CSNbbs

http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2008/12/...gn_ci.html

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/12/firm...n_dur.html





Background on the two groups vying for the project:

Quote:HOK, formed 25 years ago, said it has designed 825 facilities worth $20 billion. Its portfolio includes Reliant Stadium in Houston, the Phoenix Convention Center, the renovation of Dolphins Stadium in Miami, the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis and the Alamodome in San Antonio.

HKS, which calls itself one of the world's largest designers of sports stadiums, designed the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the planned Liverpool FC stadium in England and the $1 billion Dallas Cowboys football stadium.

Most interesting quote from the articles:

Quote:HOK officials said they think the dome could be built for $410 million. If the BJCC opted to add a retractable roof, the cost could be about $30 million more, they said.

I thought this thing was dead in the water?

Also, what's going on with the entertainment district? Are they ever going to break ground on it?

With computers they call it "vaporware".

TMcCarty Wrote:I thought this thing was dead in the water?

Also, what's going on with the entertainment district? Are they ever going to break ground on it?

They say it is still a go, but they were having problems 6 months ago getting financing for the project. Imagine how hard it is right now.

BatesUAB Wrote:

TMcCarty Wrote:I thought this thing was dead in the water?

Also, what's going on with the entertainment district? Are they ever going to break ground on it?

They say it is still a go, but they were having problems 6 months ago getting financing for the project. Imagine how hard it is right now.

Part of Obama's economic stimulus package?

You gotta know Leapin' Larry's wetting his pants at the thought of getting the B'ham Dome included in Obama's infrastructure package. Won't happen of course, but I bet Larry is spinning all sorts of plans trying to finagle a way to get a deal done.

Maybe UAB football can get a bailout and build a stadium. Maybe we can redistribute some of UAT's wealth to UAB. Just sayin'

It's pretty sad that this community could have been entirely rebuilt by now under proper leadership which Birmingham has not had in my lifetime.

UAB needs a facility to play in to inject new life into the program. I for one don't care how we get one or if it's a dome or an on campus facility. I personally want an on campus facility but I still see no one on the horizon. All I hear is empty speculation and false hope.

SHOW ME THE STADIUM! SHOW ME THE STADIUM! SHOW ME THE STADIUM!

Unfortunately, KC has hit some big snags in city backed projects. There was a large article in last Sunday's paper about the Power & Light District needing $4 million from the city to keep going another year, because all the shops weren't full and the Sprint center was operating at half capacity. And there were 5 or 6 other major strip mall type areas that were not attracting the ten or so each satellite stores to go with the big magnet stores like Bass Pro shops, Cabelas, etc.

ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:one on the horizon. All I hear is empty speculation and false hope.

SHOW ME THE STADIUM! SHOW ME THE STADIUM! SHOW ME THE STADIUM!

We shall call him "BLAGOBLAZE!"

Its going to be extremely difficult to issue revenue bonds for this project. The best option they have is to try to issue double-barrelled bonds but I'm not sure they'll be able to pull that off unless there is new leadership in charge of the city finances and voters approve the issue. Once those hurdles are cleared then there is that whole Jeff Co sewer bond disaster.

HOK is the real deal though. Great St. Louis company.

It might be a good idea to get all this stuff planned and prepared now, because by the time all that is finished the economy should be on it's way back up and capital available again. Perhaps with building supplies cheap now and capital limited now, a down-payment on the supplies could be made that guarantees that the prices stay that low when we can afford to pay for the rest of the supplies (and as supplies prices increase).

I WISH building supplies were cheap. They are steadily going up. I just had another price increase on drywall & metal studs recently, as much as 10-15% depending on the item.

Oh and every time a spotted owl dies my lumber prices go up!

Gas prices have gone down but building materials have not.

Neither has food.

Labor costs have decreased significantly

"It's pretty sad that this community could have been entirely rebuilt by now under proper leadership which Birmingham has not had in my lifetime."

David Vann had the right idea in the 1960's with "One Great City." As long as we have these 122 pissant municipalities with "leaders" looking out for their own influence and interest, waving race flags, it's going to be very difficult to make any serious changes.

Larry and Bettye and Chris and Jeff and Gary and the rest of the criminals at the county commission pretty much killed any hope of that - "One Great City" is going to be One Tough Sell when it comes with One Giant Sewer Debt attached.