How the Kansas Coliseum is doing today may have nothing to do with how the larger downtown arena will do once it opens in late 2008 or early 2009, but it was encouraging to see that the U.S. Hot Rod Association’s Thunder Nationals again attracted a sellout crowd (for it) of 7,000 Saturday night at the Coliseum. Admission to Wichita Thunder hockey games is almost 25 percent better than a year ago (“Of course, they’re winning,” Coliseum director John Nath noted Tuesday). Singer Brad Paisley also sold out a scaled-down, 5,500-seat Coliseum in October. Wichita clearly has enough people to sustain a larger arena. Especially given the sad state of the national touring scene, the challenge will be coming up with events able to coax locals into showing up and parting with their money.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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4 Comments
Rhonda: Let’s consider your comments. You are correct, how the Kansas Coliseum does may NOT have anything to do with how the proposed downtown arena will do. Most likely the Kansas Coliseum would do better because of better parking, better access from the freeway, lower ticket prices, better in and out pedestrian patterns, closer proximity to northeast and northwest Wichita and the suburbs.
Regarding the U.S. Hotrod Thunder Nationals, admittedly activities involving souped up vehicles and race cars are very popular. But its possible this kind of show couldn’t be handled by the proposed downtown arena.
You mentioned the Brad Paisley concert drawing 5,500 attendees. I would guess that 500 to 1,000 of those in attendance were “freebies,” that is police, fire, medical personnel, equipment handlers, truck and bus drivers that bring in the performers, arena staff, etc. This activity requires a large parking lot and entry to bring in the equipment.
Assuming a paid attendance of about 5,000 at the Paisley concert, this is about the maximum PAID attendance that Wichita supports for any kind of performance.
Many kinds of activities will probably not move downtown but will stay at the Coliseum or other available locations that might come available to compete. I’m thinking of agriculture shows, gun,knife and automobile shows, etc.
In my opinion, an arena for a world class bowling center should be built with the proceeds of the sales tax somewhere in the vicinity of the Arkansas River. This might have an opportunity for success for the taxpayers and for Wichita.
Building on or near the Arkansas River has the potential to save on real estate acquisition, leaves the property tax paying businesses in place that would otherwise be removed, and provides a savings of several hundred thousand dollars in transmitting storm water that falls on the arena roof to the Arkansas River.
A great world class bowling center with all the bells and whistles located on the Arkansas River might obtain the national bowling convention to Wichita perhaps one out of each three year cycle. This would attract tourists from all countries of the world.
Mr. Bayouth’s proposal of a venue along the Arkansas River has a lot of merit and should be seriously considered.If Wichita wants to think big, this is the way to go.
Wichita and monster trucks . . . a match made in heaven.
You know you’re a redneck if . . .
JW makes excellent points. 5000 or even 7000 is still WAY under capacity for the White Elephant. Also, they had already said that “dirt shows” will be kept in the Coliseum; I would guess that would include monster trucks.
He is also correct about accessability. I know people from out-of-town who will go the the Coliseum but not downtown.
I probably won’t attend any events at the new downtown arena. I worked downtown for many years and the accessibility is horrid. I can get out of the Coliseum’s parking lot within 10 minutes (and that’s at a sold out event). I’d still be trying to get to my car at the arena.I wish those of us in the Wichita metro area (the surrounding areas not in Sedgwick County) could have voted in regards to this soon to be white elephant.