LabattBlue Posted June 28, 2006 Posted June 28, 2006 I'm not sure when the first time I heard that Bass Pro may be moving into the Aud, but is seems like it has been going on for at least 3 years if not more. As another summer goes by with no formal decision by them to open a store in the Aud, I wonder...who is at fault? Is the Bass Pro owner trying to squeeze every last nickel out of the city, county & state or is it the developers/politicians/businessmen on the Buffalo side of the fence F***ing this up like everything else in WNY from a development perspective? The worst part about it...there is no Plan B for the Aud. There is so much concrete in there, that it would cost a fortune to demolish, so it will probably just continue to sit in a mothballed status for who knows how long if Bass Pro does not come to fruition.
The Jokeman Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 The worst part about it...there is no Plan B for the Aud. There is so much concrete in there, that it would cost a fortune to demolish, so it will probably just continue to sit in a mothballed status for who knows how long if Bass Pro does not come to fruition. 715810[/snapback] To be the best Plan B (better than Bass Pro actually) is to make the Aud the home of the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (instead of that wall at HSBC Arena) As the Aud was home to the majority of the sports teams that have played in Buffalo. Another plan (of course I'm no architect) that makes sense is make it a casino since it's accessable via the subway and bus routes and would bring visitors to downtown Buffalo.
elcrusho Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 They should open it for tours at $5 a pop... Getting $500-$1000 a day instead of getting $0, hmmmm which is better
Alaska Darin Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 They should open it for tours at $5 a pop... Getting $500-$1000 a day instead of getting $0, hmmmm which is better 715893[/snapback] That wouldn't cover their insurance or G&A. You ever try and start a business in WNY?
Lurker Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 That wouldn't cover their insurance or G&A. You ever try and start a business in WNY? 715897[/snapback] Since its still owned by the city, it'd likely be staffed by several hunderd patronage positions as well...
erynthered Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 That wouldn't cover their insurance or G&A. You ever try and start a business in WNY? 715897[/snapback] Dont even get me started. Try being a white guy in Buffalo, trying to get an SBA loan. You're !@#$.
PromoTheRobot Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 Charge $5 and let people in to shoot rats. Make money...solve your vermin problem. It's win-win! PTR
IDBillzFan Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 Dont even get me started. Try being a white guy in Buffalo, trying to get an SBA loan. You're !@#$. 715914[/snapback] You should try getting an SBA loan in California. White people are actually a minority. I kid you not. We're getting ready to use that ranking to get all kinds of cool stuff.
LabattBlue Posted June 29, 2006 Author Posted June 29, 2006 To be the best Plan B (better than Bass Pro actually) is to make the Aud the home of the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (instead of that wall at HSBC Arena) As the Aud was home to the majority of the sports teams that have played in Buffalo. Another plan (of course I'm no architect) that makes sense is make it a casino since it's accessable via the subway and bus routes and would bring visitors to downtown Buffalo. 715878[/snapback] Too late on the casino idea. The new casino is going down the street on the other side of the HSBC arena.
ricojes Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 Indoor water parks are the new sensation and the Aud would be perfect. It will never happen, but I believe it could work....At least it's a little more feasible than Bass Pro!
Peter Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 I just don't understand spending all that money on a Bass Pro. Come on, is that really going to contribute to the renaissance of Buffalo. There is a Brass Pro in Ft. Lauderdale. I have been there a couple of times. It is fine. I just do not see "tourists" traveling to Buffalo to go to an outdoor store. The money would be better spent on something else.
LabattBlue Posted June 29, 2006 Author Posted June 29, 2006 I just don't understand spending all that money on a Bass Pro. Come on, is that really going to contribute to the renaissance of Buffalo. There is a Brass Pro in Ft. Lauderdale. I have been there a couple of times. It is fine. I just do not see "tourists" traveling to Buffalo to go to an outdoor store. The money would be better spent on something else. 716140[/snapback] Fishing and hunting are big in WNY and putting the ultimate outdoor store at the foot of one of the Great Lakes would appear to be a win win situation. The money would be spent better on something else development wise? Let's hear some ideas?
