Phoenix Area Stadium and Arena News

[Diamonddave]

Originally Posted by PHXFireBirds

I hope they build a 30 story trendy W Hotel right by Chase Field. But, I am telling you the best place for the Coyotes would be to build an arena where the South Convention Center is. This would legitimately create a sports entertainment district, where the Suns, D-Backs, and Coyotes would triangulate one another. This would be my dream scenario.

That would be great living on in the east valley use to go to go to Coyote games all the time and that's before light rail only been twice since they move to Glendale

[ASU Diablo]

Originally Posted by PHXFireBirds

I hope they build a 30 story trendy W Hotel right by Chase Field. But, I am telling you the best place for the Coyotes would be to build an arena where the South Convention Center is. This would legitimately create a sports entertainment district, where the Suns, D-Backs, and Coyotes would triangulate one another. This would be my dream scenario.

This ship has sailed. Would've been awesome to see (second to shared arena w/ Suns) but just don't think the City Council has an appetite for this. When they hired the Consultant Firm over a year ago to perform a market feasibility for the future of South Building site, a sports arena wasn't even mentioned.

Come to think of it...I haven't heard anything new or of next steps in the process. Probably stalled due to the pandemic.

https://www.phoenix.gov/conventioncenter

[ASU Diablo]

Looks like PBJ has been lurking on the boards again LOL

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/...e-stadium.html

The Arizona Diamondbacks are lobbying the state’s Legislature to pass a last-minute bill that could create a whole new mechanism for the team’s owner – and the owners of any professional sports team – to finance costly renovations to its stadium.

The Diamondbacks say the legislation will make it so the team can borrow the money to make $500 million-worth of renovations, but it won’t come at the general taxpayer’s expense — just those who attend games at Chase Field.

[KingLouieLouie76]

Originally Posted by ASU Diablo

Looks like PBJ has been lurking on the boards again LOL

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/...e-stadium.html

What I'm actually most intrigued by in that article is "The D-backs' CEO envisions a mixed-use development springing up around Chase Field as a result."

I admittedly am not subscribed to "PBJ", but for anyone who is, did they happen to elaborate more regarding that in the article? I heard before the Dbacks wanted a mixed-used development on par with Westgate, but I believe there isn't adequate amount of space surrounding Chase Field in order for that to happen or am I overlooking something?

[KingLouieLouie76]

Originally Posted by KingLouieLouie76

What I'm actually most intrigued by in that article is "The D-backs' CEO envisions a mixed-use development springing up around Chase Field as a result."

I admittedly am not subscribed to "PBJ", but for anyone who is, did they happen to elaborate more regarding that in the article? I heard before the Dbacks wanted a mixed-used development on par with Westgate, but I believe there isn't adequate amount of space surrounding Chase Field in order for that to happen or am I overlooking something?

It appears the following from this link somewhat answers my question:

https://www.azmirror.com/2021/04/16/...ew-ticket-tax/

Nick Wood, an attorney who represents the Diamondbacks and crafted the proposal on the team’s behalf, told lawmakers that a hotel would likely be located either on the corner of 7th and Jefferson streets on the Chase Field plaza, directly attached to the building. Hall said the team could also add restaurants, retail stores and office space to the area as well, though that could also be funded completely through private partnerships.

I forgot if the Dbacks owned the south-side of the old convention center? I am trying to figure out how they could build out from there. They could purchase some of the land between E. Buckeye and E. Washington? I know they could go further into the warehouse district and create a slighter variation of the Jackson Street Entertainment District of their own and maybe (highly doubtful) Robert Sarver could help with some of the funding since the Suns could benefit from all of this as well. It will be intriguing to see how all of this materializes.

[MMDelon]

If they want an entertainment district something like Westgate, why hasn't the city or the Dbacks/Suns taken a look at the Warehouse District? You can't build high in those lots anyways and I am sure they can reuse some of the structures. But I agree Louie, The Suns and Dbacks could come together to build a entertainment district. But how they would fund something like that is a better question.

[biggus diggus]

There are a lot of empty buildings and plenty of room for retail, dining and hospitality across 7th Street. My friend who owns most of that land would probably love to rent the land to a developer who wants to do a westgate style entertainment district.

I've long thought that slice of land would be the best growth location for that kind of thing.

[KingLouieLouie76]

Originally Posted by MMDelon

If they want an entertainment district something like Westgate, why hasn't the city or the Dbacks/Suns taken a look at the Warehouse District? You can't build high in those lots anyways and I am sure they can reuse some of the structures. But I agree Louie, The Suns and Dbacks could come together to build a entertainment district. But how they would fund something like that is a better question.

