Huntsville updates

[mp7123]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I am planning to meet with the mayor soon and address my concerns for lack of growth in downtown including lifestyles to tourism and retail. I am also going to pitch an idea for improvements and expansion to Big Spring Park such as a man-made waterfall where the old regions banks is, a new downtown baseball stadium where Coke plant is located, and more hotels taller than the Holiday Inn.

As for the VBC expanding. That can't happen due to it's limited structural design. Hopefully though the new renovations will make it more attractive and appealing when completed.

Why not build a Six Flags Space Adventure theme park. It could be built behind the Space and Rocket Center. The closest real theme park is in Atlanta.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

As for the VBC expanding. That can't happen due to it's limited structural design. Hopefully though the new renovations will make it more attractive and appealing when completed.

There was some talk a couple of years ago about building a larger arena "shell" around the existing arena, and then demolishing the inner arena to expose the larger one. Probably not going to happen now.

I think the VBC should just embrace the size of the arena and market it regionally as a premium venue since there really aren't many (if any) bad seats in the place to view a concert. The campaign could play off Huntsvilles space themes with something like "The VBC in Huntsville gets you closer to the Stars"

[HSV79]

Thanks Tim! Well as for the Propst arena, it is still the same old arena . Its like a old pair of shoes and putting new laces and polish on them. Well that extra 40 million spent on the jail could have went towards a newer arena. But that's water under the bridge. Maybe one day we can get things on track. Hey ask the mayor about his 25-30 storey skyscraper for downtown.

[HSV79]

With Vipers now in Georgia, the future of indoor football in Huntsville is cloudy
Published: Monday, August 30, 2010, 9:46 AM Updated: Monday, August 30, 2010, 9:49 AM
Steve Doyle, The Huntsville Times
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Dave Dieter / The Huntsville TimesAlabama Vipers fans will have to find another team to cheer for now that the franchise has moved to suburban Atlanta.
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Preoccupied with tackling a $15 million budget deficit, Huntsville City Hall will have a limited role in bringing indoor football back to the Von Braun Center.


Share Mayor Tommy Battle said he was disappointed to see the Alabama Vipers slither across the state line last week to suburban Atlanta, where they have been renamed the Georgia Force.

But as much as it hurts to see a minor league sports franchise go, Battle said, the city cannot afford to shell out big bucks to lure a new arena football team to the VBC.

"Should the city get involved financially? I don't think so," Battle said Friday. "The Vipers leaving was a business decision on their part."

While the Vipers had a solid core of fans, Huntsville was the smallest market in the 15-team Arena Football League. Their new home, the 11,000-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, is almost double the size of the VBC and gives the league a foothold in the lucrative Atlanta sports market.

Battle said he has no inside information but believes other arena football teams will be interested in taking the Vipers' place.

"The free enterprise system will take care of minor league football in the area," he said. "Somebody will backfill that, but it's not the city's role."

It's not clear how much the loss of the Vipers will hurt the VBC financially. The city-owned complex is undergoing a $25 million renovation designed to give the aging arena, Concert Hall and East and West halls a more updated look.

VBC officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

Battle said his understanding is that the Vipers and Huntsville Stars minor league baseball team have "very little impact on the total revenue" of the VBC and Joe Davis Stadium, respectively.

The teams keep most of the profits from ticket, concession and merchandise sales, he said.

Meanwhile, the Stars' parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, is unhappy with the condition of city-owned Joe Davis Stadium and would reportedly like to explore its options elsewhere. Built in 1984 and named for a late Huntsville mayor, Joe Davis is the oldest ballpark in the Southern League.

Earlier this month, Stars owner Miles Prentice and General Manager Buck Rogers said the Stars will return to Huntsville next season - even if it's with a different major league partner.

Battle said he's not thrilled about the city's contract with the Stars, which was already in place when he took office in late 2008.

The Stars pay the city just $10,000 per season to use the stadium, he said. Meanwhile, the city is on the hook for expensive stadium maintenance and upgrades.

Among other things, the city is contractually obligated to replace the infield and outfield grass before next baseball season. Battle's chief of staff, Trent Willis, said that could cost as much as $100,000.

"Year in and year out, our responsibilities (for stadium improvements) will outweigh the revenue" from the Stars, Battle said. "It's a money-losing venture."

