(04-21-2016 09:44 PM)ETSUAlumni Wrote: The cubs are renovating outside of Wrigley field. They recently purchased the land that a McDonald's franchise had been on for decades. The catch was they promised them a prime spot once the renovations are over
Yeah that would have to happen in this case. They would be able to give McD's a good spot near there but for the arena to work in that area it would need to be at that corner where the McD's is now.
They are building a hotel, the hotel will have a McDonald's in it, doesn't really apply here.
(04-21-2016 01:02 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote: Personally I'm happy with what is going on over at Freedom Hall. I don't think a new arena is going to happen in most of our lifetimes...but it is fun to discuss I guess.
You just never know. The renovations being done now should carry ETSU for the next 15-20 years, but to be honest, the city and ETSU should be in a long range planning phase now to find a solution for the next civic center. Lexington and the University of Kentucky have been planning the new Rupp Arena for some time now.
It would serve the city and the university to take a proactive approach here and start working towards it now so when the time comes a change needs to be made, they'll have a plan in place instead of sitting around harumphing in a room saying: "Well what do we do now?"
(04-22-2016 10:07 AM)RodShaw2 Wrote: They are building a hotel, the hotel will have a McDonald's in it, doesn't really apply here.
They couldn't put the McDonald's in the parking garage or in a spot right next to the arena? I would say it directly applies here.
Put McDonald's in the arena... Let them have a spot that also includes a sealed off exterior entrance similar to that of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at Bridgestone Arena. Where there's a will, there's always a way. Just can't have the attitude of "well we can't do that because of x,y,z. Instead, find a solution." This is of course years away now that they're pouring money into Freedom Hall, but still worth discussing for someday.
The McDonald's property is not close to being wide enough for an arena. The old mill property is wide enough but the Bakers brothers have bought the property and are in the process of developing a commercial/education site.
(04-22-2016 10:07 AM)RodShaw2 Wrote: They are building a hotel, the hotel will have a McDonald's in it, doesn't really apply here.
They couldn't put the McDonald's in the parking garage or in a spot right next to the arena? I would say it directly applies here.
Put McDonald's in the arena... Let them have a spot that also includes a sealed off exterior entrance similar to that of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at Bridgestone Arena. Where there's a will, there's always a way. Just can't have the attitude of "well we can't do that because of x,y,z. Instead, find a solution." This is of course years away now that they're pouring money into Freedom Hall, but still worth discussing for someday.
(04-22-2016 11:27 PM)buc73 Wrote: The McDonald's property is not close to being wide enough for an arena. The old mill property is wide enough but the Bakers brothers have bought the property and are in the process of developing a commercial/education site.
What about the spot down from the McDonald's where the night club and parking lot is? It seems large enough for an arena and parking garage and can be considered "on campus" while being closer to downtown and can be a Tri-Cities event center. If we could do something like Northern Kentucky right there I think it would be very nice.
(04-22-2016 10:07 AM)RodShaw2 Wrote: They are building a hotel, the hotel will have a McDonald's in it, doesn't really apply here.
They couldn't put the McDonald's in the parking garage or in a spot right next to the arena? I would say it directly applies here.
Put McDonald's in the arena... Let them have a spot that also includes a sealed off exterior entrance similar to that of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at Bridgestone Arena. Where there's a will, there's always a way. Just can't have the attitude of "well we can't do that because of x,y,z. Instead, find a solution." This is of course years away now that they're pouring money into Freedom Hall, but still worth discussing for someday.
Where does the Drive Thru go?
You set up a walk up window. Instead of making excuses, you design a plan that works for everyone. I'm sure McDonald's would be cool with having a concession spot inside an arena.
(04-22-2016 10:07 AM)RodShaw2 Wrote: They are building a hotel, the hotel will have a McDonald's in it, doesn't really apply here.
They couldn't put the McDonald's in the parking garage or in a spot right next to the arena? I would say it directly applies here.
Put McDonald's in the arena... Let them have a spot that also includes a sealed off exterior entrance similar to that of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at Bridgestone Arena. Where there's a will, there's always a way. Just can't have the attitude of "well we can't do that because of x,y,z. Instead, find a solution." This is of course years away now that they're pouring money into Freedom Hall, but still worth discussing for someday.
Where does the Drive Thru go?
You set up a walk up window. Instead of making excuses, you design a plan that works for everyone. I'm sure McDonald's would be cool with having a concession spot inside an arena.
Have you met the population of this area? They aren't going to get out their car, I am sure that McDonalds does at least 60% of sales thru the drive thru, it is convenience. They are on the way to work in the morning, they would rather get stuck in a line for 10 minutes listening to John Boy and Billy then Park and go stand in a line for 10-15 minutes, and I am sure that walk up window will work great in the winter.
And as for the, well they are doing it in Chicago,, McDonalds in based in Oak Point and is a cooperate sponsor.
(This post was last modified: 04-25-2016 06:05 AM by RodShaw2.)
(04-23-2016 07:51 AM)bucfan81 Wrote: What about the spot down from the McDonald's where the night club and parking lot is? It seems large enough for an arena and parking garage and can be considered "on campus" while being closer to downtown and can be a Tri-Cities event center. If we could do something like Northern Kentucky right there I think it would be very nice.
(04-25-2016 05:56 AM)RodShaw2 Wrote: Have you met the population of this area? They aren't going to get out their car, I am sure that McDonalds does at least 60% of sales thru the drive thru, it is convenience. They are on the way to work in the morning, they would rather get stuck in a line for 10 minutes listening to John Boy and Billy then Park and go stand in a line for 10-15 minutes, and I am sure that walk up window will work great in the winter.
