Sports in Austin

[13th_and_Guad]

Originally Posted by freerover

There is a bus that will take you from south Austin to the door of Q2. So in the last 4 years, you have never been north of 183 for anything? At this point if you gave not been to an Austin FC game, it seems more likely you just don't want to go. Just take the bus or drive and don't get plastered.

Yep. As a season ticket holder, I've been to 90% of AFC games. And for all but a handful, I've ridden the 803 bus. I live downtown and it literally stops on my block, so it's very convenient. About 35 minutes to/from my stop to Q2.

Only $1.25 to get there, and you don't need a bus pass for the bus back South.

[ATX2030]

Could you imagine if local politicians and the CoA actually got behind the effort to attract a professional franchise to town like others cities do. DT Austin is absolutely perfect for it. Having an arena or a MLB ballpark or both would be transformative and a massive boon for the economy. It really is a no brainer.

Just picture an arena located where the Sally/ARCH or Police HQ is and/or a ballpark at the Statesman site. Both walkable from hotels, bars, restaurants shops and all those condo towers. Convention center right there with all those out of town attendees. Future light rail line there as well.

--NHL would get you at least 41 games plus concerts and other arena events
--MLB would get you at least 81 games

What a waste!

[freerover]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

Could you imagine if local politicians and the CoA actually got behind the effort to attract a professional franchise to town like others cities do. DT Austin is absolutely perfect for it. Having an arena or a MLB ballpark or both would be transformative and a massive boon for the economy. It really is a no brainer.

Just picture an arena located where the Sally/ARCH or Police HQ is and/or a ballpark at the Statesman site. Both walkable from hotels, bars, restaurants shops and all those condo towers. Convention center right there with all those out of town attendees. Future light rail line there as well.

--NHL would get you at least 41 games plus concerts and other arena events
--MLB would get you at least 81 games

What a waste!

Why would a downtown arena be transformative? Downtown is already well developed. Not sure what would come about from a stadium naturally.

The idea of razing the ARCH for a sports stadium is pretty sad from a humanitarian perspective but even if you combine the lots of the ARCH and APD, you still have a creek in the center and it's not wide enough for an actual arena.

We have private groups that are pursuing options and they can engage the governments when the opportunity becomes real like with Austin FC. The only way governments can help now is by promising to fund the stadium which would never happen. Why do you need city officials to get involved with a stadium on the statesman site? That's an agreement with a team owner and the land owner and the city only needs to be involved for a zoning change.

[Tyrone Shoes]

without sounding like a broken record....in my humble opinion the best location for a MLBaseball stadium would be the Statesman site with the outfield on the northside. Imagine what a skyline shot would look like on TV.

[ATX2030]

Originally Posted by freerover

Why would a downtown arena be transformative? Downtown is already well developed. Not sure what would come about from a stadium naturally.

The idea of razing the ARCH for a sports stadium is pretty sad from a humanitarian perspective but even if you combine the lots of the ARCH and APD, you still have a creek in the center and it's not wide enough for an actual arena.

We have private groups that are pursuing options and they can engage the governments when the opportunity becomes real like with Austin FC. The only way governments can help now is by promising to fund the stadium which would never happen. Why do you need city officials to get involved with a stadium on the statesman site? That's an agreement with a team owner and the land owner and the city only needs to be involved for a zoning change.

Yep.....You perfectly summed up the future of pro sports in this town in a nutshell.

[Jdawgboy]

...

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by freerover

There is a bus that will take you from south Austin to the door of Q2. So in the last 4 years, you have never been north of 183 for anything? At this point if you gave not been to an Austin FC game, it seems more likely you just don't want to go. Just take the bus or drive and don't get plastered.

A damn shame that there is no bus stop within reasonable walking distance of my home... We used to have a stop but it's only a few times in the mornings and evenings now so again not exactly convenient...

[freerover]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

A damn shame that there is no bus stop within reasonable walking distance of my home... We used to have a stop but it's only a few times in the mornings and evenings now so again not exactly convenient...

So how would light rail be any different? The train won't stop at your house either. You can also bike to a bus stop or ask someone for a ride.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by freerover

Why would a downtown arena be transformative? Downtown is already well developed. Not sure what would come about from a stadium naturally.

The idea of razing the ARCH for a sports stadium is pretty sad from a humanitarian perspective but even if you combine the lots of the ARCH and APD, you still have a creek in the center and it's not wide enough for an actual arena.

We have private groups that are pursuing options and they can engage the governments when the opportunity becomes real like with Austin FC. The only way governments can help now is by promising to fund the stadium which would never happen. Why do you need city officials to get involved with a stadium on the statesman site? That's an agreement with a team owner and the land owner and the city only needs to be involved for a zoning change.

[OfficialPBreton]

Originally Posted by IluvATX

Do those baseball fields next to Zilker ever even get used? Every time I’ve been in that area they look run down and unused. Neighborhood would hate it, but IMO that’s the ideal location for a new arena or (fantasy) MLB ballpark.

They do. I passed by on an afternoon last week and it looked like a little league.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by freerover

So how would light rail be any different? The train won't stop at your house either. You can also bike to a bus stop or ask someone for a ride.

