Quote:
Originally Posted by STLtoSA
Its all about money. San Antonio is a great city for events, but it doesn't have the facilities anymore. The Alamo Dome is too outdated to be a contender for events like the Final Four. The city is still attractive for such events, but the dome just doesn't generate enough money.
The most talked about, but not the most important reason for the domes shortcomings is the capacity. At 65,000 it is tough to compete with cities like Dallas due to the capacity, but St. Louis, Detroit, and Indianapolis Domes are all comparable in capacity.
The most important issue is the Luxury boxes. When the Dome was built they decided to cut back the amount of luxury boxes because the only tenant was the Spurs. So they built 38 instead of 66.
Here are a list of the cities that fight for Final Four's with their luxury boxes:
1. Dallas - 200
2. Houston - 187
3. Atlanta - 172
4. Detroit - 140
5. Indianapolis - 137
6. St. Louis - 125
7. Minneapolis - 113
8. Phoenix - 88
9. New Orleans - 64
10. San Antonio - 38
Tearing down the Dome would not be a good thing to do. First off, the city would lose annual events; the Alamo Bowl and High School Football Playoffs. The city would also lose special events such as Concerts, Monster Trucks (Oh Yeah!), and certain conventions. Then there are the events the come to the dome such as the Big 12 Football Championship and College Basketball Regionals (and the Final Four).
The only event that I mentioned that could be saved are the conventions, but that is only with a major expansion of the current facilities.
What the city should do is talk with the Spurs to try to bring Playoff or other games to the Alamo Dome with the Final Four Configuration. In return the Dome would need to be upgraded, with the addition of luxury boxes and what ever else is needed. The upgrades would make the facility more attractive for events such as the Final Four, as well as increasing revenue for other events where luxury boxes are utilized.
It kind of sucks that San Antonio has a dome without a tenant, but the dome is used for a lot more than just Football (obviously). If the dome were gone, it would hit the city's tourism and convention industry fairly hard.
|
OK, well…. I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way at all, but the above opinions are the same inane ideas that are always trotted out…and they are always flawed.
The first part of STLtoSA’s statement was right. It is all about money. And the dome is outdated. Imagine trying to attract a top-flight company to an office tower (if an office tower was the primary reason for where a company was located). We have one built in 1992. Dallas has one built in 2009. Dallas wins. Things change. Tastes and needs change. And we have been left behind. No need to cry about it. Time to realize that moving on would be a good idea.
Of luxury boxes…
Not that important for one-off events like these. Boxes are locally leased (most people think they are owned). I work for NuStar Energy. We lease a box at the AT&T Center annually for a few hundred thousand dollars a year. We have access to every event there. Concerts, Spurs, ice skating, church festivals, whatever. It is as if we have an apartment at the arena.
The stadiums around the nation have already leased out their boxes. The NCAA doesn’t get to sell those to anyone. Jerry Jones makes the money before-hand and whatever entity holds the lease to the box gets tickets to the event. So, whether a facility has 1000 luxury boxes or 2 luxury boxes doesn’t make any difference to the NCAA.
Of lost events…
The city would not stand to lose many events at all in losing the dome. Yes, the Alamo Bowl would be gone. High school games as well…
I would like to hear of one concert that was in the Alamodome recently. Also, we won’t be hosting the Big 12 football championship ever again – Dallas and Houston have vastly superior venues for football and the conference likes to use cities in the Big 12 North region as well. No worries about the NCAA basketball stuff either, so scratch that off the list.
Of the Spurs…
Can we agree to never suggest that the Spurs play a game in the Alamodome again? There is a reason they moved. The Spurs make more money in the ATT Center for one game than they ever did in the Alamodome. Remember your luxury box argument? It applies here. Try divvying up all of your premium seating from the ATT to the Alamodome, which has fewer boxes and fewer truly premium seats.
Misc…
Home and Garden shows occur in other cities, even some that lack domes. Boat shows, too. And religious conferences…well, the Lord will find a way without the dome.
The football games would be lost. That is about it.
Are tourists in San Antonio because of the Alamodome? Don't think so. If they are, then guess what? They too will soon be in Houston and Dallas, where superior facilities make all the difference.
Am I saying tearing down the dome would be the greatest idea ever? No. Am I saying that the dome as it currently sits is pretty much an asset that is quickly losing all of its value? Yes.
As such, plans for the future should be explored. And sentimental ties to the dome should be severed.
Prev
Linear Mode