Marv's Neighbor Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 The AUD would make a far better Convention Center than what Buffalo now uses as a convention center. Great location, convenient parking and it could even draw more hotels and restaurants down to that end of Main Stif it were marketed properly.
stuckincincy Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 Fishing and hunting are big in WNY and putting the ultimate outdoor store at the foot of one of the Great Lakes would appear to be a win win situation. The money would be spent better on something else development wise? Let's hear some ideas? 716151[/snapback] Labatt, the whole idea seemed odd to me. One moved into the end of a local mall nearby me. It formerly was a Parsian department store. Unlike a sports auditorium, the renovations were easy. There was already a 2nd floor in place. Large amounts of parking. Lots of folks in the mall already - perhaps Mom shops in other stores while Dad ambles over to Bass Pro and makes an impulse purchase or two. It's next to an interstate highway exchange. The Aud would require a lot of renovation $$$. It's a free-standing building, so utilities and building upkeep factor in. Parking around the Aud isn't what shopping folks are used to. I haven't been there for years, so I don't know about crime in the area these days - but going to Bisons and Sabres games, there were a lot of folks around. Safety in numbers? I can't say it was an area I'd care to wander about alone in the dark with my new purchases. Really, the idea seems to be one of those "visions" that politicos dream up to puff their chests. I've no idea what to do with the Aud.
Peter Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 Fishing and hunting are big in WNY and putting the ultimate outdoor store at the foot of one of the Great Lakes would appear to be a win win situation. The money would be spent better on something else development wise? Let's hear some ideas? 716151[/snapback] Fine. Let them open up a store on their own dime. That would be great. Is Bass Pro getting federal, state, and county funding in the amount of $66 million to open up all of their other stores? To say that this store is going to increase tourism to such an extent to justify the millions in public money that is going to spent on this is ludicrous. I would rather that the following be done: Use the money ($66 million) and tax breaks to get Toyota (just by way of example) to build a hybrid manufacturing plant in WNY or something else that is going to create jobs in WNY. Just a thought.
Dr. Fong Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 Use the money ($66 million) and tax breaks to get Toyota (just by way of example) to build a hybrid manufacturing plant in WNY or something else that is going to create jobs in WNY. Just a thought. 716185[/snapback] No it's much more important to draw something like a Bass Pro shop and all their high paying jobs..........OK, well at least they're jobs. Nothing less than what I expect from politicians.
5 Wide Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 The political and bureaucratic landscape of western new york makes it impossible to accomplish any new initiatives in a timely manner. Remember the report on the local stations about removing the seats in the Aud? The city said it would have to sell the seats for $200 a pop just to cover the removal costs.....$200 to get 1 friggen seat out of an old arena. That right there speaks volumes. There is so much red tape encircling the city because there are so few pies and everyone wants to have their fingers in one.
Spun Posted June 29, 2006 Posted June 29, 2006 The AUD would make a far better Convention Center than what Buffalo now uses as a convention center. Great location, convenient parking and it could even draw more hotels and restaurants down to that end of Main Stif it were marketed properly. 716164[/snapback] This could work. The current Buffalo convention center is embarrassing. Montreal turned the Forum into a mall with shops, restaurants and a movie theater with some remnants of the history (center ice marker, seating, stories of past events) spread out around the building. The Forum mall seems to do alright but I don't know if it would work in Buffalo. If the Aud becomes a place shoppers avoid because of high school kids "hanging out" at the expense of businesses (such as what happened with Main Place Mall) then the idea may not work. The Forum used to have photos on the walls of past teams but no longer. Maybe someone tried heisting them?
LabattBlue Posted June 29, 2006 Author Posted June 29, 2006 The AUD would make a far better Convention Center than what Buffalo now uses as a convention center. Great location, convenient parking and it could even draw more hotels and restaurants down to that end of Main Stif it were marketed properly. 716164[/snapback] You still have to have something to attract conventioneers to Buffalo other than the convention center itself. If they can develop the inner harbor and get the casino up and running, turning the Aud into a convention center could be viable. If not, it would be hard to justify building a new convention center when you look at the volume of business that the current one attracts.
LabattBlue Posted June 29, 2006 Author Posted June 29, 2006 The political and bureaucratic landscape of western new york makes it impossible to accomplish any new initiatives in a timely manner. Remember the report on the local stations about removing the seats in the Aud? The city said it would have to sell the seats for $200 a pop just to cover the removal costs.....$200 to get 1 friggen seat out of an old arena. That right there speaks volumes. There is so much red tape encircling the city because there are so few pies and everyone wants to have their fingers in one. 716197[/snapback] This($200 per seat cost for removal) is a bunch of bull sh-- by some city hack. You can't convince me that after you figure in the expense of someone to remove all the seats, that the money you would bring by selling them would not exceed the removal cost.
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