CSNbbs

Full Version: ASU wants to build Hotel and Convention Center on Campus
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
http://www.kait8.com/story/24128133/asu-considers- building-hotel-convention-center-on-campus


Still in the planning stages, but if it works out, it would be a huge economic boost for the college and the city. Jonesboro does not have a convention center and as the only large city in Northeast Arkansas, one is desperately needed to bring major events into town.

This would also bring an on campus hotel into the picture, which should help alleviate some of our hotel issues that often require visiting teams and fans to stay in Memphis on football weekends because of lack of space and meeting rooms.
This is something being investigated by Georgia Southern as well. I think there's plans for a restaurant as well, so it would tie in really well to some of the majors we have in those areas. I think it's an awesome idea for both schools.
I really hope that both schools can pull it off, but I thing GS is going to have a hard time. I heard the local leaders and some businesses are not behind funding such a venture. Maybe the current president can eventually show them the long term benefits, but they seem to be happy with the current fairgrounds. So it would be entirely on the school (maybe we could get some state funding for "classrooms" and such).
Does the Convocation Center not satisfy some of that need?
That's good news will need a large hotel to keep most people out of Memphis but ever little bit helps. I've enjoyed my trips to ASU.
(12-04-2013 08:41 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote: [ -> ]Does the Convocation Center not satisfy some of that need?

Not really. The convocation center is primarily a sports center but it can host a variety of events like circuses, concerts, tractor pulls rodeos, etc. but it does not have adequate space or appropriate space for a large scale business or medical type convention. Besides it has not hotel type space.

The proposed convention center would complement what the convocation center is capable of handling and is much needed for sporting events, business conventions, medical conventions,etc. but also would provide top quality hotel rooms that are hard to find in Jonesboro.

Jonesboro has a Hilton Garden Inn and Fairfield Suites that are both offer nice accommodations but they don't have enough rooms when visiting football teams come to town along with their fans and our out of town fans.

We have other decent hotels in town but not at that level.
There has been a very recent boom in development just north of ASU's stadium with the construction of a large hospital. There is a new bar and grill set to open across the street from the stadium. A medical school is in the early stages of being implemented and we are opening a campus in Mexico that will see construction start in February. The news about a modern convention center and hotel on campus is huge.
WKU has already done this. The Convention Center/Alumni Hall with parking structure is already built and the Hotel is under construction

[Image: th?id=H.4840201675539403&w=281&a...mp;pid=1.7]
Alumni Hall and Convention Center

[Image: th?id=H.4831912434730326&w=246&a...mp;pid=1.7]
This is the outside of the parking structure for the Center and Hotel. WKU wrapped it in with Campus Apartments

[Image: th?id=H.4521377739441508&w=361&a...mp;pid=1.7]
This is the Hyatt Place Hotel that is under construction.

This is a great idea for all schools, hope it works out for ASU
(12-04-2013 10:50 AM)GreekTopper Wrote: [ -> ]WKU has already done this. The Convention Center/Alumni Hall with parking structure is already built and the Hotel is under construction

[Image: th?id=H.4840201675539403&w=281&a...mp;pid=1.7]
Alumni Hall and Convention Center

[Image: th?id=H.4831912434730326&w=246&a...mp;pid=1.7]
This is the outside of the parking structure for the Center and Hotel. WKU wrapped it in with Campus Apartments

[Image: th?id=H.4521377739441508&w=361&a...mp;pid=1.7]
This is the Hyatt Place Hotel that is under construction.

This is a great idea for all schools, hope it works out for ASU

Nice

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk
Sounds like a project John Q. Hammons would have tackled if he was alive.
(12-04-2013 03:27 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds like a project John Q. Hammons would have tackled if he was alive.

I think he looked into building here but it didn't work out.
(12-04-2013 04:54 PM)OsageJ Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-04-2013 03:27 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds like a project John Q. Hammons would have tackled if he was alive.

I think he looked into building here but it didn't work out.

At one time he was in the mix with the WKU project also
(12-04-2013 04:54 PM)OsageJ Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-04-2013 03:27 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds like a project John Q. Hammons would have tackled if he was alive.

I think he looked into building here but it didn't work out.
If I recall, the city was to share some of the costs for the convention center portion and people threw a fit over a temporary tax to finance the city's portion. Pretty typical and why it is good that ASU is taking the lead on it this time.
(12-04-2013 05:12 PM)Crump1 Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-04-2013 04:54 PM)OsageJ Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-04-2013 03:27 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds like a project John Q. Hammons would have tackled if he was alive.

I think he looked into building here but it didn't work out.
If I recall, the city was to share some of the costs for the convention center portion and people threw a fit over a temporary tax to finance the city's portion. Pretty typical and why it is good that ASU is taking the lead on it this time.

But the people on the area News stations Facebook page are talking about how we are just being greedy sob's who don't want the city to succeed.
Memphis built one on-campus paid for by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson (lived in Memphis)

exterior:
[Image: page10_1.jpg]

interior:
[Image: WELCM_ATRI_1_E.jpg?01AD=3SpqPUHgoGWCSv2B...;amp;01NA=]

it's worked out well...
(12-04-2013 05:50 PM)chiefsfan Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-04-2013 05:12 PM)Crump1 Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-04-2013 04:54 PM)OsageJ Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-04-2013 03:27 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds like a project John Q. Hammons would have tackled if he was alive.

I think he looked into building here but it didn't work out.
If I recall, the city was to share some of the costs for the convention center portion and people threw a fit over a temporary tax to finance the city's portion. Pretty typical and why it is good that ASU is taking the lead on it this time.

But the people on the area News stations Facebook page are talking about how we are just being greedy sob's who don't want the city to succeed.

Yeah probably a friend of the guy who told the Jonesboro City Council that ASU wasn't a public college because you have to pay to attend.
This is great news.
The Embassy Suites and San Marcos Convention Center (not officially affiliated with TXST, but very nice on its own) is a John Q. Hammons built facility. Some of you guys probably stayed there if you visited Texas State or San Marcos for one of our game this year.

John Q. Hammons isn't that well known in Texas but having lived in Springfield (Bolivar-SBU actually) for two years, I knew that once I heard it was affiliated with him, it would be quality.

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hote...index.html
I know the Cajuns facility and hotel has worked well. As a matter of info, they are looking at greatly expanding the current Cajundome Convention center floor space as well as adding an additional hotel to the facility now.
Reference URL's