I envisioned that either of those two teams were going to leave the area (especially the Dbacks) so whoever left their facility was going to be demolished for the other franchise to purchase which became vacant land and used that to create more restaurants and retail. I wonder if the Dbacks narrow down or effectively use the space immediately surrounding Chase Field more effectively.

Yes, I just wish the two franchises would establish a more legit "Legends District" together and not just merely in name. Both would definitely prosper from that.

Back when Jackson Street Entertainment District was still possible, I thought that would be the ideal complement for CityScape. CityScape would be the 9-5 destination and JSED would serve as the after hours area. However, I am so glad that CityScape indeed has that 24/7 vibe to it which is indeed essential.

It would be so perfect to have another district aligned with Block 23, CityScape, and Colliers. Then also figure out what to do with the old convention center which could be where they create some of that retail space. Also, something so monumental should go into that area as well... Maybe some sports museum and I wouldn't be shocked if at least one to two casinos are on the horizon for all of this as well.

[KingLouieLouie76]

Originally Posted by biggus diggus

There are a lot of empty buildings and plenty of room for retail, dining and hospitality across 7th Street. My friend who owns most of that land would probably love to rent the land to a developer who wants to do a westgate style entertainment district.

I've long thought that slice of land would be the best growth location for that kind of thing.

I live in that general area and there is so much potential between 7th St/Buckeye to 7th St/Jefferson. I know some of that land was bought back from Sky Harbor and they're in the process of implementing plans on how to reuse that region which I am shocked has not been discussed on this forum and I've been contemplating for quite sometime to begin one, but I don't know if it would merit much interest and discussion.

Anyways, 7th st/Buckeye has that long vacant Adult Store which could be converted into a small restaurant or bar but there's that taco restaurant adjoining that.

I forgot the name, but there's those what appear to be wooden buildings but I believe they're still in use which is close to Lincoln or just before that right on 7th st. Then there is the old Tee Pee Tap Room and I forgot if there is plans for that to be replaced.

I wonder which exact parcels of land your friend owns because he would definitely turn over a hefty profit there. I believe that's the only area except some of the Warehouse District the Dbacks could really expand upon.

[biggus diggus]

He owns most of the area between the tracks and jefferson and 7th and 14th. He's making more money leasing that space to produce and other various food companies for cold storage, unfortunately.

It's just interesting to think about what could be of people's visions were a little different. Apparently the money in cold storage is way bigger than it is in retail, alcohol, housing etc.

[YourBuddy]

Only area that makes sense to me is the original concept for the Jackson Street Entertainment district and renovating the south convention center. Rinka who is doing the Pier in Tempe also is doing the Milwaukee Bucks “Deer District.” I think something like that but bigger should be the goal. Something right across the street and connected to these stadiums.

[biggus diggus]

A word of caution about these "entertainment districts": they usually are awful.

Anyone here who has been to Kansas City's P&L District knows what I mean. It's usually the same pricing and garbage food/drink you can buy inside the stadium, just with different scenery. $11 for a domestic draft, an 80s cover band and a $16 hamburger shouldn't be exciting. That's what you get with an "entertainment district".

I'd rather hold out for organic growth.

[combusean]

Cold storage is very rare in Central Phoenix. There's a fair amount of demand for industrial as well around the airport--the Ameron site is developing fairly quickly for example.

But I don't understand how that area could be an entertainment district. It doesn't connect very well to the rest of downtown with the only through streets being Jefferson and Lincoln. There's nothing that would innately draw people around and across the pedestrian nightmare of 7th St, and I doubt any enterprising bar owner would be the first to open something after food drink venues along Jackson St in downtown proper have all closed out after struggling for years on non-game nights. The market has shifted north anyways and those buildings are getting repurposed as tech offices. There's like one good block of old vintage warehouses that would need insane amounts of upgrades to become anything else, and the heavy industrial zoning is not at all conducive to mixed use.

I could see an overall repurposing of that area into something truly monumental if UP were to ever close the rail yards, but that seems incredibly unlikely.