Even if the city was flush with money, Battle said a recent survey showed little public support for a new downtown ballpark.

"Minor league sports are great amenities," he said, "but they're not something the community should have to put a lot of money into."


Man Battle I was with you till this story. I know it takes money to do things but man we need a new arena and get the stars owner to go at least 50/50 with the city and build a new baseball stadium downtown.

[HSVTiger]

I don't believe the survey comment either. The latest critique of the stadium by the Southern League doesn't bode well for Joe Davis which should be converted
to a new football stadium replacing Milton Frank.
Plans for a new downtown ballpark/office/entertainment complex tying in with Constellation and Big Spring Park should be implemented.
Meanwhile maybe if we ignore the problem it will go away...and it will to another city.

[jmanhsv]

I was puzzled by the survey comment too. Maybe the mayor was referencing the "Downtown Development Survey" that was done earlier this year. It asked respondents what they wanted downtown, but from what I remember, it didn't specifically mention a new baseball stadium.

The Coca-Cola Ballpark idea I've discussed (and more recently by others on here) is not that far off from what the city's been throwing around as an idea. Any new baseball stadium here is going to be much smaller than the Joe-- no more than 7,000 seats, probably closer to 5,000. Even so, I don't think the city (or even a private developer) is willing right now to shell out $25-30M to build the ballpark, considering the economy and the current public discontent here over major government building projects thanks to the jail fiasco. So we might have to lose the Stars before public (and political) support leans toward building the downtown park.

Some of you might be wondering why the city can't just redevelop the area surrounding the Joe into a mixed-use environment. That would be extremely hard to do due to the zoning of the Joe and its surroundings. Even if a new ballpark is built, the Joe would have to remain in "recreational" use (the best idea I've heard is an outdoor concert venue). This might hamper any efforts to sell it to private developers though.

[JasonAU]

Perfect options would be a new downtown stadium and converting JD into purely football. There just is not enough of either private or city funding alone that would build a downtown one. Of course currently there is no available land but if there were it would have to take a significant amount of private funding going together with government.

What has funded other small ballparks around the country?

[bystander1]

"Should the city get involved financially? I don't think so," Battle said Friday. "The Vipers leaving was a business decision on their part."


"The free enterprise system will take care of minor league football in the area," he said. "Somebody will backfill that, but it's not the city's role."

Battle said his understanding is that the Vipers and Huntsville Stars minor league baseball team have "very little impact on the total revenue" of the VBC and Joe Davis Stadium, respectively.


"Year in and year out, our responsibilities (for stadium improvements) will outweigh the revenue" from the Stars, Battle said. "It's a money-losing venture."


"Minor league sports are great amenities," he said, "but they're not something the community should have to put a lot of money into."

Wow. Sounds like Battle has turned into Emory Folmar reincarnated.

Probably just frustration talking...

[neilson]

Originally Posted by bystander1

Wow. Sounds like Battle has turned into Emory Folmar reincarnated.

Probably just frustration talking...

Here's the honest truth. Maybe the Stars should leave Huntsville and that way we can have a fresh start 5-10 years down the road. The current GM and Owners of the Stars have left a bad taste in the mouths and minds of most fans, and I think the best thing that could happen is for baseball to go away for a while and then bring it back completely new and fresh.

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by bystander1

Wow. Sounds like Battle has turned into Emory Folmar reincarnated.

I had the SAME thought!

Did enjoy seeing the Stars last night at Riverwalk Stadium here in Montgomery. Everything was almost perfect for the last few days of regular season AA play, especially the weather... and the Biscuit's win! ;-)

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by neilson

Here's the honest truth. Maybe the Stars should leave Huntsville and that way we can have a fresh start 5-10 years down the road. The current GM and Owners of the Stars have left a bad taste in the mouths and minds of most fans, and I think the best thing that could happen is for baseball to go away for a while and then bring it back completely new and fresh.

Maybe that really is the plan, in any case the Mayor has presented a tight and challenging budget for the coming year. Even though the city just received a AAA bond rating (the highest you can get I think) there is no room for any extras. At this moment he is doing what is best for the taxpayers.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Maybe that really is the plan, in any case the Mayor has presented a tight and challenging budget for the coming year. Even though the city just received a AAA bond rating (the highest you can get I think) there is no room for any extras. At this moment he is doing what is best for the taxpayers.

