2

arenas in raleigh (dorton doesnt count)

9/17/2009 8:32:36 PM

Quote :

"Bulldoze Cary Towne Center South Hills mall and put it there."

9/17/2009 8:50:02 PM

^Ha ha! Yeh...that's just what we need...more traffic by Crossroads Plaza.

Quote :

"Philadelphia is working on a project to replace the old Spectrum with a retail complex with bars, restaurants, and stores that will be part of the complex with the 3 major sport venues."

And I think they should do that right now by the RBC Center no matter what happens with future arena plans for the city.

9/17/2009 9:49:39 PM

I agree.

Thankfully, we're not the only ones thinking this. The recent 2035 Comprehensive Plan that was approved a week or two ago has a section focused on the arena and fairgrounds area. There is a focus on getting retail into that area, particularly in the now empty space across from the fairgrounds on the corner of Trinity and Blue Ridge. Also, if the rail plans come to fruition there will be a stop at the fairgrounds, with better sidewalk access and shuttle buses to get you the short distance from there to the sports complex.

9/17/2009 9:51:41 PM

The Raleigh Carnies

BASEBALL

INDOOR

STADIUM

9/17/2009 10:04:02 PM

^^Edwards Mill Road isn't the most developed place either. A shopping center would do great in that local area, if it had a grocery store and good chain resturants. Over the past few years I have gone out to eat before basketball games. The places I went to were Mitch's, On the Border Cafe, Amedeos, and Rock Ola Cafe (closed now). Hillsborough Street, Western Blvd., Mission Valley, and the shopping centers on Walnut Street in Cary are the closest options I can think of.

9/17/2009 10:34:18 PM

i guess thats what all that land is waiting for.

9/17/2009 10:47:03 PM

They are opening a Rudino's at Olde Raleigh Village near the RBC Center, so that will be good.

I also need to go back to the Backyard Bistro (old Damon's location) this season. I was not impressed on my first visit, but that was their first week opening, so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot has changed.

9/17/2009 10:48:45 PM

^where. is hollywood video closing?

9/17/2009 10:58:27 PM

The only logical place downtotwn where they could make a dedicated 4 lane highway from a major thoroughfare is Wilmington Stree to downtown (exit 299? right after S. Saunders) but I believe that is where Shaw is...

Otherwise there just isn't the infrastructure to support it. They would need to totally revamp the mass transit system proposed...

9/17/2009 11:02:57 PM

Quote :

"They are opening a Rudino's at Olde Raleigh Village near the RBC Center, so that will be good. I also need to go back to the Backyard Bistro (old Damon's location) this season. I was not impressed on my first visit, but that was their first week opening, so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot has changed."

I never realized that was there. I'll have to remember that. I still say they need to develope the area a little more where Backyard Bistro is.

9/17/2009 11:06:26 PM

If this were to happen, something would get torn down, no doubt in my mind. They would replace something with a new arena.

In the mean time, State needs to revamp Reynolds coliseum like they have been doing all the other old buildings on campus...and move basketball back to campus.

9/17/2009 11:10:45 PM

^It's not going to happen because of lifetime seats and Reynolds isn't that great of an arena. I like the RBC Center myself. It's easy to get to and parking is easy. They can sell a lot more seats at the RBC Center.

[Edited on September 17, 2009 at 11:13 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2009 11:12:44 PM

Quote :

"Reynolds coliseum "

naw leave it lookin like a flea market like duke

9/17/2009 11:22:36 PM

Quote :

"The only logical place downtotwn where they could make a dedicated 4 lane highway from a major thoroughfare is Wilmington Stree to downtown (exit 299? right after S. Saunders) but I believe that is where Shaw is..."

That area is precisely where the discussion has surrounded, so I think you're dead on.

Quote :

"^where. is hollywood video closing?"

Yes.

9/17/2009 11:26:38 PM

I can definitely say I'd never go watch a downtown game. I hate traffic. Srsly no one even LIVES in downtown Raleigh. This isn't NYC.

9/17/2009 11:26:52 PM

Quote :

"I can definitely say I'd never go watch a downtown game. I hate traffic. Srsly no one even LIVES in downtown Raleigh. This isn't NYC."

They are building more living areas downtown, but in the end I still see Raleigh as a town where people live in the suburbs. If anything the city will move to the suburbs.

