Sedgwick County swings for the fences on arena design

The past work of members of the chosen arena design consortium, including HOK Sport of Kansas City, Mo., raises expectations that the downtown arena will be a true “showpiece,” in the word of Sedgwick County Commissioner Tim Norton. That’s a relief, especially because some past local projects have scrimped on design out of a shortsighted desire to save money. But before voting for the bid, Norton expressed concerns that many county residents surely would share — whether the team was so strong as to justify both the size of the bid (the highest by more than $1 million) and the comparatively long time line. Now, it’s up to the architects to demonstrate that county leaders’ confidence is well-placed.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

4 Comments

  1. Joe Williams
    Posted July 31, 2005 at 11:47 am | Permalink

    I can’t wait for it. :) It’s going to be exciting to see it come to being.

  2. Sammy
    Posted August 1, 2005 at 3:15 am | Permalink

    I can’t wait — a jumble of cold concrete walls intersecting at unlikely angles, offset by tall plastic sewer pipes that change colors around a huge, grotesque, iron image of a sexless, communist specter, cooled by stainless steel fans — all jammed up against Kellogg, where all we see is rooftop afterthoughts, with $10 parking a mile away.

    Yaaaaaaay!

  3. James
    Posted August 1, 2005 at 5:54 pm | Permalink

    Sammy: You forgot the flames, spouting up around the building exterior! Pictures of THE CITY COUNCIL, adorning the walls would be almost expected; although, they may be crowded out by the statues honoring the “Movers and Shakers’” that brought this fiasco to the city. Other than that, I’m in eager anticipation,– Just like yourself.

  4. JUSTA GUY
    Posted August 2, 2005 at 7:18 am | Permalink

    Is someone actually knocking the the great arena that over 40% of the citizens voted against?