefferson/Arapahoe counties as close to Denver as possible. Whatever...
Hey Bonji Bonji, You seem to be in the know in regards to the stadium situation. Do you know if there are any other sites other than Westminster that KSE is looking at? The location you were talking about was something like 64th and Pecos, right? Is that site still in the running? And finally, do you know any timetables for announcing the decision?
Fiddler's Green is an insult to those of us who live here, especially since the best music venue in the country is 10 minutes out of the city. My vote for downtown as well. I like south Broadway area as I think that area is ready for a boom, and also cause I live there. Otherwise near the Pepsi center. I'll go to games in Westminster if they build it there, but it may be tough to get my friends to go. Plus Westminster cops suck, are are obsessed with speeding tickets.
spoke with my rep yesterday and he said to continue emailing in your responses on the stadium. Now is our chance to be heard.
I haven't noticed anyone in this thread mentioning access to public transportation as a factor in determining the site for the new stadium. Having watched two matches at the Home Depot Center in Carson (Women's World Cup games in October) I would suggest the Rapids seriously consider public transportation as one factor. If the stadium is built at some of the suggested sites in Westminster it would seem that public transportation won't be convenient. Building the stadium in downtown would allow access to public transportation and a centeralized sites where fans from the southern metro area would not feel to put out to travel to. On the construction of the stadium itself, don't follow the HDC too closely. The distance from the touchlines appears to be around 10 yards which takes away from spectators experience of the game.
Re: Hey Bonji What I have heard is that there are two sites in the running, Westy and another. The Westy site is on Pecos like we have talked about. As far as I know it is still in the running. This is some old news so I would think things have changed. I know the guy who helped develop Invesco was hired by KSE as well. I don't know anything about time tables but if you think about it, they need at least 18 months construction time. Land acquisition and politics could take six months at the least. So if they want a April 2006 opening they need to announce by April 2004. Not too much longer.
umm...who are you? Anyway, you're right. The Rapids systematically read my postings then figure going the opposite way is best because smart asses like me must be wrong. That is why the team changed colors from Green to Blue and Black, are keeping Hankinson as coach, and believe that a mediocre field product is acceptable. I must really get to them.