The most logical location would be right across 35 from the Convention Center. There is enough land to do it. The commuter line is right there for easy transit access, would be close to the Waller Creek area as well as the Fairmont Hotel. Austin does need a larger arena and if the city and UT work jointly, I think it would be a good thing. Plus imagine the density of the Medical Center if it covered the Brak hospital and FEC blocks!

Victory Park? What pedestrians does that area attract? Everyone drives there and drives right back home. Every time I have been there, its almost completely dead. And that includes nights on some of the most exciting (and should be crowded) weekends of the year (including Texas v OU weekend).

I think a lot of it is the culture of Dallas, but there is a lot written examining what happened in this area (one article says its "an upscale ghost town"):

http://www.salon.com/2012/05/19/urba...o_one_has_fun/

http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/2009/0...tory_Park.aspx

http://transportationblog.dallasnews...ound-aac.html/

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/bl...ialize-as.html

And there are many more...

Frank Erwin Center holds nearly 18,000 people, which is just as large as most NBA arenas. The idea that Austin needs a larger arena is absurd, and the Frank Erwin Center's capacity has no effect on whether or not Austin could host a DNC or RNC convention.

http://www.uterwincenter.com/sites/d...ery/round1.jpg

http://www.uterwincenter.com/sites/d...ery/round3.jpg

http://www.uterwincenter.com/sites/d...ery/arena2.jpg

http://www.uterwincenter.com/about/photo-gallery

It's maximum capacity is 17,900.

This is false. RNC regulations for 2008 (which is the only info I can find at the moment) required that the city have an arena capable of holding at least 20,500. The floor itself capable of seating 5,500 of those.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/a...onvention.html

DNC regulations have always required more, usually about 22,500 given that it always (literally, not an almost) attracts a larger audience than does the RNC. The 2016 requirements have, ofcourse, not been released yet, but I can tell you that they'll most likely be larger than the 2012 requirements, which were in turn larger than what was required in 2008... for both parties.

The Frank Erwin Center is far far far beneath what is required to host a national convention, both in total size and in floor seating capacity. By the way, FEC's maximum capacity is 17,900.

Omg....like Austin would ever host the RNC. That will be they day when I move. Thank you, and goodnight.

I'd love to host the RNC. The protests that would be there would cause a huge national image problem for the Republicans that I'd love to help cause by hosting their convention. And it would come with great economic benefits. Two positives: problems for Republicans and sucking their money and tax dollars into progressive governance.

Basically :cheers:

I'm a conservative. I doubt you have much to worry about with the RNC coming here.

As for the arena, I think y'all are dreaming a bit too big. FEC is already too big for UT basketball. That place is filled to capacity maybe 3 times a year. The other crowds are sparse. Basketball will be the main function of this gym if it is built by UT, not conventions.

The City of Austin will never build an arena for just conventions and concerts. They will rely on UT. I just don't see UT building bigger when they can't even fill the one they have.

You guys are hysterical. Minneapolis and Philadelphia hosted the RNC. Yes, I do realize it spawned a mass-exodus of urban geeks from those cities. :rolleyes:

2/6
 

Gables Residential Tower and the crane for 3Eleven Bowie. I only got three photos before my battery died. I loved the way the sky looked yesterday.

http://i.imgur.com/UxTjkR9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rGlukUm.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/grMK2nT.jpg

So, first of all - no space like this attracts people when there isn't an event. It's single use.

Secondly - there's always at event at AA center. Always. That places holds the Mavericks and the Stars and about 150 other events a year.

Third - the point was that the form of the building is 1MX more pedestrian friendly than ANY event center we have in Austin.

Fourth - Victory Park is developing into a nice dense little mixed use subnode of the Downtown, it's also mere blocks away from some of Dallas' tallest skyscrapers that are an easy walk to AA center. It isn't there yet - they started with nothing. It takes time to develop "authenticity".

Oh, and contrast VP with Erwin Center - which I was.

We've even hosted right wing religious groups here in Austin. The restaurant staff and hotel staff took it in stride, and gladly took their money. Also, the entertainment value was high.

If you host the RNC or even DNC nowadays, you better be prepared for the mass protests that go along with them. They're almost bigger than the events themselves.

Sounds like Austin may have been weird, for a weekend, then returned to its usual conformity.

Some 3 Eleven Bowie construction photos taken from The Monarch showing the excavation and crane construction.

http://www.urbanspacerealtors.com/news/ccc.html

If you are walking downtown and want a fun view... hike the creek below the Monarch. ! Just did it yesterday!

Cool, I'll have to go check it out. I know there's that bridge across the creek right next to The Monarch. I haven't been over there in a while though. There's a few places I'm wanting to check out actually.

This seems kind of unusual, but KXAN just reported that Congress Avenue would be closed in about an hour for an extended period of time this weekend so a crane can be delivered to the JW Marriott site. The two other cranes were installed with no traffic interruptions. I wonder what's different this time? I'll be checking the construction webcam:

http://oxblue.com/open/tournee/jwmarriottaustin

I find in interesting how close the tower crane at 3 Eleven Bowie is to the Monarch.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...er%20Crane.pdf

Wow. That is close. I remember the podium crane for Ashton was very close to 100 Congress. You could probably sit on the end of the boom and reach out and touch 100 Congress. Here are a few pics I took of it back then.

http://i.imgur.com/JWCW08b.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WIGrsZc.jpg