Well had the original plan gone through, the rail route would be close enough. I don't have a bike and as much as I'd like one, with my spinal condition, wouldn't be the best idea. My point is transit should be convenient and have walking access to the population it serves. There should be no need to jump in a car just to go to a bus stop. Bikes are another thing but again not the best option in my case. But to your earlier question, no i've rarely been north of 183 in the last 4 years. Pretty much everything I need is within the central core, conversely I rarely drive south of William Cannon.

As far as sports arenas go, they don't have to be in DT and I'll grant you that Q2 is at least in the city. I'd rather not sit through a game with no beverage so I'll plan for parking DT or wherever the red line starts now.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Well had the original plan gone through, the rail route would be close enough. I don't have a bike and as much as I'd like one, with my spinal condition, wouldn't be the best idea. My point is transit should be convenient and have walking access to the population it serves. There should be no need to jump in a car just to go to a bus stop. Bikes are another thing but again not the best option in my case. But to your earlier question, no i've rarely been north of 183 in the last 4 years. Pretty much everything I need is within the central core, conversely I rarely drive south of William Cannon.

As far as sports arenas go, they don't have to be in DT and I'll grant you that Q2 is at least in the city. I'd rather not sit through a game with no beverage so I'll plan for parking DT or wherever the red line starts now.

The light rail stop was going to be at at South Congress and 71 and Soco/St Elmo which is where the 801 is also is right now. You can take the 801 and transfer to the 803 or redline. Light rail would also require a transfer either to the 803 or to the red line. If you can get to the light rail stop, why can't you take the bus? They're literally overlapping.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Well had the original plan gone through, the rail route would be close enough. I don't have a bike and as much as I'd like one, with my spinal condition, wouldn't be the best idea. My point is transit should be convenient and have walking access to the population it serves. There should be no need to jump in a car just to go to a bus stop. Bikes are another thing but again not the best option in my case. But to your earlier question, no i've rarely been north of 183 in the last 4 years. Pretty much everything I need is within the central core, conversely I rarely drive south of William Cannon.

As far as sports arenas go, they don't have to be in DT and I'll grant you that Q2 is at least in the city. I'd rather not sit through a game with no beverage so I'll plan for parking DT or wherever the red line starts now.

I'm not sure I understand what your point is here. So because it doesn't stop in front of your house, it's a waste?

[loonytoony]

Originally Posted by OfficialPBreton

They do. I passed by on an afternoon last week and it looked like a little league.

It's used by South Austin Baseball. Looking at their website, they have games almost every night and have been around since 1950. Anecdotal, but I remember them being well connected and very effective in opposing the soccer stadium. Between that and all the Zilker NIMBY'S, I just don't see this site ever being a viable location for any kind of "for profit" development.

[Lobotomizer]

I've gone to quite a few matches at Q2 over the last several years. I'm also a Southsider, and would recommend utilizing the park and ride under 290 at Packsaddle Pass. The 803 picks up there, and takes you straight to Q2. It's cheap and easy.

[Riverranchdrone]

Downtown Stadiums work well with Houston. [IMG]Houston by Jason Luebbe, on Flickr[/IMG]
But Houston's downtown is pretty compact. I dont know if it would work in Austin. I could see something off of 183 or even 71 but not in the downtown area. We need an area with great transit and room to build up around the stadium. East of IH35 works but you will trigger the gentrification crowd. Statesman site would be great for a small arena like NHL but not for a bigger stadium like MLB.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

Downtown Stadiums work well with Houston. [IMG]Houston by Jason Luebbe, on Flickr[/IMG]
But Houston's downtown is pretty compact. I dont know if it would work in Austin. I could see something off of 183 or even 71 but not in the downtown area. We need an area with great transit and room to build up around the stadium. East of IH35 works but you will trigger the gentrification crowd. Statesman site would be great for a small arena like NHL but not for a bigger stadium like MLB.

Yeah but Houston did it at the right time. Late 90s Houston downtown had a huge glut of space so Minute Maid and Toyota didn't have as much an issue. We could have put a stadium at the old water treatment plant.

[Lobotomizer]

Um, baseball stadiums don't need a whole lot of space. Plenty of places one could fit in Central Austin, including downtown.

There is just a lack of will amongst the leadership of this city. Like someone else said, if we had local government officials actively pursuing teams like you have in most cities we'd at least have one more major team in addition to Austin FC.

The city easily could have partnered with UT and Oak View who built Moody Center, and together built an NBA/NHL caliber arena.

[Nickelplate]

The area around 183 and the river is ripe for the picking. Borden plot. Its within reach of DT and is relatively undeveloped. Red line is aimed in that direction and in the near future light rail in the area which could be spurred to the location. Plus it is a crossroads for vehicles.
Or a more controversial spot the Holly plant site.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by freerover

Privately financed stadiums like you would expect for Austin typically need a lot more space for adjacent development to make the finances work. Q2 worked but it was also only a couple hundred million. A new baseball stadium is going to be between 1-2B.

Plus the expansion fee (or equivalent if somehow buying an existing team to move). AustinFC skipped out on that due to Precourt already having ownership/expansion rights.