Cytown Update

[Messi]

Correct, which is why I said I hope there's another 1 or 2 in those retail spaces. Still sad to see the rooftop bars near the stage at the North end gone.

Coralville has a really cool restaurant right across from the xtreme arena
Iowa Athletic Club

would be an awesome concept in CYTown

 

[cyclone87]

The map in the BOR packet is just a massing diagram and won’t show finer building details like whether or not there is a rooftop feature. Just general uses.

 

[Tailg8er]

An easy fix for lack of restaurants: food trucks. I understand that won't work in dec-march, but if properly researched, you could have 30-50 food trucks lined up for game days.

There will never be 5-8 restaurants there, but there are other solutions.

You could also have 'temporary' beer garden type things setup on certain days. Doesn't necessarily help the food situation, but could give more drinking opportunities.

 

[DBQR4CY]

Cytown could for sure support two sports bars (one could be run by ISU Catering for event days). I think people underestimate the number events that go on in that area. Yes you have football Friday-Saturdays, Men's & Women's basketball, Volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, and more will come. 2pm tip? Okay, let's go to CyTown by 11:30, get some food and drinks and head over to Hilton at 1:30pm. Sound good? Awesome. For football...they'll need to use the outdoor space as much as possible. On Saturdays it can be limited menu options like apps vs full menu. Quick fryer stuff.

 

[Pat]

Agreed.

As a business district, they are going to have to come up with (at least) weekly events that draw people to the district. It obviously has no established entertainment culture or tradition so they are going to need to manufacture one if they have any hope of success. Showing up only on gameday isn't going to cut it.

A live music venue (one that could operate year-round that is) would be interesting.

I would love this, but there is ample evidence that Ames isn’t big enough to support one.

 

[JP4CY]

In my younger days a couple decades ago we used leave Ames on Fridays for "Clive After Five." It was like an outdoor FAC with small concerts more geared to young professionals.
Something like that would be awesome with Cytown.

 

[Freebird]

I think you're seriously overestimating demand for those types of facilities. You better create a HELL of an experience because you are on an island on non game days. There is absolutely no chance multiple food and beverage options can exist on that small footprint and all make it.

You're far more likely to see office and retail space that is filled during business hours and then is less dependent on weekends.

People grossly underestimate how difficult it is to make it in food and beverage. Everyone thinks they can do it and then most end up out of business before they've existed for a year.

I mean I get what you are saying about food and beverage but places like Wasabi opened up next to a trailerpark and Provisions isn't exactly in an ideal spot. Mucky Duck is a ****** local. They seem to be doing ok. It's not like this is on the outskirts, its literally in the middle of town in the most densely populated area and there are events in Ames almost every single weekend in the summer. Ever try booking a hotel room in Ames on short notice? Make this a destination and it will become one.

 

[Nor'MidWester]

Cytown could for sure support two sports bars (one could be run by ISU Catering for event days). I think people underestimate the number events that go on in that area. Yes you have football Friday-Saturdays, Men's & Women's basketball, Volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, and more will come. 2pm tip? Okay, let's go to CyTown by 11:30, get some food and drinks and head over to Hilton at 1:30pm. Sound good? Awesome. For football...they'll need to use the outdoor space as much as possible. On Saturdays it can be limited menu options like apps vs full menu. Quick fryer stuff.

Plus with the hotel I think the hope is that the Iowa State Center hosts more conventions again and everyone knows the whole point of work conventions is to get plastered every night so the bar/restaurant would get visitors that way too. I'm trying to think of what store that central Iowa doesn't have that could attract people to CyTown outside of ISU fans...

I think it will still succeed and it has to. What we see is still early and we really don't have a reason to doubt Pollard and Co yet. They wouldn't be doing this unless they are confident on the financials.

Glad to see some progress.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

In my younger days a couple decades ago we used leave Ames on Fridays for "Clive After Five." It was like an outdoor FAC with small concerts more geared to young professionals.
Something like that would be awesome with Cytown.

I’ve never heard of this but I like the idea. I don’t think I’m still considered young and definitely not professional. I guess I’ll just need to observe from a safe distance.

 

[ISUTex]

Coralville has a really cool restaurant right across from the xtreme arena
Iowa Athletic Club

would be an awesome concept in CYTown


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That area in Coralville is what I picture when I think of "CyTown". Are they putting a hotel up in CyTown (I haven't read through very many posts)?

 

[Messi]

That area in Coralville is what I picture when I think of "CyTown". Are they putting a hotel up in CyTown?

yes. 215 room hotel

 

[Cyclonsin]

That area in Coralville is what I picture when I think of "CyTown". Are they putting a hotel up in CyTown (I haven't read through very many posts)?

I love that area, it's a blast, but Ames doesn't have anywhere near enough population to sustain something even a quarter scale of it.

There has to a happy medium between "amazeballs ped mall area with tons of dining options and things going on" and "glorified strip mall." I'm hoping they find it, but very worried it will be the latter.

 

[MJ271]

I mean I get what you are saying about food and beverage but places like Wasabi opened up next to a trailerpark and Provisions isn't exactly in an ideal spot. Mucky Duck is a ****** local. They seem to be doing ok. It's not like this is on the outskirts, its literally in the middle of town in the most densely populated area and there are events in Ames almost every single weekend in the summer. Ever try booking a hotel room in Ames on short notice? Make this a destination and it will become one.

I agree here. People are acting as if the only way that the only customers of a food/beverage place in Cytown will be people associated with ISU events. If they are quality places, I don't think that'll be true at all. They'll be just as likely to be successful as any restaurant in Ames. And as noted by @DBQR4CY, there's a lot more that goes on there than only football and basketball games. There's already a ton of daily traffic there during the academic year, just with the commuter lots alone. Beyond the sporting events that they brought up, there are also events at C.Y. Stephens, Fisher, and the Alumni Center.

