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

[AuH2O]

Seems to me some of you think that businesses need to be beyond extremely busy like they are/will be on major events, like game days in order to keep the lights on.

Most businesses have nothing like what these businesses will have some days, during events, and still manage to do well.

Think about businesses in other areas of Ames. No matter where, Duff, Downtown, Campustown etc. why do they get customers, how do they get there, when are they busy, what keeps them in the open. Wallaby's how does it stay open? Cys Roost, Welch Ave Station, both been open for decades, How? Cornbred, how do people get there? Hickory Park what keeps its lights on? These businesses are in different areas around town, some basically are only getting customers who drive, some are mostly students. How do they make it, year around, in the summer, when they dont have a football game tailgate to fill their businesses? When most students are gone?

Now if you think about it this area will have all of the same things as all of those, plus BONUS DAYS that HUGE EVENTS are going on. These are days they get rich, not days the need to make ends meet. Football Game Days will be EXTREME for these businesses, other game days in Hilton will by busy, events in CY, Fisher and Scheman will also add revenue. The addition of a Hotel and Convention center expansion will also increase business. Then you have the Iowa Games and Special Olympics which will both be big business events.

Then with all of that, you have other possible new events, to bring in more business, something that an event planner or promoter could fill up a calendar in no time.

Those that are trying to come up with excuses I wonder if have other motives because I just cant see why anyone would be against this, but then I guess there have been people against everything Pollard has built since he came. Just have to be against everything. Half of the naysayers probably haven't stepped foot in the area in decades.

Seriously, like anything else in Ames the non game days it will take 10 minutes to drive there. There will probably be easier parking than campus town businesses, and no worse than Main Street or Somerset.

If the businesses are good, like anywhere else in town, they will succeed. If they suck they will fail.

 

[Cloneon]

I don't. I also don't doubt that those things, as a standalone, won't do what Jamie thinks they will. I'm sure there are some high dollar donors that will eat this thing up.

But look at the scope of the project, try to find parallels and comparisons, then ask yourself how viable this really is. Jamie and the presser make comparisons to KCs Power and Light district and GBs Titletown. Power and Light is next to the Sprint Center (sorry...not calling it Tmo) which hosts infinitely more large events (granted none are as large as a football game). Most years the Sprint Center hosts around 80 events. Then you have events that are specifically at Power and Light. Hot Country Nights on Thursdays in the summer. St Paddy's day party, pub crawls, and other events are there. Combine you probably have 100 large scale events occurring between the two and that doesn't count conventions and other events taking place downtown (that can draw in people conceivably). Even WITH all of that KCPL has been a failure. Titletown may be a different story but GB is also significantly larger than Ames.

You also have to consider your clientele and how such a space fits into your city. Ames is a Midwestern college town. Ames is nice and clean but it's not chic. This development remind be a lot of, but on a much larger scale, Town Center in Leawood (KC suburb). Some swanky overpriced restaurants that tend to attract the same people over and over. It does well but it's located in southern Johnson country where there is a **** ton of money...and snobby people. I live in that area but that's never been my vibe, nor that of most of my friends. This just seems so over the top and so out of place for Ames. It also lacks precedent in really having a good comparison of how it would go over.

I respect your opinion, however, another thing to consider is that the debt on the land is zero and the $$$ required for the parking lot regardless should be factored in. While I agree, it's an aggressive risk, I also believe with the alternative revenue concepts, the variety of financing concepts above ground, the ongoing debt liability of CY Stephens, and parking lots, this is a creative solution which could succeed.

 

[Lewey24]

Other activities, Conventions, utilizing the parking and area for free concerts, shows, events to bring in customers. Titletown has vendor type shows every week. etc

If people want an example of this closer to home, this is exactly what Newbo in Cedar Rapids does. Free concerts every Friday in the summer, designed to get people to spend money on beer and food.

 

[isutrevman]

Why do they let him ask more than one question per presser? They should give him a one question limit if it is a good question then let him have another, dumb question he's done for the day.

Journalists seem to be getting worse at this, but I especially notice it from Randy and even Travis Hines. You should be able to ask your question in a single sentence. Two at most. I don't need a 1 minute narrative before you finally get to the actual question. It should go like this:

Campbell: "What you got Randy?"

