Tidbits from Pollard on Tonight's Radio Show

[JP4CY]

ISU's campustown bars and food suck. Look, I have fond memories of those **** holes when I was in college and the copious drinking i did but if you've been to other P5 schools campustowns you'll realize how bad ISU's is.
Look at how long that old MoJazz building sat looking dilapidated as ****.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Why? Ames isn’t that big. You can go to a restaurant near Hilton any time.

I just know from my own experience. I work on the East side and live in the north. My habits are downtown on occasion for happy hours and the places closest to my house including the brewery which is probably where I socially drink the most. Sweet Caroline’s has been a welcomed addition to downtown after they figured things out.

 

[Clonedogg]

I thought some of CyTown was to be a conferencing destination, like ag symposiums and such, maybe using a revamped Stevens/Scheman/Fisher.

 

[SCNCY]

If pollards right on that, it’s bad news.

It’s all going to come down to what the current PAC offers are and what we can offer in our current negotiation window. Maybe he was just downplaying everything so not to spread any speculation.

 

[cygrads]

Amazes me how many doubt JP when it comes to development. If this development is successful it may generate enough money to help keep a certain football coach.

 

[Zyklon]

Cytown needs to start small. Hotel, brewery/resteraunt. Bar and grill with a large beer garden space for game days and a place for game watches for away games, and an area for venders and corporate tailgates during football games. Add on piece by piece depending on need after that, following a master plan. A hotel an a restaraunt would not fail there. Start with the sure things.

 

[CloneJD]

It’s all going to come down to what the current PAC offers are and what we can offer in our current negotiation window. Maybe he was just downplaying everything so not to spread any speculation.

He said the rumor is the BIG AD’s don’t want to expand and we will have status quo for a few years. He was just giving an opinion as to outcomes as things are obviously still fluid.

 

[FallOf81]

Amazes me how many doubt JP when it comes to development. If this development is successful it may generate enough money to help keep a certain football coach.

I don't think many here including myself doubt his development based on history, but if this is being built to keep Campbell here then we are F'd

 

[Bestaluckcy]

So it sounds like the PAC will stay together with a crappy tv deal. I wonder if the Big 12 overplayed their hand by being too aggressive?

Could be ESPN showing their disdain for the Big 12 leftovers. I do not trust that outfit.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

I thought some of CyTown was to be a conferencing destination, like ag symposiums and such, maybe using a revamped Stevens/Scheman/Fisher.

A hotel has to be the first part of this development. It was in the initial plan.

 

[WhoISthis]

Anyone that’s come from out of town for a game (but doesn’t tailgate), ISU event, or for business at ISU knows the need for Cytown.

Then add the desire to grow the Iowa State Center and research Park.

Commercial development will happen in Ames. ISU is the biggest draw in town and brings a captive market. Wise move by JP to monetize that in favor of the AD

 

[MJ271]

I thought some of CyTown was to be a conferencing destination, like ag symposiums and such, maybe using a revamped Stevens/Scheman/Fisher.

I believe so. Part of the Iowa State Center plans included a hotel, if I remember right. Having actual restaurants within walking distance would probably also help out at least a bit with drawing some of those sorts of conferences.

 

[Jacktronic]

Maybe Lumpy's could re-emerge in a Cytown location.

 

[cygrads]

Depends on if it can become a destination outside of game days or not. I’ll wait to see the plan and mix of what might be included in it first. From my understanding it’s going to be a partnership with a private developer which would reduce the risk to the AD. Hopefully it can become another revenue stream and help rejuvenate the Iowa state center.

Yeah it seems like there was a hotel and conference center in a plan at some point. The plan will be interesting to see next Monday.

 

[cykadelic2]

Depends on if it can become a destination outside of game days or not. I’ll wait to see the plan and mix of what might be included in it first. From my understanding it’s going to be a partnership with a private developer which would reduce the risk to the AD. Hopefully it can become another revenue stream and help rejuvenate the Iowa state center.

Frankly, there should be no risk to the AD given the current state of affairs in college athletics and uncertainty with future revenue streams.

I also question the viability of the project without year round traffic. And the only way to generate significant year round traffic IMO is the construction of a multi purpose indoor athletic facility that would be utilized for ISU VB, Wrestling, summer camps and summer club VB/BB/Wrestling tournaments.

 

[JP4CY]

Maybe Lumpy's could re-emerge in a Cytown location.

Watch that first step down, it's like 1.5 steps high. And if you fall, you'll fall down a lot of stairs into piss.

 

[Jkclone15]

Uh, won't CyTown between Jack Trice and Hilton displace a bunch of football parking?

Hence the new RV lot on the other side of the bridge.

 

[BCClone]

I believe so. Part of the Iowa State Center plans included a hotel, if I remember right. Having actual restaurants within walking distance would probably also help out at least a bit with drawing some of those sorts of conferences.

The hotel would be great for Scheman. There is A LOT of conferences there and people don't feel like bar hopping back to their hotel. If they can go to their conference have a place to grab drinks and a meal and hit the hotel, they prefer that. They don't care if everything is high priced, they want convenience and the company is paying anyhow.

 

[BCClone]

Frankly, there should be no risk to the AD given the current state of affairs in college athletics and uncertainty with future revenue streams.

I also question the viability of the project without year round traffic. And the only way to generate significant year round traffic IMO is the construction of a multi purpose indoor athletic facility that would be utilized for ISU VB, Wrestling, summer camps and summer club VB/BB/Wrestling tournaments.

Scheman has year round traffic.

 

[cymonw1980]

Someone or many educate me on this Cytown. If Ames was a 250K+ population and further South for year round outside dining... I get it.
Not sure what Pollard is driving at here but he seems relentless on this project.

look at the title town distric in Green Bay. That is what he is going for. To me, it makes a lot of sense.

Add shopping, restaurants, increase shows / concerts at hilton, create opportunities for more events and entertainment to increase exposure for ISU sports, make ames a year round destination for fans.

Green Bay is just over 100k people, ames is just under 70k.. about 40k difference - des moines, ankeny are not that far away. I think you attract people to campus year round, schedule multiple sporting events + other events over a 2-3 day period and make Ames a destination for sports fans across the state.

They need to be creative to increase exposure and revenues. NFL teams are doing this around their stadiums. I visited Title Town in the off season - it's awesome - shopping, restaurants, breweries, year round activities, huge park, full size football field anyone can play on, sledding hill, skating rink, etc. etc. etc.