More Arena News Options

[Wildcat48]

It's interesting to say the least....

Developer proposes arena near turnpike
Jason Snyder would build an 8,000-seat facility in conjunction with his $300 million commercial project.

WESTBROOK – A developer has proposed building an 8,000-seat sports and entertainment arena on one of two sites he owns near the Maine Turnpike in Portland and Westbrook.

Link>>>>

[Pirateman]

Umm...yes, please.

[PleasePlayTheWes...]

This needs to be done. My concerns are these.

1. Parking and traffic. Any nondowntown arena has to be worried about fans get frustrated getting there. I don't want to deal with rush hour traffic as I rush to the arena after work on a Friday evening.

2. Funding. I really want the public financing to be kept as a minimum. It would be just wrong with all the county and city service cuts across the board to try to jusitfy funding this private expedenture.

3. Things to do after the game. Visiting fans have always complimented us on all the places they can visit before and after the game. It is one big reason I love going to the Saturday night games. I can head out after the game and meet up with friends in the Old Port. This convinence needs to continue.

Beyond this, I am cautiously optimistic. This needs to happen or else....

[BTV]

1. Parking and traffic. Any nondowntown arena has to be worried about fans get frustrated getting there. I don't want to deal with rush hour traffic as I rush to the arena after work on a Friday evening.

Maybe I'm wrong, but at first glance I think this proposed location would be easier and quicker for me to get to. Take the pike to Exit 47, and the arena is right there - that's a whole lot easier to describe to someone than what I do now (Take the pike to exit 52, go down the Falmouth spur, follow the signs to get on 295 South, Take Exit 7, Go straight through however many lights, take a right, straight through a few more lights and the Civic Center is on your right).

But that is because I'm not coming from the Portland area. Maybe those of you in Portland find 295 easier than the turnpike?

This post has been edited by BTV: Jun 23 2010, 11:01 AM

[Wildcat48]

This needs to be done. My concerns are these.

1. Parking and traffic. Any nondowntown arena has to be worried about fans get frustrated getting there. I don't want to deal with rush hour traffic as I rush to the arena after work on a Friday evening.

Traffic shouldn't be an issue because it would have it's own entry and exit ramp on and off Stroudwater St. and the Turnpike is right there. As for parking, that certianly won't be issue because the site will have a 500 car parking garage and 1,900 surface spots. The currently garage next to the CCCC holds 567 cars.

2. Funding. I really want the public financing to be kept as a minimum. It would be just wrong with all the county and city service cuts across the board to try to jusitfy funding this private expedenture.

Any bond issue has to be kept into perspective... It's not the public paying to building a portion of this, but rather the bond is a loan that will be paid off by profits of the facility. The pubilc is ultimately not on the hook for anything.

3. Things to do after the game. Visiting fans have always complimented us on all the places they can visit before and after the game. It is one big reason I love going to the Saturday night games. I can head out after the game and meet up with friends in the Old Port. This convinence needs to continue.

You're near the Maine Mall which has plenty to do... Some would say more, and the facility is part bigger retail/restaurant complex so I'm sure this will have numerous places to visit.

Beyond this, I am cautiously optimistic. This needs to happen or else....

I'm imagining this as our version of Portland LIVE!!!!

[penaltyboxattend...]

Must happen. Simply put. Get it done boys.

[Stripes55]

I'm imagining this as our version of Portland LIVE!!!!

Oh sure, YOUR version gets an arena....

[RowdyFan42]

I'm imagining this as our version of Portland LIVE!!!!

Oh sure, YOUR version gets an arena....

[Rumblick]

I'm imagining this as our version of Portland LIVE!!!!

Oh sure, YOUR version gets an arena....

Your version has a bigger arena, a baseball stadium & a football stadium.



Of course, your version's never gonna get built, so there's that ........

[Stripes55]

I'm imagining this as our version of Portland LIVE!!!!

Oh sure, YOUR version gets an arena....

Your version has a bigger arena, a baseball stadium & a football stadium.



Of course, your version's never gonna get built, so there's that ........

No, it's now just going to be a strip mall with the world's largest sports bar, or something like that.

I still expect a casino to show up there eventually....

[Wildcat48]

NY developer joins effort to build arena near turnpike

[Emil The Troll]

NY developer joins effort to build arena near turnpike

I just want to go ont the record as stating I'm not the guy in the article.

[Wildcat48]

Report on civic center is due soon
A consultant is studying the potential renovation of the aging structure, which needs many upgrades.

PORTLAND - A task force studying possibilities for renovating the Cumberland County Civic Center is expected to get a report in the next few weeks that will help the group prepare a road map for the arena's future.

