CyTown Announcement - Monday 9/19 (Links in OP)

[clonedude]

I would aim to have one incredible bar/restaurant/brewery that can thrive year round then bring in food trucks for events so the one eating establishment doesn't limit things. I'm sure they've thought of that and it seems there's unlimited space for it.

I feel like if downtown Ames had always been where Welch is or where "CyTown" is this kind of thing would've happened organically. Incredible they are doing something to make it happen now. Also at this point if somebody doubts JP I have to wonder what planet they've been living on or if they're some kind of secret Iowa/KU/Nebraska fan.

It looks to me like they are going to have Toppling Goliath on the south end, and then two more bars/restaurants on the northern end on either side of the amphitheater, correct?

 

[JP4CY]

People who don’t go all out for tailgating still stop in, people will stop in after the game instead of waiting in their cars, people will come earlier for basketball games, people will come for away games, and well people will just come.

 

[cygrads]

There was a group of contrarians who also thought the south endzone was a bad idea.

There are people who want a gigantic press box that generates no revenue.

Whatchya gonna do, some people just always want something else.

People who lack vision always find reasons why something shouldn't be done.

 

[Cyclones01]

Will be a great place for away-game watch parties.

I would absolutely make the drive up from DSM to watch a game there. It'd be like the Big 12 tournament atmosphere but with no Kansas fans.

 

[NWICY]

This.

Creating a space for temporary infrastructure like beer gardens, food trucks, tailgate zone, etc. requires a lot less investment and carries a lot less risk. As mentioned KCP&L is a ghost town the majority of the year. When it's not its usually because there is an anchor event...Hot Country Nights, Big 12 Tourney, St Paddys day, a big game watch....that's bringing people there. EVERY local abhors most of the establishments that are there. They are either generic bars or terrible fits for the local culture (Leinenkugel's was a terrible move). Most would rather go to Waldo or even Westport where there are more genuine establishments to chose from.

Ultimately I think this idea is a waste of money and risks the cannibalization of the new businesses and established businesses. Some people who used to go elsewhere will go to the new district, hurting old business. There isn't enough localized demand or events for that area to make this one sensible. Too many examples of developers selling a concept that never had the local demand for its existence.

Pollard has been the best AD Iowa State has had by leaps and bounds and is usually on target with most of his ideas. This one completely misses the mark.

Well I guess we will know more in about 5 years.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Based on what they were talking about during the press conference with using different models of building ownership depending on the business, it seems like this isn't a situation where the athletic department will necessarily be building out all of the infrastructure by themselves then hoping businesses will lease. To me, it sounds like the athletic department will be making the utilities investments, then working business by business to to make further expenditures. I feel like that should alleviate some of your concerns.

Plus, the research park isn't facing the issues you're talking about, and I see this as kind of an extension of the research park, with an additional entertainment component. If the research park is continuing to expand and is successful even after the pandemic, I don't see any reason why that model can't extend to CyTown.

I have spot read a few pages here. Wow there are a lot of opinions and drawing conclusions. I am not reflecting on the post here, just an example

These will be ground leases. The tenant will pay for improvements above the dirt. They might build a spec building or two, but only upon testing the water.

Everyone needs to take a breath and quit drawing conclusions on stuff that doesn't exist.

The parking lots are shot and need rebuilt, as JP stated. This is the time to raise them and put in real utilities. We have raw land sitting there earning nothing.

This is not a huge risk.

 

[cyatheart]

It will do well. Lots of college towns have these areas. Ames has nothing, Welch is a joke for the size of ISU and it's a total dump. Student population alone will support it.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

It will do well. Lots of college towns have these areas. Ames has nothing, Welch is a joke for the size of ISU and it's a total dump. Student population alone will support it.

Students
Ames Research Park - 2,500 employees and out of space
University and continuing Ed
Sports/Medical/PT Clinic
Etc

You know when risk was taken? Going from the Armory, 4,000 capacity, to Hilton which has 14,500 capacity. Thank goodness for Pres Hilton, Wintersteen, JP and the research park. They had/have some Vision

 

[isufbcurt]

Putting food trucks in that area instead of an actual development is the DUMBEST thing I've read in a long time. There is no way the people who suggested that aren't trolling right?

 

[GingerNinja]

Putting food trucks in that area instead of an actual development is the DUMBEST thing I've read in a long time. There is no way the people who suggested that aren't trolling right?

Imagine if Jamie came out today and said we're putting in a gravel lot and picnic tables for food trucks. He would have been laughed off the stage, that's some Barta-level incompetence.

Also as more of a finance guy Pollard seems pretty risk-averse, so the fact that it took this long means that he's probably already covered all the bases that people are worried about here. I'm going to trust the man and his vision, he knows more about this than everyone else here combined.

 

[Die4Cy]

Just watched the presser. JP interacting with Uncle Randy is just like a dad interacting with his three year old who asks him "Did dinosaurs like chicken nuggets?" fifteen times a day.

 

[NWICY]

I would absolutely make the drive up from DSM to watch a game there. It'd be like the Big 12 tournament atmosphere but with no Kansas fans.

But unluckily the random hawk fan will be there in full regalia.

 

[Die4Cy]

I wasn't excited about the name CyTown but after some research I realized they must be naming it after renowned British film actor Cy Town, famous for roles such as "Dalek Operator" in Doctor Who.

It all makes sense now.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0869983/

Frankly I don't know how they didn't name it Cyclone Alley and be done with it.

 

[CySki]

They may be best known for their IPAs, but their super rare ultra expensive beers are 15% stouts that have become very well acquainted with the inside of various liquor barrels. Delicious stuff and highly sought after.

I drive Uber some in my free time and drove a guy to a bottle release in Decorah from La Crosse. He had taken the train to La Crosse from Chicago, where he flew in from the Carolinas.

TG has the top rated beer in the world on Beer Advocate and Untapped for the past 7 or so years. They also have a good variety in their lineup and are a destination type brewery that would pull in traffic year round. IMHO, they would be a home run get for Jaime.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

This here - Pompeii is the only 1 I will grab unless back home in Decorah. Once they went hazy on every IPA - they all started tasting the same.

 

[BCClone]

Exactly.

And then after we win the game we can continue the tailgate with some dancing girls to entertain

Now you may have just gained a customer

 

[twincyties]

TG is arguably the best brewery in the country according to a lot of beer snobs.

 

[BCClone]

Any estimates on how many dump truck loads it will take to raise the grade? And plans for where this will come from?

Dirt is coming from the ground I heard.

 

[jcisuclones]

Dirt is coming from the ground I heard.

Huge, if true.

 

[Die4Cy]

I would absolutely make the drive up from DSM to watch a game there. It'd be like the Big 12 tournament atmosphere but with no Kansas fans.

Holy smokes, when you put it like that...