Salt Lake NHL and MLB News Thread

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by Atlas

I heard from a legislator that the plan is to demolish Abravanel Hall and the Raddisson and put 200 W and 300 W underground between Main Street and the Delta Center. This will create a pedestrian promenade along South Temple that will be lined with entertainment and shopping.

No idea what that means for the Delta Center. Makes me think that they want to rebuild it in-place.

Demoing Abravanel Hall would be a monumentally stupid and short-sighted thing to do. It should never even cross anybody's mind.

[kickback256]

Former music industry professional here: without getting into the absolutely disastrous cultural ramifications for demolishing Abravanel Hall, even if a replacement were promised… other commenters are not wrong in saying it is one of the best concert halls in existence in terms of acoustics. One of the instrument companies I worked for purposefully used the Utah Symphony and soloist tour stops at Abravanel for testing new instrument models and modifications. It was one of the only spaces where we could get a really good sense for how the acoustic changes we made to our equipment translated outside of our labs and studios. Though I am a lifelong hockey fan, the arts are under enough attack as it is without tearing down such an important, historic, and exquisitely beautiful cultural centerpiece, renowned among classical musicians for its intimate experience and incredible acoustics.

[Atlas]

Yeah I don't like the idea of losing Abravanel either. In fact, I don't think that area of South Temple is really the best place for an "entertainment district" since it is right next door to the Temple complex. The front door of the LDS side of downtown is going to be a sports arena and a bunch of bars?

The West Quarter folks have the right idea by connecting the underdeveloped southwest side of downtown to the DC. That's where all of the nightlife is already. Apart from the potential negative effects on the Gateway, the absolute best spot for a new arena is definitely the vacant Newhouse block.

Alternatively, the RDA could offer the southern block behind the Depot for an arena, although that would torpedo their new station area plan and we'd probably lose the historic Mattress Building. Of course, there'd be plenty of land over there if the RGP was on the table.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

Demoing Abravanel Hall would be a monumentally stupid and short-sighted thing to do. It should never even cross anybody's mind.

Agreed this is insanity if it’s even being considered take it off the damn table now. I don’t even live there anymore but this would piss me off royally.

Not that any of us have much of a say and if we’re to come up is anyone stopping them? Hard to say… it seems the Utah government takes little public feedback on most decisions but having not lived there in over 20 years I can’t say for sure. Would the public demand they stop this if it were to occur? Does the public have any power to do so? Other than eventually voting out those who did it at some later date?

Anyway, hope this is a short lived idea.

[airhero]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Yeah I don't like the idea of losing Abravanel either. In fact, I don't think that area of South Temple is really the best place for an "entertainment district" since it is right next door to the Temple complex. The front door of the LDS side of downtown is going to be a sports arena and a bunch of bars?

That's what I was thinking. I'm wondering if those involved with SEG and in the state legislature have a very different idea of what an entertainment district is than we do. Also I'm really unclear on the extent of the church's involvement at this point as well. Are there actual serious discussions taking place between church reps and other officials?

I'm hoping some of the info we've heard is preliminary, crazy, everything-is-on-the-table ideas with ample time and discussion left for taking the craziest ideas, like demoing Abravanel, off the table. I get why it's been mentioned. It's easy to view it as "in the way" when you're trying to build something major, but it's not any old regular building. Plus for an entertainment district, isn't a concert hall something you'd want to keep around? I'd want as many venues as possible feeding the district so it isn't dead 90% of the time.

I guess we'll see what ends up being proposed. Sounds like we may not have to wait long as moving quickly seems to be a priority.

[msbutah]

Perhaps Abravanel is being mentioned to be integrated into the 'entertainment district' rather than being demo'd? I certainly hope it's not razed as that would be a travesty. I could see them developing a corridor between city creek, temple square, Abravanel/UMOCA, the convention center, the arenas, and then the Gateway that better ties all those properties together.

[Atlas]

BSL with the details

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Atlas

BSL with the details

I wish they could report without a level of bias. It diminishes the quality of the actual story.

Also:



Is it, tho?

[DenverInfill]

That's an informative article. Expecting the city (or anyone) to do a meaningful master plan of an area that size in a few months' time is crazy.

What did the reporter mean by this (the parenthetical part)?

"Salt Lake County, which owns and operates the massive (and overbuilt) Salt Palace Convention Center..."

[locolife]

Originally Posted by DenverInfill

That's an informative article. Expecting the city (or anyone) to do a meaningful master plan of an area that size in a few months' time is crazy.

What did the reporter mean by this (the parenthetical part)?

"Salt Lake County, which owns and operates the massive (and overbuilt) Salt Palace Convention Center..."

What could possibly go wrong...

[airhero]

Originally Posted by Comrade

I wish they could report without a level of bias. It diminishes the quality of the actual story.

