Monday, January 12, 2004
FIELDHOUSE ROCKS
More stuff from that TNT article David posted...
The Sonics are increasingly concluding that the features they want can't be developed at Key-Arena because of limited space.
The footprint of KeyArena - which was renovated in 1994-95 at a cost of $74 million - is about 360,000 square feet, and there is nowhere to expand at Seattle Center. The footprints of buildings such as Conseco Fieldhouse and SBC Center are 750,000 square feet. For the Rose Garden in Portland and the United Center in Chicago, the figure is almost 1 million square feet. In addition, those buildings have at least some form of on-site parking, which KeyArena does not and never could have.
Of all the buildings the owners and manager have examined, the one they like best is Conseco, which has good capacity (18,345) but has retained the feel of an older gymnasium.
"Every building has great features, every building has things that they have said they would like to do over, and we are trying to learn from that," Walker said. "In terms of feel, functionality, revenue-generating capability, Conseco is the best."
Walker said he likes the internal gathering places at Conseco that allow fans to get out of the weather while they are either waiting to meet friends or clients or in line for security clearance.
You know, if Howard Schultz was the owner of the Sonics 10 years ago, Seattle would have already had a new arena built. But NOOOOOOOOOO, cheap ass Barry Ackerley was still the friggin owner. He decided to go the cheap route and "renovate" Seattle Center Coliseum and turn it into the underwhelming, overrated Key Arena...the same place that has the worst, godawful leg room EVER!
(See, David is right guys. Whenever I'm asked about Key Arena, I talk about the leg room within the first minute)
But if the Sonics can get their new arena, then by all means PLEASE build a fieldhouse-type of arena. I love Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, who doesn't? I for one would love to see a 19,500 seat Fieldhouse on the Seattle waterfront.
If you're not sold on a fieldhouse-type arena for Seattle, then you will change your mind after checking out this little link. And this link.
Man, if this new arena could get the NHL as well....hoo boy, then I would definitely have a reason to move back to the Seattle area. I'm currently studying to become a journalist, so by the time I'm out of school, maybe the NHL will be in Seattle. Maybe. I wouldn't mind covering hockey. Hell, I'd even go to Canada to land an NHL beat if I had to.
But anyways...
I hope the Sonics can get a new arena. Key Arena is crap and I know that Seattle isn't too fond of building another sports facility. But I speak for all the big and tall men of the Northwest who have attended at least one game at Key Arena and state that I'm in 100% favor of a new arena.
A new fieldhouse, of course. FIELDHOUSE ROCKS!!!
The Sonics are increasingly concluding that the features they want can't be developed at Key-Arena because of limited space.
The footprint of KeyArena - which was renovated in 1994-95 at a cost of $74 million - is about 360,000 square feet, and there is nowhere to expand at Seattle Center. The footprints of buildings such as Conseco Fieldhouse and SBC Center are 750,000 square feet. For the Rose Garden in Portland and the United Center in Chicago, the figure is almost 1 million square feet. In addition, those buildings have at least some form of on-site parking, which KeyArena does not and never could have.
Of all the buildings the owners and manager have examined, the one they like best is Conseco, which has good capacity (18,345) but has retained the feel of an older gymnasium.
"Every building has great features, every building has things that they have said they would like to do over, and we are trying to learn from that," Walker said. "In terms of feel, functionality, revenue-generating capability, Conseco is the best."
Walker said he likes the internal gathering places at Conseco that allow fans to get out of the weather while they are either waiting to meet friends or clients or in line for security clearance.
You know, if Howard Schultz was the owner of the Sonics 10 years ago, Seattle would have already had a new arena built. But NOOOOOOOOOO, cheap ass Barry Ackerley was still the friggin owner. He decided to go the cheap route and "renovate" Seattle Center Coliseum and turn it into the underwhelming, overrated Key Arena...the same place that has the worst, godawful leg room EVER!
(See, David is right guys. Whenever I'm asked about Key Arena, I talk about the leg room within the first minute)
But if the Sonics can get their new arena, then by all means PLEASE build a fieldhouse-type of arena. I love Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, who doesn't? I for one would love to see a 19,500 seat Fieldhouse on the Seattle waterfront.
If you're not sold on a fieldhouse-type arena for Seattle, then you will change your mind after checking out this little link. And this link.
Man, if this new arena could get the NHL as well....hoo boy, then I would definitely have a reason to move back to the Seattle area. I'm currently studying to become a journalist, so by the time I'm out of school, maybe the NHL will be in Seattle. Maybe. I wouldn't mind covering hockey. Hell, I'd even go to Canada to land an NHL beat if I had to.
But anyways...
I hope the Sonics can get a new arena. Key Arena is crap and I know that Seattle isn't too fond of building another sports facility. But I speak for all the big and tall men of the Northwest who have attended at least one game at Key Arena and state that I'm in 100% favor of a new arena.
A new fieldhouse, of course. FIELDHOUSE ROCKS!!!
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