A few weeks back, a WE Blog item questioned whether Sedgwick County was behind in booking an opening act for the new downtown arena. Don’t big music acts have to be signed years in advance?
Not to worry. County Manager Bill Buchanan e-mailed to point out that no one books acts more than two years out, except maybe family acts such as the circus. Moreover, it’s still uncertain when the arena will be completed and ready to open, so at this point “it is impossible to pick a date for an opening act.”
And the county must also decide who will operate the arena (a decision is still a few weeks away) before booking acts.
Kansas Coliseum director John Nath also was reassuring. “All the tours know that we have a new building here,” he told The Eagle editorial board, and his staff has started talking about who would be a good opening act. But it’s too soon to choose, he said — even big stars like Sir Elton John or Bruce Springsteen “could be yesterday’s news three years from now.”
That said, other events, such as basketball games, can be booked years ahead. Nath said that Wichita State University has already expressed enthusiasm about the Shockers playing a game downtown. He’s also made initial contacts with the University of Kansas and the NCAA.
In short, the county seems on top of the situation. Stay tuned.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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27 Comments
Yeah … I have a plan ! A triple bill opening ! Sinbad, Krsmer and George Lopez. Since we can’t seem to find Osama’s agent !
The best opening act for the proposed downtown white elephant unwanted, unneeded downtown ice hockey arena would be — a giant wrecking ball.
A well-aimed wrecking ball would save taxpayers huge on-going bills for such things as air conditioning and heating, other utilities, maintenance, staff, overhead, refrigeration for the ice pads, cocktail parties for the big boys in the “sky boxes,” etc.
It would save attendors from driving up and down alleyways looking for non-existent parking places.
Kind of like the sales job on the Iraq war six years ago … now where are those people who heartily defended it?
As far as I know, the only unaffiliated arena supporters, Shocker’06 and Shocker’07, have moved on to Topeka and Denver. Apparently no other unaffiliated supporters are left in Wichita.
Of course two of the three county commissioners who were up for election and who supported the whole arena fiasco were summarily booted out of office in November by irate voters although they are hanging onto their paychecks until December 31st.
Sedgwick County voters need to be given the opportunity to vote once again to kill this obtuse goose of a tax wasting project before the ongoing expenditures get really serious. JWink
wink-This has nothing to do with Iraq.I voted against it and we lost. That’s the way it is. It’s just like you people to lose and cry for a re-vote.I will bet that the tax imposed for this project will not go away. The powers that be, one of them being this newspaper, will lobby to keep the tax and use the money on something “worthwhile”. The idiots in this town will vote to keep the tax. Dopes.
Riiiiiight. The county is “on top of the situation”. Just like they are “on top” of the parking fiasco.
“We don’t need a parking garage” because there is parking all over downtown. A-yep…sounds like the standard ‘bait and switch’ since when this was up for voting, it was assured that parking would be included.
Can’t trust the county in any way, shape or form except to waste money and violate the voter trust.
Keep dreaming and keep pooping in your pants.
It’s a done deal!
I’m a proud “Yea” voter and we won fair and square as the majority of the votes.
To be honest. Jwinks campaign against the Arena has nothing to do with taxes or his preception of wasted public money on projects. It’s his hate of progress for the city of Wichita. He isn’t from here, nor does he want Wichita to grow or have anything new. He wants Wichita to dwindle to a ghost town. Just because his town is dying, doesn’t justify him trying to bring one down that he despises and blames for bringing his home town down.
If jwink doesn’t live here, why would he even talk about it?Hey, jwink! Shut up!
As I recall Joe, YOU are not from here either.
I am.
I don’t know when opening day for this boondoggle is. Best hope it is a cold or rainy day. Open the thing to the homeless. Serve free food. Do that and you might get a bigger gate then Joe and the six idiots who still support this playground for the rich.
“Playground for the rich”?Joe is not from here, either?Shut up, Joe.
Anybody want to take my bet that the tax will stay?
Sadly, it IS a done deal. Never mind that we voted it down time and time again, the pro-arena “people to lose and cry for a re-vote” each time they lost. So, with enough propaganda they finally got it through.
I hope this thing works; however I predict it will not. By the way, how is the naming coming?
Raptor — Parking garage? You must be kidding.
I have one word for you: Bottleneck.
A parking garage of any size is not needed. You’d change your mind if you parked in a full garage and had to wait 30-45 minutes trying to get out after an event.
