See: Big Grove
Cytown Update
- Thread starter norsemen
- Start date
How are we going to skip over this? PM me if you want, but I MUST know more info.
West O is an obvious connection, especially since the Ames Lager has funds going directly to the athletics department now.
Barntown just expanded their brewing capabilities recently. Who is it???
I think these places will have to operate more like an open beer garden on game days. Not as a sit down restaurant. If they dont set up to serve mass people with a system a limited menu and beer in a rapid serving line, it will be a nightmare. They have to set it up like an outdoor food and beer venue, bringing people in and sitting down will extremely limit sales and cause a huge bottleneck.
Agree completely, they will need to have at least two if not three forms they take depending on which day it is. Its really hard to staff and manage that correctly.
Agree, Scholz Garten in Austin does this on UT FB game days.
Has to be set up and able to serve 50,000 light domestics in a couple hours, not 500 specialty crafts brews.
Know the audience.
Know the audience.
You’ll need someone equipped for a blend of both, imo
Yeah you don’t want a spot with 7 barrel aged stouts on tap for gameday but you also don’t want a place that only has canned tall boys so people will actually want to go there on Friday nights in June when there’s no ISU event
This. You can't focus on 6 or 7 gamedays at the expense of every other day on the calendar. I personally have no plans whatsoever to try to go to these businesses on a football gameday because its going to be a madhouse, but I assume there will be some kind of beer garden setup to sell tons of domestic on gameday and if you want to actually get in the building you'll either be waiting forever or you'll have to reserve a table at a premium. Probably the latter.
For football games I probably will stay the hell away from CyTown, especially since we tailgate in the GA grass lots. Why do I want to walk clear over there just to stand in line for overpriced beer when I can bring my own in a cooler and tailgate without the extra expense and congestion. Have to realize that CyTown for FB games likely is going to cater to folks that want some other option than doing their own tailgate. Why would anyone want to wait in a long line for an overpriced Busch Light when you can bring your own for significantly less cost and crack it open without waiting in line?
I think once the novelty of CyTown wears off it's bread and butter will be people looking for tailgating alternatives and a place to go when events are hosted in the area or before/after basketball games. They aren't going to be serving 50,000+ people during football games, just not enough space and resources to do that. Could even see the possibility of a few event rooms that will be rented out for a premium on game days that your average fan is likely not going to pay to reserve. Will be more along the lines of a company outing or high end donor willing to pay for something like that.
I don't think there was a bar within 5 miles of stadium that didn't run out of beer at some point.
Great idea, but more expanded! Why not have a space where any of the Iowa breweries, distilleries, and wineries can be represented (for a fee, of course). I think that would be a great way to show off what the state produces. It allows people to get a taste of several different brands and styles in one location. It gives the non-beer drinker potential liquors to choose from. For the wine drinkers, same thing.Really I think something similar to this would work great.
Iowa Taproom - Des Moines, IA
The Iowa Taproom supports the growing tradition of diversity, creativity and excellence in Iowa beer. We also celebrate all of Iowa, from the farms to small towns and larger cities. We salut...iowataproom.com
Focus on local, but provide a few of the name-brands to appeal to everyone.
Being in Oregon, I'm spoiled with amazing quality of all of the above. When I come back for an ISU football or basketball game, or back visiting family, I'd love a place where I can try the best of what Iowa has to offer - in one place.
Also a great way to show those coming in from out of state for games, etc., what Iowa produces.
Something like the Iowa Craft Beer tent that they have at the State Fair would be awesome. They use the trailers on RAGBRAI and serve thousands too. Obviously that would just be for game days and the rest of the year just have a regular type taproom.
If I had to critique one thing in CyTown, its that the housing is only for older, more wealthy individuals (they cost a very hefty amount), while they're trying to build a year-round events district. Power & Light (KC), Capitol District (OMA), and others across the country have catered housing to young professionals, people who are usually younger, single, but have some money and want to drink on a Wednesday or Thursday night.
I'm 34 and would probably live in CyTown if there were moderately priced condos or apartments down there, and would probably pay a portion of a bar or restaurant's rent per month in patronage (semi-sarcastic here). I'm obviously on the older age of the "young professional" age, but this would be a great recruitment tool for companies in Ames to have an area for 25-35 year olds near the main entertainment venues.
(Young professionals in Ames are generally not catered to whatsoever, and that's why many live in Prairie Trail or East Village and commute)
I'm 34 and would probably live in CyTown if there were moderately priced condos or apartments down there, and would probably pay a portion of a bar or restaurant's rent per month in patronage (semi-sarcastic here). I'm obviously on the older age of the "young professional" age, but this would be a great recruitment tool for companies in Ames to have an area for 25-35 year olds near the main entertainment venues.
(Young professionals in Ames are generally not catered to whatsoever, and that's why many live in Prairie Trail or East Village and commute)
Providing a game day space for other vendors to show up and address the increased demand would be good. The trick is figuring out what the brick and mortars want from that pie first. You can't let them struggle the rest of the year and then usurp all the extra demand on game day. Of course, its up to the permanent operators to set up in a way that allows them to ramp up for that demand.
I’ve been saying this all along. There could not be a more perfect business for it. You get ALL the Iowa breweries plus regular domestics in bottles. Plus every time I’ve been there the food has been great.Really I think something similar to this would work great.
Iowa Taproom - Des Moines, IA
The Iowa Taproom supports the growing tradition of diversity, creativity and excellence in Iowa beer. We also celebrate all of Iowa, from the farms to small towns and larger cities. We salut...
The condos are what I'm most skeptical of with this project.
Are they just going to end up being party pads for the home football games?
Are people actually going to be living in them?
They are so expensive, and then the odd 10 year lease term (or whatever it was).
Like you said, only the very wealthy or corporations are likely able to afford them, so then what do they do with them outside of game days or other big events?
It feels like Full Court Press (owner/manager of Iowa Taproom and many others) feel like the natural group to take something like this on.
Welcome to the housing problem plaguing us everywhere, especially popular locations for events/vacations.
The number of rarely used homes the top % of earners can afford exceeds the bottom half of people by a wide margin. Sure to be replicated here to some extent, but 6 home dates a year might not be quite enough to make it huge.
Bingo. Even the One Light and Two Light towers around P&L District are quite expensive, but the housing they provide are why the businesses stay afloat at P&L outside of their Black Friday event (ISU fans at B12Tourn). Even then, the turnover is quite high at P&L because the rent is so high.
What is your price point? Cost to build is roughly $300 per foot in Central Iowa??? Also, this is university land that cannot be sold. It is a long-term-land lease. You are wanting something thay is not possible in CyTown, imo.