There will still be plenty of room in that area for a drive-thru McDonald's, maybe just not on that corner. Use that corner for the arena so that the proposed student parking garage can connect to it via a bridge over the university parkway. There would then be plenty of room next to the arena for that McDonald's where The Planet is currently.
So how much are we paying McD's for their non-campus land? I love all the brainstorming, but I do wonder what kind of red tape & what kind of return there really may be for ETSU to assume a profitable piece of real estate that is not on campus, however close it may be. I would still think some kind of good will & sponsorship from McD's is where this would have to go ultimately. All the talk of putting a McD's in campus pathways is great, but it's not going to replace the current restaurant, only provide some kind of incentive.
(This post was last modified: 04-25-2016 09:30 AM by shampoo.)
(04-25-2016 09:30 AM)shampoo Wrote: So how much are we paying McD's for their non-campus land? I love all the brainstorming, but I do wonder what kind of red tape & what kind of return there really may be for ETSU to assume a profitable piece of real estate that is not on campus, however close it may be. I would still think some kind of good will & sponsorship from McD's is where this would have to go ultimately. All the talk of putting a McD's in campus pathways is great, but it's not going to replace the current restaurant, only provide some kind of incentive.
I think shampoo gets it.
McDonalds is making a ton of money on that spot and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Don't see why they would risk that on a maybe.
(04-25-2016 09:30 AM)shampoo Wrote: So how much are we paying McD's for their non-campus land? I love all the brainstorming, but I do wonder what kind of red tape & what kind of return there really may be for ETSU to assume a profitable piece of real estate that is not on campus, however close it may be. I would still think some kind of good will & sponsorship from McD's is where this would have to go ultimately. All the talk of putting a McD's in campus pathways is great, but it's not going to replace the current restaurant, only provide some kind of incentive.
Yeah I agree. I would think that franchise would want to see an arena go next to their restaurant even if it meant moving off that corner. It gets decent business but I wouldn't think near what some of the fast food places on the other side of campus get.
I would ideally like to see the following:
ETSU follows through with their master plan and creates a parking garage at the corner of university parkway and state of franklin and creates a walkway bridge from that parking garage above university parkway over to the corner where McDonalds is located.
The city works with some of the existing businesses and land owners to retool the whole area from university parkway to Watuaga street. Use a proposed ETSU arena as the centerpiece to provide better traffic flow and more opportunities for retail and restaurants. A strip mall along with sit down and fast foot restaurants there would be ideal.
Through that cooperation ETSU gets a great deal on the corner lot from state of franklin to lynn street, ending where Cherokee street is.
Again this is all just pipe dream stuff but everyone wants that area to be transformed. This would be the way to do it.
(04-25-2016 10:00 AM)RodShaw2 Wrote: I think shampoo gets it.
McDonalds is making a ton of money on that spot and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Don't see why they would risk that on a maybe.
You are acting like this McDonald's is the busiest in America. I parked at that lot across from it for 4 years and it was no more than any other McD's I have ever seen. I avoided it myself because it was a pain to get back on university parkway.
If the city, ETSU and some donors would want it there it would happen.
(04-25-2016 09:30 AM)shampoo Wrote: So how much are we paying McD's for their non-campus land? I love all the brainstorming, but I do wonder what kind of red tape & what kind of return there really may be for ETSU to assume a profitable piece of real estate that is not on campus, however close it may be. I would still think some kind of good will & sponsorship from McD's is where this would have to go ultimately. All the talk of putting a McD's in campus pathways is great, but it's not going to replace the current restaurant, only provide some kind of incentive.
Yeah I agree. I would think that franchise would want to see an arena go next to their restaurant even if it meant moving off that corner. It gets decent business but I wouldn't think near what some of the fast food places on the other side of campus get.
I would ideally like to see the following:
ETSU follows through with their master plan and creates a parking garage at the corner of university parkway and state of franklin and creates a walkway bridge from that parking garage above university parkway over to the corner where McDonalds is located.
The city works with some of the existing businesses and land owners to retool the whole area from university parkway to Watuaga street. Use a proposed ETSU arena as the centerpiece to provide better traffic flow and more opportunities for retail and restaurants. A strip mall along with sit down and fast foot restaurants there would be ideal.
Through that cooperation ETSU gets a great deal on the corner lot from state of franklin to lynn street, ending where Cherokee street is.
Again this is all just pipe dream stuff but everyone wants that area to be transformed. This would be the way to do it.
I like it. Just needs an ETSU leader to champion the vision. I have a dream, personally, to one day own a true ETSU themed sports bar & restaurant. An arena could--done well to multipurpose--definitely stimulate activity. It would need to attract events & community visitors that otherwise do not contribute to the Johnson City economy.
(04-25-2016 11:06 AM)shampoo Wrote: I like it. Just needs an ETSU leader to champion the vision. I have a dream, personally, to one day own a true ETSU themed sports bar & restaurant. An arena could--done well to multipurpose--definitely stimulate activity. It would need to attract events & community visitors that otherwise do not contribute to the Johnson City economy.
(04-25-2016 11:06 AM)shampoo Wrote: I like it. Just needs an ETSU leader to champion the vision. I have a dream, personally, to one day own a true ETSU themed sports bar & restaurant. An arena could--done well to multipurpose--definitely stimulate activity. It would need to attract events & community visitors that otherwise do not contribute to the Johnson City economy.
It goes back to potential. West Walnut could be what Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville was in the good ol' days, or what Franklin Street in Chapel Hill is. Or it could be a mini Broadway. There's enough talented and diverse musicians to support 3-4 venues in that area (vocals are another story). Throw in a sports bar in that area and you've got a pretty good formula for driving tourism to downtown.
![[Image: yddPZry.png]](http://i.imgur.com/yddPZry.png)
![[Image: 80YfKZZ.png]](http://i.imgur.com/80YfKZZ.png)