Link>>>>

[Grzzly725]

I was just wondering if anyone else thinks this process is taking a little to long? The fact is that in two years the lease with the CCCC is up, again. Lets say Petro and Co. like the changes that will be made to the building, which I think would only take him getting his own suite. Next it would have to go to a ballot for funding, I see two problems with this. One it wouldn't be on the ballot till Nov of '11. Second, I don't believe the voting tax payers will agree to put money into this building. I think the Board of Trustees are gonna have a hard time selling this. With everything that happened this spring with the pirates moving/not moving, people are gonna see this renovation to a building for a hockey club. I don't think they'll see the bigger picture. Maybe I'm wrong, so tax payers agree to it, what next? When do these renovations happen? Obviously in the off season, but that could not even start till June. I know that Prov. did this to the Dunk a few years ago, so I guess we would start the season on the road? Ok, so Petro and Co. don't like the changes. We get a new arena then, which I like the most by the way. Petro tells the Trustees, now what? Do the Trustees tell him no problem take your time, we'll just keep signing lease extentions till your new home is ready? Probably not. While information is being gathered and different plans are made up for the CCCC, time is wasting away if a new arena is going to be built. The Texas Stars' new arena took 15 months to build, and that was in texas where there is no winter. What happens if Petro like the renovations but the tax payers won't fund it?

That was a little longer than I expected, but was wondering if anyone else was thinking this too. Wildcat I was also wondering if you have spoken to this guy who wants to build this new arena to get his view of things? Or have you talked to Petro about it either to see what his thoughts on it were?

[penaltyboxattend...]

Everyone thinks it is taking too long. Even the board of trustees. It has become a joke now.

[t114]

Here's what I see with this article; too little too late for the venerable Civic Center...

In the end I don't see a majority of the county agreeing to approve renovations, even though this is a county-run and county-controlled (in the legal sense of the word) building... And I think Petro figured that out a long time ago... It goes in well with the timing of the one-question poll on their website not too long ago, and I think he's going with the same thing (work towards a new building) rather than an uncertain thing (let the people decide the fate of the building)...

And unlike the storied move episode of last year, this time around it's the Civic Center that is going to be played while Petrovek works towards getting a new building...

[Wildcat48]

I was just wondering if anyone else thinks this process is taking a little to long? The fact is that in two years the lease with the CCCC is up, again. Lets say Petro and Co. like the changes that will be made to the building, which I think would only take him getting his own suite. Next it would have to go to a ballot for funding, I see two problems with this. One it wouldn't be on the ballot till Nov of '11. Second, I don't believe the voting tax payers will agree to put money into this building. I think the Board of Trustees are gonna have a hard time selling this. With everything that happened this spring with the pirates moving/not moving, people are gonna see this renovation to a building for a hockey club. I don't think they'll see the bigger picture. Maybe I'm wrong, so tax payers agree to it, what next? When do these renovations happen? Obviously in the off season, but that could not even start till June. I know that Prov. did this to the Dunk a few years ago, so I guess we would start the season on the road? Ok, so Petro and Co. don't like the changes. We get a new arena then, which I like the most by the way. Petro tells the Trustees, now what? Do the Trustees tell him no problem take your time, we'll just keep signing lease extentions till your new home is ready? Probably not. While information is being gathered and different plans are made up for the CCCC, time is wasting away if a new arena is going to be built. The Texas Stars' new arena took 15 months to build, and that was in texas where there is no winter. What happens if Petro like the renovations but the tax payers won't fund it?

That was a little longer than I expected, but was wondering if anyone else was thinking this too. Wildcat I was also wondering if you have spoken to this guy who wants to build this new arena to get his view of things? Or have you talked to Petro about it either to see what his thoughts on it were?

I haven't spoken to the group who want to build the new arena... Petro and I talk on occasion as of right now all options are on the table, which include CCCC renovations, Portland/Westbrook and Saco. One thing to keep in mind... no matter which option the Pirates select is best for them they will all need to go to some sort of bond. The Portland/Westbrook and Saco projects do rely on some public funding.

That aside... This is kind of the process for how things will go from here until the outcome is decided.

The task force will get the final report and present their finding to the entire board of trustees.
They will debate the options, which will include public input, and come to some sort of decision.
Next, the project will go out for bid, which is normally only 30 days or so.
Once a bid has been awarded, they will prepare the bond for the ballot and it goes to the voters.

Yay -- They start construction roughly sometime in May 2012. Work six months if the Pirates get Oct. games on the road. It might take two-to-three years to complete the project depending on which option is selected. Project completion date of 2015

Nay -- look for Westbrook/Portland option to head to ballot in that city in June 2012, same with Saco....

If that fails this state gets whatever they deserve and I'm moving home.

[Maine Mariner]

Report on civic center is due soon

I am quite sure that the results of this report will say that a study is needed!

[Grzzly725]

Report on civic center is due soon

I am quite sure that the results of this report will say that a study is needed!

Agreed

[Wildcat48]

Civic center task force to receive study today