The Kansas Coliseum’s future dimmed the moment Sedgwick County voters approved the downtown arena tax in 2004. Still, county commissioners have a lot to consider before they hang a “for sale” sign on the Coliseum and its grounds, excluding the pavilions. What about the talk early on of keeping the Coliseum arena for “dirt events” such as monster truck shows, rodeos and even circuses? Will the Intrust Bank Arena truly serve all the needs? And surely 280 acres of prime land off I-135 in the fast-developing Park City area would be worth more in the marketplace than the $22 million they’re valued at, especially if sold off in pieces. Further complications include deciding what to do about the RV park, the cell towers and, perhaps toughest of all, the Coliseum site’s 26 acres of protected habitat for a spotted skunk. Is there a business or megachurch that could give the old Coliseum arena, as is, a new purpose?
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- satatom on Shooting is tragic, terrible
- Regular on Open thread 11/8
- Phantom on Open thread 11/8
- Daniel on Open thread 11/8
- DorisKing on Open thread 11/8
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/8
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/8
- sursum on Open thread 11/8
- Regular on Death penalty review promised
- Regular on Open thread 11/8
15 Comments
26 acres of protected habitat for a spotted skunk…
Yeah, by all means, protect the skunks. (cough)
So, if you are not cheating, you need not have to worry about a business. Playing The Kansas Coliseum’s can be highly addictive, due to a new purpose that when they pay out, they can pay out the Intrust Bank Arena. For a new purpose The Kansas Coliseum’s have shown 5 times in a business.
As I recall, only $65 million dollars would have turned the Kansas Coliseum into a first class arena complete with 5,000 FREE parking spaces, marking new ingress and egress to the very efficient parking lots, access to adjacent I-135 freeway, upgrade of the three adjacent “pavilion” buildings for horse shows, hobby shows and the adjacent RV camping area on the west edge of the site.
Yes, even the spotted skunk could have had improved habitat, with snacks, somewhere on the site.
Yes, that was $65 million tax payer dollars for upgrading the Kansas Coliseum to virtually new condition. Compare that to the $500 million of your tax dollars being spent for the new white elephant downtown arena BEFORE the exhorbitant operational expenses begin for management, utilities, insurance, cleanup of the skyboxes and refill with snacks, etc.
Now we are being told we might even need to retain the Kansas Coliseum for even more activities.
And what about the beautiful new Hartman sports arena being privately constructed directly across I-135 with lots of parking for all kinds of activities there.
And the now unused horse racing facility on the south side of the Kansas Coliseum property?
Seems like lots of explaining is needed from the hold-over county commissioners.
Seems as if they want to turn it into a protected habitat for other kinds of skunks as well. If they sell off the Coliseum now, and events crop up (as you know they will) that the wonderful new Intrust Arena can’t cope with, then the county will get to levy new taxes and sign sweetheart contracts with their cronies to construct a brand new and even more expensive facility!
Jed,
Now you’re talking!
I didn’t much ever go to the Coliseum. I don’t think I’ve been inside it these last 10 years.
I will never go to the Arena.
I’m hoping Rhonda is kidding.
Because, ya know, another megachurch is JUST what Wichita needs…
What about events like the National Women’s Ranch Rodeo Finals coming to the coliseum in October? Can’t do those in the arena.
Boy, when this downtown white elephant goes belly up, we will be looking to ARREST those who set this up or to take the money from their assets.
See how anxious they are to foister this nosnses again.
Its alomst as bad as the light rail crap the KC Star is pushing in KC. The usual lefitst media pushed and government financed socialist public work project administration(WPA)type nonsense.
Neither will ever pay for themselves let alone their energy costs. Wait till the city starts paying for the energy bills now that the EAGLE et al have ran off the new Coal Plants, likely doubling the costs to the facility.
Did they perhaps design in a Solar or Ground Source Heat pump for the facility….??
kfg, that’s exactly what I was thinking! Save us. I was all for refurbishing the Coliseum, it has to be done anyway as it’s non-ADA compliant. People say they didn’t like the drive, jeez it was 15 friggin minutes from any where in town. Wait till they see how long it will take to get out of downtown Wichita on one way streets that lead nowhere. oh, but now the I35 corrider is a hotspot of activity. Would have been perfect for a casino. but noooo, we’ll get a mega church instead.
Big effin’ eye roll.
I was by the arena site today.
It could just be me. But the thing looked awfully small. Smaller than the Coliseum.
They DID put it right next to the bus hub.
But?
People who have to ride the bus can’t pony up 40 bucks for a show. And people who CAN pony up 40 bucks for a show aint gonna be caught dead on a bus.
This whole thing is almost DESIGNED to fail.
The Wednesday EAGLE reported WICHITA GREYHOUND PARK could be sold along with the Kansas Coliseum. This is news to me. I thought Greyhound Park is owned by Mr. Ruffin. Of course, it might be on a ground lease with Sedgwick County government.
Does anyone know about this?
Once again, JWink is wrong (I thought you were leaving Wichita anyways…Oh well). The County Commissioners approved a $88 million dollar renovation of Britt Brown. But that number was expected to increase to $125 million based on unexpected increase in construction materials that they couldn’t get away from. This would be financed by bonds through a 20 year property tax revenue stream.
Business and community leaders knew that this was a very poor option for the people of Wichita. Because the final cost of renovating Britt Brown after the bonds were payed off would have cost in excess of $230 million. Also Britt Brown would have to be closed for 2 years, meaning no concerts, circus, shows, rodeos and etc. There wouldn’t be any attraction or anything coming into Wichita, which would hurt business recruitment and talent.
They knew that to build a new one to replace the Brit Brown, wasn’t only vastly cheaper, but wouldn’t halt the entertainment attractions to our area.
The Intrust Arena has blown everybody’s most optimistic exceptions. It has collected in the $230 million range and operation cost and reserves has greatly exceeded even the initial reserves estimates (a sticking point for the re-vote crowd). It has greater than 20 years of reserves.
Knowing the great successes that all downtown arenas have, ours will be no different. It will be and is a huge success to our community.
:)
“operation cost and reserves has greatly exceeded even the initial reserves estimates (a sticking point for the re-vote crowd). It has greater than 20 years of reserves.”
Not according to figures published by the County. Joe – those figures are some of the ones you long-ago told me to burn.
In 2004 Infrastructure/parking/reserve was promised at $52 million. At !2/2006 that total had shrunk to $14.6 million.
The reason: cost over-runs:
Core costs – property acquisition. demolition, construction – Promised $123.4 million; as of 12/2006 $178.6 million. A 45% INCREASE.
Meanwhile, much of the infrastructure costs, which were promised to be covered within the Arena budget, have been shifted to the City.
ALL of my numbers come from Sedgwick County – both what was promised and their more recent projections.
“They DID put it right next to the bus hub.”
Actually, my proposal to deal with parking would involve the bus hub. Find a way to encourage ‘event buses’ coming in from remote sites (perhaps Dillons stores or shopping areas). In fact, this could be tested next year for the weekend days of River Festival.
My detailed parking/traffic proposal is available from my conpany to the Arena project team.