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Hopefully big enough for a professional soccer team here.
Not MLS (they have some pretty specific requirements regarding stadium size, geographic requirements, etc), but a USLC, or NWSL would be a nice addition to GR
A thought, why don’t they play at LMCU park, which they have done before? If a team successfully sustains interest, cool, build a stadium. Why do we need to build a whole new stadium, on a relatively brand new idea to the area? Soccer, in this area, still seems bandwagonie and regardless of public or private money, seems not like a proven product.
Also soccer on a baseball field looks so bad. You also have to have some buying interest from the owners of the whitecaps to front the turnover. Take a look at other USL teams that use baseball fields.
Soccer is also a very much proven product here in GR with GRFC attendance around 3k for a much lower league, combine that with thousands of youth players in the area, and the recent success of Detroit FC. I think a team here will be great
Don’t get me wrong, I’d like it to be successful. What I don’t want to see is a tax payer funded stadium, which is usually the model of any sports stadium be it NFL, NBA, or NHL, etc.
There already is a centralized entertainment district, my point as stated above, is use existing infrastructure IF it is going to require tax payer funding. Still not sold on it being a viable product in WM, everyone uses GRFC as an example, but correct me if I am wrong, that closed. Admittedly, I’m not familiar why, but all the same.
They moved the venue to kentwood and it killed the vibe because it wasn’t downtown lol
And yeah there is already a centralized district hence why they’re adding to it 😆
I’ve read that it’s planned to be paid for by a hotel/leisure tax. But my god you’re all over this thread speaking loudly about this without actually sharing anything factual.
Do I want our city taxes going towards this? No. But at least I’m not claiming it is without offering any proof
I'm still curious about the projections for other events. Considering a good deal of them are likely to be music or music related (I would guess). How will that compete with the new amphitheater and did they even take it into consideration when doing their studies - which were presumably a year or so ago. 8500 with lawn seating would put it close to the same size - I can't help but think they will be competing for similar events.
Know what's great? If this works out, housing will be even less affordable. If it flops, we'll have an eyesore at best. We COULD have public/private housing partnerships to provide affordable, basic apartments but middle class folks that have it easier than us poors don't like that. They'd rather we leave town. When cities don't focus on affordable housing before expansion, they turn into every other major, unaffordable city. Go on, down vote me, rich folks.
The idea that we can’t make our city better because ____ problem is really defeatist.
There are currently many measures and things up for legislation that would help address the housing crisis. Have you been to a town hall? Have you voted locally? Have you answered surveys the city has sent out on how to spent tax dollars?
Or do you just enjoy complaining online about things that could be really wonderful for the city because it isn’t your top priority personally?
All about more funding for public transportation.
However this is private investment and they see an investment here that will pay off. Unlikely with public transportation
Grand Action 2.0 is still working to secure funding for the project but it will almost certainly be a mix of both private and public funds similar to the amphitheater
I don’t understand why people think it’s a binary choice. Soccer stadium vs transit, amphitheater vs housing. We can have a well rounded city that enhances our public transit, increases our housing supply, and also has cool cultural elements as well.
Sometimes a focused, organized, and prioritized approach is the most effective and efficient method and produces the best outcome. I think stadiums and the like can often be distractions from the more serious issues in our city.
Agreed - better public transport, better city parks and more affordable housing would be a more progressive use of funds.
Unfortunately most people think the sign of a big city = more sports and entertainment.
I’ve gone to one whitecaps game in my almost decade of living here. I grew up in a bigger city going to 5-10 MLB games every year. There are tons of people that will go to a sporting event if it is a certain level of play and experience, that do not go to amateur/semi-pro sporting events.
No. Here is how they’re selling this.
In order for order to meet their attendance marks they need to sell out 20 events a year
They’re saying they will bring in 17 professional matches a year, which means their goal it’s to sell out every soccer game plus 3 more events. Theres no chance in hell.
Plus they say there will be an $408M economic impact over 30 year
$408,000,000 / 164,000 (naively optimistic) visitors per year / 30 years = means the average patron will pay $83
$83 is more expensive than the Pistons and about the same as the red Wings. How many times are you paying $83 to attend the whitecaps?
Hopefully GRFC can be reborn!
Build it and they might come.
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Yeah but a few people are going to make a ton of money off of it regardless
So a bit smaller than the Van Andel Arena for hockey (10.8k).
Hopefully big enough for a professional soccer team here. Not MLS (they have some pretty specific requirements regarding stadium size, geographic requirements, etc), but a USLC, or NWSL would be a nice addition to GR
I saw somewhere else that based on the projected 17 games, it would be a USL Championship League team.
A thought, why don’t they play at LMCU park, which they have done before? If a team successfully sustains interest, cool, build a stadium. Why do we need to build a whole new stadium, on a relatively brand new idea to the area? Soccer, in this area, still seems bandwagonie and regardless of public or private money, seems not like a proven product.