[biggus diggus]

The baseball stadium opens right into Jackson Street. https://goo.gl/maps/KJuYCsV93F2mxp1K8

You may disagree but I think a really great plaza at the ballpark under the bridge would open that neighborhood up, lots of people already park there - arguably it's the most common place to park after the garage majal. I'm 15 years down the road with this idea, I think. LoDo, to my recollection, wasn't exactly an accessible neighborhood before they did that big project. I remember the area around Petco being terrible, also. If they want an entertainment district the land is there. Mike isn't going to play ball though, so it's a moot point.

[combusean]

Yeah ... I basically took the idea that area immediately adjacent to the stadium wasn't going to change much from being used for what it is now which looks like some contractor parking lot. I mean, there's a freaking moat on the Jefferson St side of the north sidewalk and a surface parking lot--this stadium is really an anachronism from the 1990s and only now are they getting around to maybe reconfiguring it.

It would still need LOT of investment to become something more than the other died out entertainment/sports bars on Jackson St. Maybe when downtown was smaller and didn't have Van Buren and Roosevelt competing for "entertainment" uses something could work but it feels like that ship has sailed. I wouldn't mind being proven wrong, the industrial creep surrounding downtown could be pulled back.

I was doing some research into this neighborhood just the other day and the whole area from 6th and Van Buren to 12th and Madison was urban renewed in the starting in the early 1970s over a twenty year period after moving out around 1200 people whose homes were all leveled. I'm still bewildered to think that the painfully suburban mishmash of bland corporate buildings, city lots, industrial boxes, and single family homes was what the community wanted--what they all built was nearly to plan. That industrial park right there on 7th and Jackson was treated like God himself shone a light there for once which speaks volumes to how they perceived it.

[biggus diggus]

And most of those families that were pushed out were black. Just another day for them. Eastlake actually has a pretty interesting history which you're likely aware of. Most people would never know it, though. Glad you brought it up. Here's a good read from downtown phoenix website: https://dtphx.org/2017/02/17/eastlak...can-community/

I see this area being redeveloped down the road and with the location of the ballpark it just makes sense to open that up.

[combusean]

I read every article I could about the Booker T Washington NDP and as far as I can tell it was conducted in a manner that was amenable to residents after a somewhat rocky start alleging people weren't properly notified. The city had gone in there and found 80% of the housing stock to be unsafe and everyone, including renters, were given a fair amount of money to leave--I think $4000 was the typical sum in 1972 dollars. Rather than being underpaid, one city employee was demoted because he accidentally overpaid some residents.

The program was administered by Opal Ellis who had a *long* civil rights history in Phoenix so to cast doubt on the project would be to cast doubt on her legacy which I'm not about to do with the lack of information I have. The ostensible nature is that anything white people did to Blacks was bad isn't as cut and dry as it sounds as the project needs to be put into context. With the end of redlining I suspect many residents were eager to take the buyouts and escape as it doesn't seem that many willingly returned to the replacement housing stock that was built there. Chinatown kind of had a similar fate--it was abandoned because residents were no longer forced to live there.

I went in there looking to unearth controversy and if it was there, the Republic didn't really cover it as Ellis herself extensively justified the project and her involvement. I don't think I'm done but I don't have good sources for a 50-year-old project.

[KingLouieLouie76]

I don't mean to go on a complete tangent under this thread, but this was what I was referring to in one of my earlier post...... https://www.skyharbor.com/LandReuseStrategy


It is very comprehensive and it all should be implemented soon. I believe the pandemic delayed progress this past year.

Edit: The following sub-link really describes in immense detail all the proposals and I hope it all goes into fruition. So much potential to develop this area! https://www.skyharbor.com/LandReuseStrategy/phase2

[combusean]

I have absolutely no idea how Phoenix intends to zone and develop parcels it doesn't own and are incompatible with the surrounding uses such as transitioning that Spark 2 area on 7th St and Buckeye away from heavy industrial.

I know Phoenix has had trouble developing those lots since they were bought with federal funds--maybe they have to send *something* to the FAA to begin entertaining RFPs and begin the disposal process on their way to actually assembling lots for development.

[KingLouieLouie76]

I could go on and on about the Sky Harbor Land Development and if it eventually merits one I will create its own dedicated thread, however, I regret straying away from the topic of this particular one.

Besides reducing seating capacity and making all the internal repairs, I wonder what other renovations of Chase Field would be made? Perhaps they will incorporate more glass solar panels similar to what they have in Milwaukee? It will be intriguing indeed!

Edit: Also something different with the roof. I would model what the St Louis Cardinals did with Busch Stadium and their adjacent hotel which would be to have views from the hotel window above Chase. Also, what they have surrounding Busch would be a perfect blueprint.