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Post by Ace78 on Sept 13, 2023 9:29:41 GMT -6
Followup article in today's Courier ... "Creative financing" to pay for almost $9 million in updates for Ford Center. Ten year lease period. "This is also not a lease-to-own situation." "Arena officials reached a point where they can no longer get replacement parts for the score board or ribbon board." "Concession updates are also set to include new kiosks where attendees can make orders without standing in line for a cashier."
As it stands, the 2024 city capital improvement budget for Ford Center includes:
Arena equipment lease payment - $580,800 out of casino revenue Audio system replacement - $350,000 - paid by bond Scoreboard and ribbon board - $3 million paid by bond Concession point-of-sale system - $400,000 - paid by bond Concession stand upgrades - $3.6 million - paid by bond Three new refrigerators - $15,000 out of casino revenue Battery backup - $35,000 from casino revenue
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2023 9:47:32 GMT -6
As someone living 5 hours away and interested in this only because it's where the Aces play, it appears a lot of lawyers did a lot of talking and document creating as a way of throwing this problem into the box and pretending it wasn't raising taxes. If there was a way to make upgrading an arena more complicated than this, a group of witches around a cauldron on a foggy night couldn't be more creative.
Leasing a street to somebody and telling the public that they won't even know it's happening -- what the steaming f************? Why would you lease a street? The one in front of my house could use a sponsor -- and a new layer of asphalt. I will take the asphalt; you keep the sponsor.
I get it that the electronics of the modern era needs to be kept up to date with the Silly Valley software nerds -- which is half the problem. The computer world has been nothing if it wasn't planned obsolescence the minute it was plugged in -- but people who are spending millions on this stuff need to be better informed about what they buy. Amateurs who approve buying flashy LED ribbon boards or Jumbotrons always swallow the "this is the state of the art... (for now) ... and it will hold you over for many (18 months) years."
These people probably heard the word "Windows XP" and went WOW!
I still don't see how this little Nutcracker ballet scene works. But ordering your popcorn and soft drink by pressing an online menu -- yep, that's the way to do.
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Post by acescott on Sept 13, 2023 10:00:29 GMT -6
3.6 million dollars in concession upgrades? Really?
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Post by aces44 on Sept 13, 2023 10:14:49 GMT -6
3.6 million dollars in concession upgrades? Really? The local politicians finally caught on to how the pros in DC do it. “Concession Stand” feels a lot like Ukraine in this scenario. Doesn’t take a genius to know that developing an app that does the same thing would be $100k on the extreme high side. BAM, I just saved the City $3.5MM The whole arena has been a Cluster, and Mayor W should be banned from the City for screwing the known quantity of basketball fans for the pipe dream of … checks notes… minor league ice hockey.. JEEZUS!!!
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Post by Ace78 on Sept 13, 2023 12:13:46 GMT -6
Ace Harold will NOT be happy when he finds out how much he and Ethel Pat (his wife) will now have to pay for "concessions upgrades."
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Post by austinace on Sept 13, 2023 12:23:25 GMT -6
I would like to see a break down of what $3.6 million gets you for concession upgrades. I can’t in my wildest dreams imagine why it would take that much money.
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Post by austinace on Sept 13, 2023 15:58:00 GMT -6
The only thing I see in the C&P article on concession updates is:
“… Concession updates are also set to include new kiosks where attendees can make orders without standing in line for a cashier.…”
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Ford Center, probably December 2018. How many concession stands are there and how many kiosks are we talking all together? Kiosks are a little expensive but you can buy a lot of them for $3.6 million. So even if a dozen of these are scattered throughout the Ford Center I would think that is less than 1 million bucks. So what’s the other money going for? Or maybe we are talking dozens of kiosks. Not sure, but $3.6 million is a lot anyway you look at it.
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Post by Ace78 on Sept 13, 2023 17:10:26 GMT -6
While we are on the topic of the Ford Center, here are Jon Rothstein's MVC Arena Rankings.
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Post by Ace78 on Sept 13, 2023 17:30:35 GMT -6
Rothstein's MVC Arena ranking criteria:
Size (relative to fan base size) Looks On/off campus Atmosphere Comment made by Sean Cooney, an SIU fan: "SIU behind Evansville and Belmont is a take. Personally Banterra Center is top 5. I am biased but I have also been to 6 MVC arenas." Rothstein response: "I have not been to any of those arenas so I am going based off of looks. Banterra just looks older than the other two. Evansville does lose points for being off campus and they pay rent for it."
