I’ve admitted to anyone that will listen that I am a hater of the Oklahoma City Thunder because I am a lifelong Seattle Supersonics fan. And I have been following along from Washington DC as the debate on whether or not a new arena is going to be built in Seattle.
On that note, I was at a networking event tonight and I got into a discussion with a guy about the New York Islanders and their need for a new arena.
Which got me thinking about who really benefits from the arena.
Here are 3 quick thoughts:
1. You shouldn’t look at the arena as the driver for of economic development for an area. If you do, I don’t really think you can justify using public money on an arena. As a marketer, I think you have to look at the arena as a piece of your redevelopment area or as a calling card for your city.
I’ve always liked the way I heard Pat Riley talk about the arena that was built in Miami on the waterfront, American Airlines. He described it like the Sydney Opera House as an iconic building and a calling card for the city.
And, I think you use the arena as a piece of your marketing for the city and part of a larger plan.
2. Should public money be used to build these new arenas?
I don’t know. I think a public/private partnership makes sense in the right situation, but I grew up in South Florida and remember Joe Robbie privately financing the new stadium for the Dolphins.
So I can’t say for sure whether you should absolutely never use public money on a stadium or you should absolutely always use public money.
Because I think in every situation. For each situation like the Mariners and Safeco that worked out fairly well for the city and the Mariners, you get a situation like the Marlins and Miami that looks like its going to be a bit corrupt and a bit of a boondoggle.
3. What is the responsibility of to make the events affordable to all fans?
This fan access issue is big to me because I am a big fan of the experience.
I think that one of the reasons that experience of going to the games has fallen off in a lot of places is because you have fewer die hard fans.
I think that any arena that is using public money has a need to ensure that the arena or stadium is accessible for fans of all economic levels.
Be warned, I will probably expand on some of these ideas at a later date.
I’m curious about what you think.