Now, there probably is still a cap on the number of places offering the same thing that can be in that small of an area and be successful. Ames has also had several recent notable restaurant closures with West Towne, Brick City, and Old Chicago. But the general sentiment seems to be that those closures were more a result of poor quality.

 

[MJ271]

Plus with the hotel I think the hope is that the Iowa State Center hosts more conventions again and everyone knows the whole point of work conventions is to get plastered every night so the bar/restaurant would get visitors that way too. I'm trying to think of what store that central Iowa doesn't have that could attract people to CyTown outside of ISU fans...

I think it will still succeed and it has to. What we see is still early and we really don't have a reason to doubt Pollard and Co yet. They wouldn't be doing this unless they are confident on the financials.

Glad to see some progress.

I mentioned it in the premium Cytown thread, but I'll say it here as well since I haven't seen it brought up. On page 2 of the BOR agenda item, it notes that "The University will have no debt obligation regarding any aspect of the development," yet the buildings will be owned by the university upon completion. It sounds like the AD's entire investment was on the front end with the parking lots and the ground infrastructure.

Seems like a pretty good deal, putting the financial risk on the developer, with the university's financial investment already occurring and coinciding with parking lot improvements that probably needed to happen anyway.

 

[WISCY1895]

I mentioned it in the premium Cytown thread, but I'll say it here as well since I haven't seen it brought up. On page 2 of the BOR agenda item, it notes that "The University will have no debt obligation regarding any aspect of the development," yet the buildings will be owned by the university upon completion. It sounds like the AD's entire investment was on the front end with the parking lots and the ground infrastructure.

Seems like a pretty good deal, putting the financial risk on the developer, with the university's financial investment already occurring and coinciding with parking lot improvements that probably needed to happen anyway.

This is what I just keep trying to tell people I see complain about CyTown. The number one thing I see people say is how much this has to cost. Outside of the infrastructure improvements this is costing the athletic department nothing. Frankly most of the people I see complaining don’t like Jamie and just use a false narrative to justify their opinion

 

[Cyclonsin]

I got curious, so here's how many days the ISC is used for events throughout the 2024-2025 season. No clue about the conference schedule, but those should increase dramatically with an on-site hotel.

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

FB

1​

1​

2​

3​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

VB

1​

5​

4​

4​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

BB

0​

0​

1​

7​

5​

9​

6​

3​

0​

0​

0​

0​

Gym

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

4​

2​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

Wrest

0​

0​

0​

2​

0​

2​

2​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

CY/Fischer

1​

3​

6​

8​

4​

6​

8​

8​

5​

1​

0​

0​

I didn't count overlapping athletic events twice (for example BB doubleheaders, so that only counts as 1 day), but it's possible an event at CY Stephens, the Goldfinch Room, or Fischer Theater is a duplicate day. All said and done, current ISC events occur on (at most) 72 days during this span.

 

[cyfan92]

 

[Freebird]

I got curious, so here's how many days the ISC is used for events throughout the 2024-2025 season. No clue about the conference schedule, but those should increase dramatically with an on-site hotel.

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

FB

1​

1​

2​

3​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

VB

1​

5​

4​

4​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

BB

0​

0​

1​

7​

5​

9​

6​

3​

0​

0​

0​

0​

Gym

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

4​

2​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

Wrest

0​

0​

0​

2​

0​

2​

2​

0​

0​

0​

0​

0​

CY/Fischer

1​

3​

6​

8​

4​

6​

8​

8​

5​

1​

0​

0​

I didn't count overlapping athletic events twice (for example BB doubleheaders, so that only counts as 1 day), but it's possible an event at CY Stephens, the Goldfinch Room, or Fischer Theater is a duplicate day. All said and done, current ISC events occur on (at most) 72 days during this span.

In addition to this, AAU tournaments, FFA conference, Odyssey of the Minds, Shrine Bowl, Special Olympics, Iowa Games, football youth camps, etc etc. These bring thousands of people to Ames for multiple days. Most would rather find a destination here than travel to one of the districts in Ankeny for entertainment and food.

 

[Mr Janny]

I agree here. People are acting as if the only way that the only customers of a food/beverage place in Cytown will be people associated with ISU events. If they are quality places, I don't think that'll be true at all. They'll be just as likely to be successful as any restaurant in Ames. And as noted by @DBQR4CY, there's a lot more that goes on there than only football and basketball games. There's already a ton of daily traffic there during the academic year, just with the commuter lots alone. Beyond the sporting events that they brought up, there are also events at C.Y. Stephens, Fisher, and the Alumni Center.

Now, there probably is still a cap on the number of places offering the same thing that can be in that small of an area and be successful. Ames has also had several recent notable restaurant closures with West Towne, Brick City, and Old Chicago. But the general sentiment seems to be that those closures were more a result of poor quality.

As someone who lives in South Central Ames, I agree that if the businesses in the Iowa State center are worthwhile, I'll definitely be a patron, and not just on game days. Sports bar/restaurant/retail would all be welcome in that area, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Freebird]

As someone who lives in South Central Ames, I agree that if the businesses in the Iowa State center are worthwhile, I'll definitely be a patron, and not just on game days. Sports bar/restaurant/retail would all be welcome in that area, as far as I'm concerned.

It's all about a scale that fits Ames. No one is expecting a dozen high-end restaurants and clubs. But if a place like Sommerset can have multiple larger places that are packed every weekend, there is room for growth.