Randy "How do you see the running backs splitting carries in this first game?"

Instead, we get:

Randy: "We're all familiar with Jirehl Brock since he's been here 3 years. It's unfortunate for him that he was stuck behind Breece....... who was arguably the nations best running back........ and is now playing in the NFL for the Jets.....had a good first week by the way..... Now you've got this freshman Norton......who we've heard a lot of good things about and some say could be the next Breece, or David Montogomery....also looking good for the Bears by the way....sorry to get sidetracked........ It's got to be a challenge to figure out....do you go with the veteran who's been around and kind of earned that start and bulk of the carries, or how do you see the running back splitting carries in this first game?"

 

[Nor'MidWester]

At the 35 minute mark the research park guy says they aren't expecting this to be a revenue stream for the athletic department but for the Iowa State Center.... wasn't that the whole point? To provide supplemental revenue for the athletic department as tv money dips?

 

[golfnewt]

Now this logo I could get behind!!

 

[CY9008]

At the 35 minute mark the research park guy says they aren't expecting this to be a revenue stream for the athletic department but for the Iowa State Center.... wasn't that the whole point? To provide supplemental revenue for the athletic department as tv money dips?

I wondered that too, but on the website it says “ Generate new revenues, allowing for reinvestment in Iowa State Center performing arts and athletics facilities”. So maybe was just trying to confirm it’s not 100% benefiting athletics

 

[mcblogerson]

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

A lot, and your mom…

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Has JP researched this enough??? Does he know where dirt comes from???

As long as he uses dirt, and saves soil for the farmers.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I respect your opinion, however, another thing to consider is that the debt on the land is zero and the $$$ required for the parking lot regardless should be factored in. While I agree, it's an aggressive risk, I also believe with the alternative revenue concepts, the variety of financing concepts above ground, the ongoing debt liability of CY Stephens, and parking lots, this is a creative solution which could succeed.

Is it a debt liability on Stephens or deferred maintenance like most campus buildings?

 

[Nor'MidWester]

I wondered that too, but on the website it says “ Generate new revenues, allowing for reinvestment in Iowa State Center performing arts and athletics facilities”. So maybe was just trying to confirm it’s not 100% benefiting athletics

Gotcha. I was wondering because pollard didn't step in and correct him really, I thought it was odd. Hopefully they are all aligned on where revenue is going...
The "athletic facilities" may just include Hilton though so technically it's going towards an athletic department facility. I think.

 

[DeereClone]

Journalists seem to be getting worse at this, but I especially notice it from Randy and even Travis Hines. You should be able to ask your question in a single sentence. Two at most. I don't need a 1 minute narrative before you finally get to the actual question. It should go like this:

Campbell: "What you got Randy?"

Randy "How do you see the running backs splitting carries in this first game?"

Instead, we get:

Randy: "We're all familiar with Jirehl Brock since he's been here 3 years. It's unfortunate for him that he was stuck behind Breece....... who was arguably the nations best running back........ and is now playing in the NFL for the Jets.....had a good first week by the way..... Now you've got this freshman Norton......who we've heard a lot of good things about and some say could be the next Breece, or David Montogomery....also looking good for the Bears by the way....sorry to get sidetracked........ It's got to be a challenge to figure out....do you go with the veteran who's been around and kind of earned that start and bulk of the carries, or how do you see the running back splitting carries in this first game?"

I love Heft but he can do this at times too with post game player interviews in basketball.

 

[BCClone]

How high are they raising it? Also, are they going to grind up the asphalt already there because they would have to or it would create like a barrier at that point.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I love Heft but he can do this at times too with post game player interviews in basketball.

Finally someone else gets this! Actually, he asks his question and then continues to talk for at least another minute. I give the players credit for remembering the question.

 

[Frak]

Seems to me some of you think that businesses need to be beyond extremely busy like they are/will be on major events, like game days in order to keep the lights on.

Most businesses have nothing like what these businesses will have some days, during events, and still manage to do well.