I've noticed that on BSL a lot more since Isaac became less involved. Although I remember Isaac expressing some opinions as well.

Originally Posted by DenverInfill

What did the reporter mean by this (the parenthetical part)?

"Salt Lake County, which owns and operates the massive (and overbuilt) Salt Palace Convention Center..."

I'm guessing it's an implication the CC doesn't need a footprint over 3 downtown blocks. Theoretically all the current space and then some could fit in a reimagined CC covering only 2 blocks, but that would likely require a complete rebuild, which I don't believe is being seriously considered at any level, but who knows? I doubt his opinion is that SLC has too much convention space.

[mhays]

The Salt Palace has 515,000 sf of exhibition space (plus meeting/ballroom/lobby/etc.), which among true convention centers appears to be topped only by bigger metros in the US. They claim an impressive 8,000 hotel rooms within walking distance.

Does the center use all that space very often? Or does it use half the space often enough that it's common for half to be active while the other half is it set-up or takedown? If not, and 320,000 exhibition sf (keep the bridge, subtract Halls 4 and 5) would be enough, which would also retain all meeting rooms, then maybe it's still good. An arena would have some useful space for a convention.

It does look hard to create a stacked center without tearing the current one down. Expanding to the west from the original site also seems hard because the loading dock is on that side.

On the crazy idea front, it looks like up to five acres could be cleared on the block to the east, north of the main row of buildings and keeping the larger historic building and park. That would be an interesting expansion site for a semi-connected convention center. If the Salt Palace was downsized, this site could be very good for alternating events that don't need the full halls, and could be used for combined events, aided by a skybridge for bad weather.

[delts145]

Regarding the Delta Center, I'm going to venture to guess that they will keep it. I think the Salt Lake Convention experience would be elevated by having it repurposed into something fantastic, particularly for large Conventions and their membership gatherings, entertainment, exhibition space, etc. There are probably some excellent ideas that great community specialists could put together. As Atlas suggested, I think Ryan Smith will be looking for a different downtown area such as within the vicinity of the Rio Grande District. As was also pointed out it doesn't make a lot of sense to put what would often be a bit of a fun but loud crowd at the doorstep of Temple Square, especially if the idea is to expand its footprint to the west. Also, as Comrade pointed out it would make much more financial sense for Smith to keep the Delta Center operating until a new arena is completed. I think the Delta Center is an elegant building and fits in well with the surrounding aesthetic. I would really like to see the powers that be take it over and give it an exciting new life that syncs directly with the Salt Palace and more Outdoor Retailer size conventions. That whole West Quarter, Japan Town, Abravanel area should focus its energy on Conventions, new larger significant brand hotels like JW Marriott, etc., and mixed-use retail/residential.

[wrendog]

Sale and relocation of the coyotes is finally officially official

[wrendog]

Sounds like we may not even get name until season 2. Lol. Utah Hockey Club, I guess

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Sounds like we may not even get name until season 2. Lol. Utah Hockey Club, I guess

Yeah and Ryan confirmed it will be "Utah" no matter what

Le sigh. I wish we could get one "Salt Lake" team actually in SLC. Real is in Sandy.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Yeah and Ryan confirmed it will be "Utah" no matter what

Le sigh. I wish we could get one "Salt Lake" team actually in SLC. Real is in Sandy.

I definitely prefer Salt Lake as a name, but I can totally understand why they are going with Utah....

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by wrendog

I definitely prefer Salt Lake as a name, but I can totally understand why they are going with Utah....

Yeah, I'm not going to complain too much considering they wand to build downtown. Thank goodness for that.

Reading the tea leaves though, I don't think "The Point" is quite dead in these discussions yet. If the arena plan for downtown hits any major snags, I could see them looking south. Unlike the Phoenix situation though, The POM State Land Authority would give Smith land instantaneously and without a second thought if he asked.

Cautiously optimistic, although like that BSL article said things are going to move uncomfortably quickly for SLC.

[Comrade]

If these are the options, I'm very disappointed:

https://twitter.com/wyshynski/status...77789027823671

Those names are awful. Some of the most generic, lame names you can pick for a franchise.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Yeah, I'm not going to complain too much considering they wand to build downtown. Thank goodness for that.

Reading the tea leaves though, I don't think "The Point" is quite dead in these discussions yet. If the arena plan for downtown hits any major snags, I could see them looking south. Unlike the Phoenix situation though, The POM State Land Authority would give Smith land instantaneously and without a second thought if he asked.

Cautiously optimistic, although like that BSL article said things are going to move uncomfortably quickly for SLC.

It's not gonna be popular but it'll get done. The city council is already setting it up to fast track with as minimum public input as possible. I think it helps Mendenhall is all in. I would be very surprised at this point if it didn't go through.