I’ve had that experience in other cities, and it stinks. Especially after paying $10 for the privilege.
Uh, yeah, TR. I have been in parking garages all over the county. I have parked in Jack Murphy stadium parking during a Super Bowl..and it wasn’t total gridlock.
Regardless of where I have parked, voters were promised “adequate” parking facility when this came up for a vote, now they are retracting that claim. We were lied to.
Another prediction: when this thing fails they will find a way to blame US for it.
Ditto that, JWink.
It only passed because Mayans lied to people about having to fix up the Coliseum.
He gave us a false choice.
And when we critics are proven right and the tax stays or is raised to fund this subsidy for the wealthy, we’ll be accused of “glee” that it didn’t work.
Real nice.
Get over it folks. The arena is being paid for, it was needed, in a better location than where the Coliseum is. Parking will be nearby and available. Tax won’t go over the alloted time.
Would WSU be willingly play in the Coliseum, no. They might in the downtown arena. I have no idea if KU will or not. But them going into Missouri playing in the Sprint Center downtown KC isn’t right. If their the home team.
Getting KU to play in Wichita… only consider that, how different things will be.
Wichita can’t stop at the downtown arena as the only event facility.
A stadium for WSU to play football in is coming as well. There will be no denial. Discussions can happen how financing occurs, but none can doubt the necessity for event facilities equal to Oklahoma City, Lincoln. Other largest cities in states without professional sports teams.
Event facility that will truly affect the airport with more business.
County dirt shows, multiple flooring from grass to basketball courts, any flooring necessary for the variety of NCAA events that could be happening.
Improving WSU in every way people can think has needs to occur for long term representation as our college in this growing community.
Wichita Shockers University.
fleetwood “Playground for the rich” is an accurate description. More than half of the best seats and ALL of the convenient parking for the arena is “VIP”. Oh this thing is so fundamentally doomed you couldn’t write a better script for doom. Wichitans want to park on the doorstep and have the best seats at reasonable prices. (See above) Too, a lot of folks who were conned into voting for the thing now feel a sense of betrayal. (Again, see above) Add that half the population didn’t want the thing in the first place and you have one hell of an albatross before the first shovel of dirt is turned.
“A stadium for WSU to play football in is coming as well.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Yeah good luck with the vote on that one!
No vote will happen JR.
Discussions and agreements need to with the politicans, but public vote, no.
If the govs need to raise funds quickly is why taxes get hiked and voting happens.
It’s not hundreds of millions County or City will use tax dollars. Its about $5 Million a year each for five years, their end of the stadium fund. No taxes have to be raised because length of time paying for the facility upon inception only in contracts to completion of the structure.
I laugh at your assertions arena’s or stadiums are for the rich. All those going to KU and KSTATE events are too rich for you. Those going to Kansas City to see Chiefs or Royals, requiring a road trip costs. Seems affordable to many, those who aren’t taking a vow of poverty to live. Go see a WSU basketball or baseball game, too expensive for you.
“I laugh at your assertions arena’s or stadiums are for the rich.”
I indicted only the Wichita arena. You may laugh at my assertion. You cannot dispute it.
Sorry Joe, as usual you are 100% wrong again. I do live in Wichita and I am a property owner here. Are you?
I had forgotten you are the third pro-arena person in Wichita who is not affiliated with the project somehow. I do remember meeting you at the last WE Blog meetup. I seem to recall you saying you were finishing up your education and considering joining the military.
True, I was raised in Pratt, a star of south central Kansas, located about 75 miles west on historic highway #54. Its strong economy is based on wheat, corn, soybeans, oil (yes still pumping), telecommunications, and a strong regional retail market. I believe all of the shops on its Main Street are in use. And yes, Pratt does have a “super” Wal-Mart and Dillon’s Food Store, radio station, and highly rated school system. Its 75 year old Fish Hatchery is an oasis of water along the so-far always running Ninnescah River.
As I mentioned before, I recall sitting with my father in a depression-era coffee shop at Waterman and Main here in Wichita in about 1948. While eating piping hot bowls of chili, we gazed at a very busy urban downtown that looked for all the world like New York City.
Later, I did live in other cities, Manhattan, Topeka and Lawrence in college days, Washington DC in the Army, Kansas City, Missouri and Johnson County. I did participate positively in local government activities in most of these cities as time permitted.
Joe, I am a positive force here in Wichita in the sense that I don’t want to see Wichita waste millions of dollars on another even larger ice rink after seeing the Ice Sports rink fail financially principally because of lack of interest by potential patrons.
