389 replies to this topic

[mweb08]

Pretty good news for the city that relates to the arena and convention center.

https://www.bizjourn...tournament.html

[Mike in STL]

Pretty good news for the city that relates to the arena and convention center.

https://www.bizjourn...tournament.html

We’ll see. The CAA tournament wasn’t a big draw, and that’s division I, when Towson was good. Not sure how this will attract a ton a people. Not to the $50M level they expect anyway.

Maybe I’m wrong.

[BSLMikeLowe]

150,000 visitors? For the CIAA? Yeah....no.

[mweb08]

150,000 visitors? For the CIAA? Yeah....no.

I read that as for the 3 years total, which still may be optimistic, but not nearly as much so as in 1 year.

Charlotte sure views this as a big loss:

https://www.charlott...e224069440.html

[BSLMikeLowe]

I read that as for the 3 years total, which still may be optimistic, but not nearly as much so as in 1 year.

Charlotte sure views this as a big loss:

https://www.charlott...e224069440.html

 

Even if you break it down to each tournament over the 3 years (men's and women's), that's 25,000 for each....about twice the arena's capacity. I know the CIAA Tourney is as much of a party-type event as it is about the basketball, so it draws people who might not even attend the games, but how many of those people are going to want to go to a whole different city that's a lot farther from the conference's geographic center in NC?

 

The CIAA Tournament sounds like the Bayou Classic football game in New Orleans every year.....the event is almost synonymous with the city it's held in. Having been in New Orleans when it was going on one year, it was quite a scene. I doubt it would be anywhere near the same crowd if they moved the BC game to Atlanta or Houston, which sounds like what's happening here.

 

But I guess we'll see. Either way, the arena is getting used for dates when it presumably would be empty, so it's certainly not a bad thing. I'm just highly skeptical that it's as good as they're selling it to be.

[NewMarketSean]

I feel sorry for anyone who has to watch a game in that glorified high school gymnasium.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Baltimore Sun: Baltimore Development Corp. seeks developer for Royal Farms Arena for post-coronavirus events venue

 

Any upgrade is better than what exists right now, but I don't see how the current parcel/structure can be transformed into something with the seating capacity needed to attract more high-quality events.

[BSLChrisStoner]

My initial take is that any plan that involves spending money to update the existing facility is completely wasted $.
 

 

But, whatever... maybe I'll be surprised and the retrofit would work.  I'll wait to see more.

[BSLMikeLowe]

My initial take is that any plan that involves spending money to update the existing facility is completely wasted $.
 

 

But, whatever... maybe I'll be surprised and the retrofit would work.  I'll wait to see more.

 

Lipstick on a pig is still a pig.

[Old Man]

I feel sorry for anyone who has to watch a game in that glorified high school gymnasium.

I wish I could attend a game in a glorified high school gym and not worry about COVID. 

[Mike B]

Baltimore Sun: Baltimore Development Corp. seeks developer for Royal Farms Arena for post-coronavirus events venue

 

Any upgrade is better than what exists right now, but I don't see how the current parcel/structure can be transformed into something with the seating capacity needed to attract more high-quality events.

I have been going to that dump for decades and I think any change should be done after the wrecking ball takes that thing down.  It is uncomfortable, ugly and smells bad inside.  Outside the issues are traffic and crime.  Spending a fortune on the exsisting building seems like a waste.

[NewMarketSean]

That arena needed to be torn down and replaced decades ago. Stop dumping money into that building and replace it with an arena this city deserves. 

[Nigel Tufnel]

The arena is still pretty good for concerts, for what that's worth.  If you need to use the bathroom or get food, then maybe that's an issue, but it's small enough that you're pretty close to the band.

[mweb08]

The arena is still pretty good for concerts, for what that's worth.  If you need to use the bathroom or get food, then maybe that's an issue, but it's small enough that you're pretty close to the band.

 

Yeah, it serves its current purpose just fine and has been profitable during non covid times. 

 

The linked article sounded promising, but skepticism is totally fair. 

 

Beyond that, as previously stated, I don't see the case for Baltimore to pay for a new arena. 

[Russ]

The arena is still pretty good for concerts, for what that's worth.  If you need to use the bathroom or get food, then maybe that's an issue, but it's small enough that you're pretty close to the band.

 

Decent acoustics.

[BSLMikeLowe]

The arena is still pretty good for concerts, for what that's worth.  If you need to use the bathroom or get food, then maybe that's an issue, but it's small enough that you're pretty close to the band.

 

Can't disagree with that. It's not so bad for concerts as far as sound and being close to the stage. But I would also think its limited seating capacity, and lack of high-end amenities for those willing to pay a premium, means that Baltimore misses out on some of the bigger tours. And yes, pass on the concessions and hold your bladder unless you want to miss a good chunk of the show.

[mweb08]

Can't disagree with that. It's not so bad for concerts as far as sound and being close to the stage. But I would also think its limited seating capacity, and lack of high-end amenities for those willing to pay a premium, means that Baltimore misses out on some of the bigger tours. And yes, pass on the concessions and hold your bladder unless you want to miss a good chunk of the show.

Some skip Baltimore I think because it's in between Philly and DC, but that arena surprisingly still gets big acts to show up. Pearl Jam for instance was slated for this year.

"Before the coronavirus ground live entertainment and performing arts to a halt, the arena — formerly known as the Baltimore Arena or 1st Mariner Arena — had brought acts such as Rihanna and the Jonas Brothers to Baltimore and had booked Celine Dion and Pearl Jam for the first half of 2020."

[BSLMikeLowe]

Some skip Baltimore I think because it's in between Philly and DC, but that arena surprisingly still gets big acts to show up. Pearl Jam for instance was slated for this year.

"Before the coronavirus ground live entertainment and performing arts to a halt, the arena — formerly known as the Baltimore Arena or 1st Mariner Arena — had brought acts such as Rihanna and the Jonas Brothers to Baltimore and had booked Celine Dion and Pearl Jam for the first half of 2020."

 

Pearl Jam would have been a huge get in the 1990s? In 2020? I don't know about that.

[mweb08]

Pearl Jam would have been a huge get in the 1990s? In 2020? I don't know about that.

Still a big get in terms of ticket demand. Their tour sold out very quickly.

Also, Pearl Jam wasn't the only artist listed there. The arena does just fine attracting acts given it's proximity between two larger cities.

[NewMarketSean]

The arena is still pretty good for concerts, for what that's worth.  If you need to use the bathroom or get food, then maybe that's an issue, but it's small enough that you're pretty close to the band.

This is true. Between a big arena and RoFo I’d rather see a show at RoFo.