Think about businesses in other areas of Ames. No matter where, Duff, Downtown, Campustown etc. why do they get customers, how do they get there, when are they busy, what keeps them in the open. Wallaby's how does it stay open? Cys Roost, Welch Ave Station, both been open for decades, How? Cornbred, how do people get there? Hickory Park what keeps its lights on? These businesses are in different areas around town, some basically are only getting customers who drive, some are mostly students. How do they make it, year around, in the summer, when they dont have a football game tailgate to fill their businesses? When most students are gone?

Now if you think about it this area will have all of the same things as all of those, plus BONUS DAYS that HUGE EVENTS are going on. These are days they get rich, not days the need to make ends meet. Football Game Days will be EXTREME for these businesses, other game days in Hilton will by busy, events in CY, Fisher and Scheman will also add revenue. The addition of a Hotel and Convention center expansion will also increase business. Then you have the Iowa Games and Special Olympics which will both be big business events.

Then with all of that, you have other possible new events, to bring in more business, something that an event planner or promoter could fill up a calendar in no time.

Those that are trying to come up with excuses I wonder if have other motives because I just cant see why anyone would be against this, but then I guess there have been people against everything Pollard has built since he came. Just have to be against everything. Half of the naysayers probably haven't stepped foot in the area in decades.

Nice work. It doesn’t take much imagination to come up with events to fill this. Bandshell has free concerts every Friday in the summer. No reason you couldn’t do that. Ankenys area has everything from art shows to wine tastings to chili cook offs. This area has an inherent advantage in that people love ISU and want a reason to go to Ames. A chili cook off or a bbq fest would freaking kill there. And then you have toppling Goliath right down the block?

I’m sorry, but someone with a little imagination would have something lined up for every single summer weekend.

 

[BCClone]

Gotcha. I was wondering because pollard didn't step in and correct him really, I thought it was odd. Hopefully they are all aligned on where revenue is going...
The "athletic facilities" may just include Hilton though so technically it's going towards an athletic department facility. I think.

Even if this takes care of parking lots, the athletic department is getting something out of it. Those things are shot. If it covers the other expenses, it lifts the burden off the A.D.

The also are smart for saying the ISC and not AD. City of Ames is behind this also and while the AD brings money in, it's hard to have a city throw money at a department that is pulling in 100MM per year. The ISC will help with conventions, conferences, and other activities that will draw people on M-F and not just game day. More of a community thing.

 

[TheHelgo]

A couple things I noticed. It appears on the website that phase 1 should be done by early 2025, with work starting this winter. I wonder if that means the whole project could be done by 2026'ish?

Second, I live in St. Louis and this gives me some 'ballpark village' vibes. BP Village by Busch is phenomenal and a great place for pre and post game activity.

 

[BCClone]

Nice work. It doesn’t take much imagination to come up with events to fill this. Bandshell has free concerts every Friday in the summer. No reason you couldn’t do that. Ankenys area has everything from art shows to wine tastings to chili cook offs. This area has an inherent advantage in that people love ISU and want a reason to go to Ames. A chili cook off or a bbq fest would freaking kill there. And then you have toppling Goliath right down the block?

I’m sorry, but someone with a little imagination would have something lined up for every single summer weekend.

You can also dovetail it with the Olympic sporting events. Have an event here and have it set to finish in time for the softball game, wrestling meets, or so.

 

[MJ271]

Gotcha. I was wondering because pollard didn't step in and correct him really, I thought it was odd. Hopefully they are all aligned on where revenue is going...
The "athletic facilities" may just include Hilton though so technically it's going towards an athletic department facility. I think.

I agree with the previous poster too, but also remember that the AD operates the other Iowa State Center facilities now. So if there are projects that would need to happen at C.Y. Stephens or Schemen regardless of any new revenue stream, the costs would have to come from new donations or from the AD budget. In that sense, new revenue going towards the Iowa State Center arts facilities still benefits the athletic department. Also, in my mind the Iowa State Center includes both Hilton and Jack Trice, but not sure if that's what was meant.

 

[BCClone]

A couple things I noticed. It appears on the website that phase 1 should be done by early 2025, with work starting this winter. I wonder if that means the whole project could be done by 2026'ish?

Second, I live in St. Louis and this gives me some 'ballpark village' vibes. BP Village by Busch is phenomenal and a great place for pre and post game activity.

Does it say a timeline for Phase 2 and the hotel? Those are the things I didn't see.