And judging by the responses of many, it sounds like Huntsville would be better off with no baseball for a few years vs. being stuck with Buck Rogers running the Stars.

[MovingAL]

Originally Posted by neilson

And judging by the responses of many, it sounds like Huntsville would be better off with no baseball for a few years vs. being stuck with Buck Rogers running the Stars.

Or maybe Mayor Battle knows that with BRAC jobs and more economic dev. in the area, we are in line for a AAA team. [/EndSarcasm]

So is HSV dead as a sports town? Or did the Buck experience turn people off?

[hsvdj84]

Big Lots going into old CompUSA in the Westside Centre plaza. Good or bad? Filling empty space is great! Is Big Lots the right retailer for that shopping center? Says it's going to be 28,500 sq. ft.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by hsvdj84

Big Lots going into old CompUSA in the Westside Centre plaza. Good or bad? Filling empty space is great! Is Big Lots the right retailer for that shopping center? Says it's going to be 28,500 sq. ft.

Big Lots was at the old Campo store(and current Essex Store) on University at Sparkman before closing a few years ago. At the time, I questioned why Big Lots would leave West Huntsville, so I'm glad to see that they are returning.

[David1502]

It's not surprising to me at least, but AirTran is only getting about half the flight loads at HSV that it receives systemwide (A 44% Load Factor at HSV verses 85% Systemwide). If this continues, they will pull out. Theref ore the Airport Authorituy is asking the community for greater support otherwise, HSV will again have the highest fares in the country.
See Article http://blog.al.com/huntsville-times-business/2010/09/huntsville_international_airpo.html

In Mobile, the locals said "Delta has the same fares so I will fly them." AirTran lost money, discontinued service and Delta then doubled and quadrupled their fares out of Mobile. Let's hope the same thing doesn't happen here but I have my doubts that North Alabama has enough consumer savy or price intelligent travelers for AirTran to make it. Too bad, because if they pull out, there not coming back.

[HSVTiger]

On the cargo side

Panalpina will begin regular air freight service directly between Huntsville and Hong Kong to complement the Swiss-based company's service between Huntsville and Luxembourg, said Lucas Kuehner, managing director of Panalpina USA.
Panalpina leases a Boeing 747-400F operated by Atlas Air for one daily flight, five days a week from the Huntsville hub to its hub in Luxembourg.

The Huntsville to Hong Kong service will begin in October and will initially be one flight a week.

HSV Times photo

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by David1502

It's not surprising to me at least, but AirTran is only getting about half the flight loads at HSV that it receives systemwide (A 44% Load Factor at HSV verses 85% Systemwide). If this continues, they will pull out. Theref ore the Airport Authorituy is asking the community for greater support otherwise, HSV will again have the highest fares in the country.
See Article http://blog.al.com/huntsville-times-business/2010/09/huntsville_international_airpo.html

In Mobile, the locals said "Delta has the same fares so I will fly them." AirTran lost money, discontinued service and Delta then doubled and quadrupled their fares out of Mobile. Let's hope the same thing doesn't happen here but I have my doubts that North Alabama has enough consumer savy or price intelligent travelers for AirTran to make it. Too bad, because if they pull out, there not coming back.

AirTran should do well in HSV, add two Atlanta flights and see what happens.
Also continue to show how flying to Baltimore can help get to destinations along the east coast.

[huntsvillefan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

AirTran should do well in HSV, add two Atlanta flights and see what happens.
Also continue to show how flying to Baltimore can help get to destinations along the east coast.

I agree. If AirTran would add Atlanta flights, they would succeed gloriously in Huntsville.

It would be a huge misstep for Huntsville if AirTran fails. We have a community-wide interest in seeing this airline succeed. USE IT!

[SpawnOfVulcan]

My mom, grandfather, and I flew from Huntsville to Baltimore with AirTran. Easy, and VERY cheap. I agree, if they would simply add flights to Atlanta, they wouldn't have any problems. Plus, I think they realize, it's gonna take time for the people of North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee to take notice of a lower cost carrier in Huntsville.