(12-15-2013 10:12 PM)stc Wrote: Easy mixeduptransistor, your speaking facts. Some people don't like that. Kidding aside this is great news for the city.
[Must resist poking fun of grammar... must resist...]
Would you like to point out to me what part of this is non-factual?
Quote:Seriously, good for them, but the attendees are just going to see a fantastic facility right in the middle of blight that they have to drive 8 miles away from to find a place to stay.
I grew up right around the corner and graduated from high school almost right across the street. I visited the area when I was there for Thanksgiving. It's as bad as it has ever been. I admit that it is a fantastic facility (as I did in my previous post), but they have essentially recreated the Legion Field experience (a mere few miles away at that) .... go in for the event and then get out of there as soon as it is over.
I have very serious doubts that anything placed there is, on its own, going to turn the area around. The putt putt course didn't. Go karts didn't. Bumper boats didn't. The previous arena upgrade (very nice as well) didn't. Before that I'm pretty sure exhibit halls were added (in the 80s?) - those didn't. I don't expect this to make much of an impact either. People will come for the great venue/event and then drive back to their hotel somewhere else in town to spend their money. Then they will go back to their respective cities and talk about how Birmingham is really scary. Is that really the part of town Birmingham wants to show out of towners that they hope will evangelize for the city and return one day?
I don't have a problem with cities that already have established venues, facilities, and conference centers trying hail mary passes to revitalize an area - especially that one. I grew up there for pete's sake.
It's just that Birmingham doesn't have that particular luxury right now. It can't afford to make an investment like that and see it fail. Birmingham only has so many arrows and it should be shooting them at big fat deer... not squirrels. Build this downtown (near the "entertainment district" for example) and you might see a real transformation of the area. Where they put it... it's most likely going to remain an island in a sad sea. And then, yet again, you've given another examples to the naysayers that Birmingham is a bad investment.
It's located there because it was an obstinate (and felonious) mayor's pet project. Multiple times he forced investments on the West side of town just because it was the West side of town.... not because it was otherwise a good decision. How did those turn out?
That area will turn around when downtown Birmingham turns around and that advances west down the 3rd Avenue corridor. A lone facility is not going to do it.
And drawing parallels between this and UAB is a red herring. What does a university campus and a sports venue have in common - not much. For example, how well did the area around Atlanta Fulton County Stadium or Turner Field turn around with a major league baseball team as its tenant, playing 50+ games a year there? Or closer to home... compare Legion Field to Birmingham Southern. Which one held the line and which one was assimilated into the malaise of the area? I agree - UAB has been and will be transformative to Birmingham. Build on that... put this facility near UAB - say George Ward park. Not Five Points West.
It was a bad call.... and if you are smart, deep down you know I'm right. It's there, it's built, it's done - so it should be supported... I get that. You go get 'em. Fight the good fight. If I have the occasion, I'll go to an event there ... it's not like I'm afraid. I'm just not drinking the Kool-Aid about this building making much a difference. You can only drink so much before you get sick of it.
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The recognition, the events, and the awards they have received points towards success. The previous attendees have raved about the facility and their experience, which is why more events are being won. The good ole days aren't coming back but that doesn't mean the best days aren't ahead. The have been several articles about the recruitment efforts by the city to attract businesses to that area. They discussed how the city wants to be strategic in how the area is developed and they are studying other redeveloped cities. City officials also acknowledged past failures by the city and a need to avoid similar mistakes and the need to have a comprehensive long term approach. But it easier to predict failure when you don't have the ability visualize the future because your so busy looking at the past.
The defeat of MAPS set Birmingham back 20 years, if there isn't progress their must regress because stagnation is impossible. I commend the leaders I'm Birmingham, the railroad park, the baseball stadium, and the Crossplex are all great additions. All had naysayers and predictions of doom but they are thriving, bringing positive national attention. Did that happen back in the good ole days? Seems to be a new day in the Ham, some magic back in the city.
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Birmingham CrossPlex awarded 11 NCAA championships over four years beginning in 2015