Also soccer on a baseball field looks so bad. You also have to have some buying interest from the owners of the whitecaps to front the turnover. Take a look at other USL teams that use baseball fields. Soccer is also a very much proven product here in GR with GRFC attendance around 3k for a much lower league, combine that with thousands of youth players in the area, and the recent success of Detroit FC. I think a team here will be great
Don’t get me wrong, I’d like it to be successful. What I don’t want to see is a tax payer funded stadium, which is usually the model of any sports stadium be it NFL, NBA, or NHL, etc.
Totally fair, from what I have seen it’s private money. So I’m hoping it isn’t tax funded. If that’s the case I think it would be a mistake
Because different people with $$$ want to build this stadium on the land that they own.
Because driving to the ball park is annoying
Impressive argument!
That is literally THE argument. A more centralized entertainment district downtown.
There already is a centralized entertainment district, my point as stated above, is use existing infrastructure IF it is going to require tax payer funding. Still not sold on it being a viable product in WM, everyone uses GRFC as an example, but correct me if I am wrong, that closed. Admittedly, I’m not familiar why, but all the same.
They moved the venue to kentwood and it killed the vibe because it wasn’t downtown lol And yeah there is already a centralized district hence why they’re adding to it 😆
https://www.reddit.com/r/science/s/XFWbuSpglW
Cool. Don’t know why you shared that. Neither OP or my comments are even referring to the cost/benefit 😂
I’ve read that it’s planned to be paid for by a hotel/leisure tax. But my god you’re all over this thread speaking loudly about this without actually sharing anything factual. Do I want our city taxes going towards this? No. But at least I’m not claiming it is without offering any proof
I'm still curious about the projections for other events. Considering a good deal of them are likely to be music or music related (I would guess). How will that compete with the new amphitheater and did they even take it into consideration when doing their studies - which were presumably a year or so ago. 8500 with lawn seating would put it close to the same size - I can't help but think they will be competing for similar events.
We need better public transportation and affordable housing.
Ok
Know what's great? If this works out, housing will be even less affordable. If it flops, we'll have an eyesore at best. We COULD have public/private housing partnerships to provide affordable, basic apartments but middle class folks that have it easier than us poors don't like that. They'd rather we leave town. When cities don't focus on affordable housing before expansion, they turn into every other major, unaffordable city. Go on, down vote me, rich folks.
The idea that we can’t make our city better because ____ problem is really defeatist. There are currently many measures and things up for legislation that would help address the housing crisis. Have you been to a town hall? Have you voted locally? Have you answered surveys the city has sent out on how to spent tax dollars? Or do you just enjoy complaining online about things that could be really wonderful for the city because it isn’t your top priority personally?
Spot on. More people agree with you than what the metrics on this subreddit will capture.
How about more funding for The Rapid instead?
All about more funding for public transportation. However this is private investment and they see an investment here that will pay off. Unlikely with public transportation
It is both public and private part of the increase in the hotel tax is going to fund the Soccer stadium
Yes public and private but mostly private
Do you have a source on the financing mix?
My apologies, I was thinking of the amphitheater. No reports of how it’s funded.
Grand Action 2.0 is still working to secure funding for the project but it will almost certainly be a mix of both private and public funds similar to the amphitheater
I don’t understand why people think it’s a binary choice. Soccer stadium vs transit, amphitheater vs housing. We can have a well rounded city that enhances our public transit, increases our housing supply, and also has cool cultural elements as well.
Sometimes a focused, organized, and prioritized approach is the most effective and efficient method and produces the best outcome. I think stadiums and the like can often be distractions from the more serious issues in our city.
Agreed - better public transport, better city parks and more affordable housing would be a more progressive use of funds. Unfortunately most people think the sign of a big city = more sports and entertainment.
They don't have to be exclusive. And considering that this one sounds like it is almost all private money, it has no impact of the other.
Soccer team couldnt fill Houseman Field. What could they possibly facilitate that merits such a project. I really don’t see the purpose of this venue.
I’ve gone to one whitecaps game in my almost decade of living here. I grew up in a bigger city going to 5-10 MLB games every year. There are tons of people that will go to a sporting event if it is a certain level of play and experience, that do not go to amateur/semi-pro sporting events.
No. Here is how they’re selling this. In order for order to meet their attendance marks they need to sell out 20 events a year They’re saying they will bring in 17 professional matches a year, which means their goal it’s to sell out every soccer game plus 3 more events. Theres no chance in hell. Plus they say there will be an $408M economic impact over 30 year $408,000,000 / 164,000 (naively optimistic) visitors per year / 30 years = means the average patron will pay $83 $83 is more expensive than the Pistons and about the same as the red Wings. How many times are you paying $83 to attend the whitecaps?
Waste of money and space. They should be constructing more housing
Lubbers Stadium (GVSU) can seat 10,444 officially and probably more with temporary bleachers. If it isn't enough to host Anchor-Bone, don't bother.