9/17/2009 11:36:53 PM

Well, if they are seriously planning something for downtown all I have to say is they better start planning now. If they have to depend on the DOT to do any road work around that area god knows, start planning today.

9/18/2009 9:57:21 AM

I live in downtown Raleigh.

9/18/2009 10:05:34 AM

I don't.

9/18/2009 10:48:18 AM

I, too, live in downtown Raleigh.

Which is a moot point because no one lives where the current arena is. I don't think there is a single residential zone within walking distance.

9/18/2009 11:24:14 AM

i live in downtown raleigh (80% of the time)

9/18/2009 11:27:21 AM

Quote :

"NC State can continue to play at RBC Center if they want."

They could, but...why would we? Granted we are talking 20 years down the road, but...I dont see Raleigh being able to support two arenas. Pretty sure that most other events would be scheduled for the new building, so that would leave at most 20 basketball games a year in there? I just dont see it...unless the Hurricanes were to demand their own building (which I dont see being realistic...17 of the 30 arenas currently are used as home arenas for NBA, NLL, or NCAA teams...even more before the AFL folded). If a new arena is built, State will most likely move to it too, and the RBC will be demolished.

9/18/2009 12:42:04 PM

as much as the RBC is a home advantage for the hurricanes, i dont see why they would want to leave it

9/18/2009 12:48:45 PM

Because in 20 years it will be completely dated, and probably the last remaining suburban arena in the NHL/NBA.

9/18/2009 12:57:03 PM

oh yea i keep forgetting this is all down the road talk

9/18/2009 12:59:55 PM

There's nothing about the building itself that makes it more advantageous for the Canes. This is the era of the cookie-cutter arena. It's not like Cameron/Reynolds/Carmichael where the actual building lends itself to being loud.

9/18/2009 1:04:40 PM

^Ehh that's not really true. RBC Center, much like HP Pavilion in San Jose, has an abnormally low ceiling. I believe that is mainly due to the shoehorning in of an additional seating level to the NCSU plans after the Canes made the decision to come. The low roof really helps the noise factor.

^^I think a lot of people in this thread are forgetting that, and are looking at it in the context of Raleigh as it is today.

Raleigh is hitting its growth spurt in a new era where everything is moving back to the city center, whereas the last 50-60 years have been all about moving away from it. This metro area is projected to be the fastest growing in the United States through 2030. The downtown revitalization that has taken place here over the last 5-10 years is only the beginning. Unless we elect some terrible city leaders, the brakes are finally going to be put on the awful sprawl that has happened here (really a textbook example of bad planning).

To be able to start preparing for a future arena now when there are still plenty of places downtown to put it is an advantage. While I am not the biggest fan of the city of Charlotte, they were able to quickly realize their mistake with the Coliseum and put BoA Stadium and TWC Arena uptown, and they have definitely added a vibrancy to the city.

[Edited on September 18, 2009 at 1:09 PM. Reason : .]

9/18/2009 1:08:17 PM

If they were thinking ahead back around 1995, they should have put the arena right where the civic center is. Then put the actual civic center where the Pine State Creamery was. Who cares about Sullivan's? Rich people stay in North Raleigh and Cary.

The thing about cookie cutter arenas is pretty true. I've been to the RBC, Verizon Center, St. Pete Times Forum, and the Sammet Center (for different events other than hockey though) and none of them is very unique, except Verizon but that's just b/c its in downtown DC and has a movie theater tacked on.

They need to find a way to adapt the old arena designs (ML Gardens, The Olympia) and the one deck style (MSG, LA Forum) to the lux box era.

[Edited on September 18, 2009 at 3:35 PM. Reason : .]

9/18/2009 3:31:11 PM

Quote :

"They could, but...why would we? Granted we are talking 20 years down the road, but...I dont see Raleigh being able to support two arenas. Pretty sure that most other events would be scheduled for the new building, so that would leave at most 20 basketball games a year in there? I just dont see it...unless the Hurricanes were to demand their own building (which I dont see being realistic...17 of the 30 arenas currently are used as home arenas for NBA, NLL, or NCAA teams...even more before the AFL folded). If a new arena is built, State will most likely move to it too, and the RBC will be demolished."

It will be an interesting issue since a lot of State fans bought lifetime seats to help fund the arena. They have to make sure that the new arena is built the exact same way, so those people can have their same seats. They can't start over with the LTR seats.

9/19/2009 10:41:21 PM