As I have said before, I was one of the first to call for a privately financed downtown arena.
I also could see a larger convention center located near the Arkansas River and perhaps a glittering world class bowling center with all the bells and whistles that would attract bowlers from all over the world to a family oriented location.
When a parent spanks a misbehaving kid, is he being positive or negative — or a nay-sayer as those few of you pro-arena people would say? NO, OF COURSE NOT — parents who guide their errant children are a POSITIVE FORCE, not negative as you, Joe, would have people to believe.
And Joe, you claim to be a conservative. But you want to take money from the MANY to shovel over in brown paper bags to the FEW. What “ism” do you think that is?
And remember, when private business invests in a community, there is a multiplier on the order of eight times that comes into play. But when a community taxes itself for an arena or other public service, the multiplier becomes a “divisor” by eight. In other words, eight times the amount of dollars will NOT be spent on automobiles, houses, medical, dentists, food and insurance.
JR
Maybe fate will allow you to be friends with someone or group that has box seats and VIP parking at the downtown arena. You’ll pay for events, cheapest ticket prices but because your friends, got box seats and parking real close.
Would you take that? It’s not charity. People in the box want you there with them for events.
They won’t arrive by helicopter or limo. People in a Taurus or Toyota. Domestic. Not a Mercedes, BMW or tricked out Hummer.
Some event in the downtown arena will spark your interest in the future. It will be where Wichitans go for high school events, volleyball, basketball, or wrestling tournaments. WSU invites teams for a basketball tournament. Ever seen KU anywhere play a basketball game live? It’s not a big deal or wallet breaking cost.
Thunder, arena football don’t interest me.
A concert you’ll like to see and hear. Circus. Ice capades. Any kind of gathering for a speech, opening before the 2008 election.
Presidential candidates come to Wichita?
Something will put you in the building and you didn’t have to drive all the way out to the Coliseum location. Walk around downtown, parking away from that zone if you want to.
If your legs work, why can’t they be used? Get dropped off right at the door and let someone else your riding with find a parking space.
Mrage
I am a lifetime resident of Wichita. Are you?
You went to so much trouble to try and convince me that I’d find myself in your arena. Best you hit on was college athletic events. My dad voted for your arena for that reason.
He’s dead.
So ya gotta sell me.
Draw a Presidential candidate? We have to build an arena to do that?
We have any realistic expectation OF that?
Dream on.
I have been to the Coliseum MANY times. I cannot imagine visiting your arena even once.
Because my father and family was relocated from California by the Air Force in 1964, I was born in 66 at McConnell.
Here until college. Went out of state for education and jobs. I’m home now and not relocating again.
I saw upclose both Cessna Stadium and the Coliseum as a youngster. Didn’t like either facility. WSU football ended while I was there.
Coliseum and I never got along, beginning to drive my first car at 16.
I didn’t go out there often at all. Occasionally. It was always terrible looking to me. Felt like the wrong place and I was coming from the far west side of Wichita out of the city limits.
That’s the key reason I voted to replace the Coliseum. Moving it to downtown. Better looking facility is better to have, a long term benefit for Wichita.
Good times will happen in the downtown arena, occasionally. Hope a casino is put downtown eventually. Topeka allows full casino’s license’s next legistalations soon.
Presidential candidates haven’t come here prior to a vote but Obama Barack’s mother was a Kansan, if he’s running from Prez, should be here.
Isn’t this a model state suddenly for bi-partisan elections. Both parties candidates should come here.
I’m thankful they will see a brand new arena downtown. Because we built it, they come.
Barack Obama, whoops, turned my head while typing.
Well okay I though this would be a thread about possible opening acts.
I say
U2, Aerosmith, Invite the Stones back, Springsteen, Bob Segar,
These would all be great shows.
“didn’t have to drive all the way out to the Coliseum location.”
Instead, I have to drive all the way in to the Arena location.
Not all of us live downtown. For me the drive time to the Coliseum is about the same as to the Arena. For many I know the Coliseum is MORE accessable.
For everyone complaining about the ‘drive’ to the Coliseum: It only takes 15-20 minutes from anywhere in or around Wichita. It takes only 2-3 minutes to get out of the parking lot. How long will it take everyone to get to downtown from all areas of town, or out, especially during bad weather or rush hour. And, the Coliseum is going to have renovations done to the tune of millions even if the arena is built. It NEEDS it, as well as an update for ADA compliance.