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Post by stennisrm72 on Sept 13, 2023 17:57:22 GMT -6
Those first two criteria are ridiculous. The atmosphere at the venues is relative to what's happening with the team? That'll change over the next few seasons.
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Post by Ace78 on Sept 13, 2023 19:26:59 GMT -6
Those first two criteria are ridiculous. The atmosphere at the venues is relative to what's happening with the team? That'll change over the next few seasons. His MVC Arena rankings are about like pre-season picks for placement. It's all an opinion used to stir up fan discussion anyway. I agree that the anticipated improvement of the team's play should help with the atmosphere at the games this year. We're all hyped to see how the Aces do with this upgraded, more talented roster!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2023 21:22:56 GMT -6
I don't honestly know why it's important that snack food at the game needs to be ordered on a push-button menu board, which is what we use now at McDonald's. If this is to reduce the number of people it takes to manage checkout, that might be of some value. You can hire more help for $3.6 million and have change left over.
Why not just eat dinner at home? I don't think this is going to impact the team/season/fan experience but just from what I read, the public relations for this is going to be a VERY tough hill to climb. I predict they go back to the drawing board.
As far as atmosphere at the game, good grief ... does somebody spend time trying to rate that? Your team sucks, your crowd will suck.
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Post by E-Villan on Sept 13, 2023 21:29:53 GMT -6
Those first two criteria are ridiculous. The atmosphere at the venues is relative to what's happening with the team? That'll change over the next few seasons. His MVC Arena rankings are about like pre-season picks for placement. It's all an opinion used to stir up fan discussion anyway. I agree that the anticipated improvement of the team's play should help with the atmosphere at the games this year. We're all hyped to see how the Aces do with this upgraded, more talented roster! You do realize this isn't his account? It's a parody account from some MVC fan. My guess is one in Terre Haute. Indiana State is too high, even with the renovation, which brings it up from 2nd to last, but still in downtown Terre Haute with weak attendance. The Ford is too low, definitely top 3. I don't think anyone else in the league could get a D-1 conference tournament or the NCAA D-2 Elite 8 on a regular basis. Who cares if our ribbon board is 2011, it still works fine. UNI and Drake are too high. Murray feels low, but not sure who besides Drake, UIC and Valpo that I would put them ahead of, maybe SIU. . Here's mine: 1. Evansville - Until someone can show me another state of the art arena in this league that is connected to a nice hotel and regularly hosts nationally relevant events, I will keep my homer vote. 2. Missouri State - Attendance is poor considering the size of the student body, but as far as arenas, it is decent. 3. Indiana State - I will hold my nose and put them here. Seems high, but not sure you can put anyone above it. 4. Illinois State - Redbird is just a classic place, on campus and can get rocking when the team is good. Best road fans I have encountered. 5. Bradley - A lot of history at Carver and the only place besides us that is capable of filling a 10K barn up. Could use an update. 6. Belmont - Looks like a nice setup, but attendance can be poor. 7. Murray - Probably higher than it should be on the facility, but the passionate fanbase bumps it up a little. Plus, there is a Mr. B's within walking distance. 8. UNI - Hate the floor and another place that can be eerily empty. Who wants to get out in negative zero weather in Frostbite Falls though. 9. SIU - The place can get loud, but it is not aging well. The fans are a little weird as well. Ask Murray. 10. Drake -Doesn't have a lot of character, looks more like a nice high school arena. 11. UIC - A large arena in Chicago. I wonder what it could do if they ever went on a Loyola type Final Four run. 12. Valpo - I think this goes without saying. Harrison High School has a better set up.
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Post by Ace78 on Sept 13, 2023 22:02:32 GMT -6
E-villan, nope I didn't realize that! And, I like your list better! :-)
Murray's Mr. B's gains points from me, too. My wife and I enjoy going there quite a bit.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2023 8:30:00 GMT -6
I just read the street sales story again for more context and I stopped at this sentence:
According to DeLucio, the Redevelopment Authority will likely be placed privately with Old National Bank. Terms are currently being negotiated.
They have this plan in place and they are STILL negotiating on terms? Not suggesting that the bank is evil, but if you go into a project and admit that the plan you approved isn't fully cooked yet, then get back to us later.
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