Tidbits from Pollard on Tonight's Radio Show

[theshadow]

To me it seems like we keep kicking the can down the road on some badly needed updates and renovations to Hilton.

LITERALLY the first point in the first post of this thread:

1. The Hilton update and remodel project is still planned, but since it will require the issuing of bonds to raise the needed funds, don't expect any movement on the project until after the new Big 12 TV deal is finalized.

 

[Frak]

Wells Fargo is in Des Moines, the most populous City in Iowa. There are also multiple hotels and restaurants nearby. Hilton and Ames simply cannot compete.

I think that they can compete...just at a lower level. They're not going to get the huge national acts that WF can get. Or the Men's NCAA tourney. Or that big conventions that draw 5,000 people. But they can get the next level down. People from DM will drive to Ames for the right thing. And being right next to the university is something that DM cannot offer.

 

[alarson]

To me it seems like we keep kicking the can down the road on some badly needed updates and renovations to Hilton. Really wish that would take priority next over a possible entertainment district. There have been multiple ideas and concepts floated around about how to update Hilton over the years but none have really come to reality. Other than the scoreboard (which is probably due for replacement again soon with something more high tech) the addition of the ribbon board, and the new lighting have we really done anything else significant to that facility? Our basketball programs are competitive and would like to see some more momentum to following through on making Hilton up to par with renovations comparable to what we have done at Jack Trice.

As for the CyTown thing I am very skeptical on how that will thrive other than on game days. There is no other retail or natural business traffic that flows through that area to make it a goto spot IMO. Yes it would be neat to be able to grab some food and beers before games and I am sure they could make some good money at that but when school is out and its the offseason where does the business come from to keep it afloat during the summer? Let's also not forget that area floods about every 10 years or so too so some flood mitigation would probably be needed to develop it. I'm not completely against the concept but I just feel that we have more pressing needs to address first such as Hilton before we venture into a more risky thing like this.

While I agree that hilton needs some big improvements, these have nothing to do with CyTown.

Cytown is a revenue generating development plan that will pay for itself. Hilton renovations are 90% just costs.

 

[WhoISthis]

To me it seems like we keep kicking the can down the road on some badly needed updates and renovations to Hilton. Really wish that would take priority next over a possible entertainment district. There have been multiple ideas and concepts floated around about how to update Hilton over the years but none have really come to reality. Other than the scoreboard (which is probably due for replacement again soon with something more high tech) the addition of the ribbon board, and the new lighting have we really done anything else significant to that facility? Our basketball programs are competitive and would like to see some more momentum to following through on making Hilton up to par with renovations comparable to what we have done at Jack Trice.

As for the CyTown thing I am very skeptical on how that will thrive other than on game days. There is no other retail or natural business traffic that flows through that area to make it a goto spot IMO. Yes it would be neat to be able to grab some food and beers before games and I am sure they could make some good money at that but when school is out and its the offseason where does the business come from to keep it afloat during the summer? Let's also not forget that area floods about every 10 years or so too so some flood mitigation would probably be needed to develop it. I'm not completely against the concept but I just feel that we have more pressing needs to address first such as Hilton before we venture into a more risky thing like this.

CYtown isn’t competing with Hilton updates.

It will compete with other commercial areas in Ames. Imo it needs to have enough mass to somewhat cannibalize those and redirect traffic. But it is a high traffic area.

 

[theshadow]

Lot of checkers being played in here.

 

[StPaulCyclone]

Hence the new RV lot on the other side of the bridge.

Right and the current grass lots will eventually get paved and many donors moved over there, per initiAl plans. Making the bridge from those lots and the new east bridge a part of that plan.

 

[Rogue52]

I think that they can compete...just at a lower level. They're not going to get the huge national acts that WF can get. Or the Men's NCAA tourney. Or that big conventions that draw 5,000 people. But they can get the next level down. People from DM will drive to Ames for the right thing. And being right next to the university is something that DM cannot offer.

I agree. There aren’t that many musical acts that warrant an arena the size of Wells Fargo.

 

[CYdTracked]

Wells Fargo is in Des Moines, the most populous City in Iowa. There are also multiple hotels and restaurants nearby. Hilton and Ames simply cannot compete.

Part of the reason reason for the decline in number of concerts at Hilton is that Wells Fargo Arena just has a bigger capacity too. Back when it was just Vets, Hilton as the larger facility so it was the obvious choice for any large acts that came through Iowa. Now with the Well, Hilton is limited to what acts are willing to book a smaller arena than one they can book just 40 minutes to the south.

I remember when they used to do concerts at Jack Trice but that was mostly when we still has the artificial turf. I doubt with the natural surface we'll see that possibility but with the renovations done it would be cool if they would do some concerts even if it were just setting up a stage in the North endzone and not putting any seating on the field level.

 

[BCClone]

Part of the reason reason for the decline in number of concerts at Hilton is that Wells Fargo Arena just has a bigger capacity too. Back when it was just Vets, Hilton as the larger facility so it was the obvious choice for any large acts that came through Iowa. Now with the Well, Hilton is limited to what acts are willing to book a smaller arena than one they can book just 40 minutes to the south.

I remember when they used to do concerts at Jack Trice but that was mostly when we still has the artificial turf. I doubt with the natural surface we'll see that possibility but with the renovations done it would be cool if they would do some concerts even if it were just setting up a stage in the North endzone and not putting any seating on the field level.

Wells doesn't have hardly any now.

 

[carvers4math]

Wonder how much they would mark up hotel prices on graduation weekend?

 

[DeereClone]

Any chance the University sells off the Gateway Conference Center and Hotel to refocus on the new district?

Seems like Gateway was dying last time I was out there.

 

[JP4CY]

For those discussing concerts I'm sure a significant part of going to wells is more floor seating (its a larger area at higher price point than in the stands) and sky boxes.
But I've also been to concerts at Wells where the top deck isn't even open/sold.

 

[Frak]

Part of the reason reason for the decline in number of concerts at Hilton is that Wells Fargo Arena just has a bigger capacity too. Back when it was just Vets, Hilton as the larger facility so it was the obvious choice for any large acts that came through Iowa. Now with the Well, Hilton is limited to what acts are willing to book a smaller arena than one they can book just 40 minutes to the south.

I remember when they used to do concerts at Jack Trice but that was mostly when we still has the artificial turf. I doubt with the natural surface we'll see that possibility but with the renovations done it would be cool if they would do some concerts even if it were just setting up a stage in the North endzone and not putting any seating on the field level.

As cool as those stadium concerts were, I don't know that there are many acts these days that would get close to filling JTS...even if they put a floor over the grass, which they wouldn't. Music acts were just bigger back then. Now it is so fragmented that there just aren't many that would fill an outdoor stadium. Garth Brooks would be about the only one I can think of.

 

[JP4CY]

Wells doesn't have hardly any now.

Wild starts up in a month, Wolves in two months so maybe less concerts because of that?
I ponied up some bucks for the Eagles.

 

[BCClone]

Wild starts up in a month, Wolves in two months so maybe less concerts because of that?
I ponied up some bucks for the Eagles.

That's my point. I remember tearing up the floor for a concert at midnight, coming back at six to start show set up, working the show security, then breaking everything down and at two in the morning dropping the basketball floor again because Johnny wanted his players to shoot on the floor. If you have a hockey game one night and basketball the next, no way a concert can be thrown in also. ISU will have 3-4 stretches where they can put an act in there and hammer it out without interference.

 

[fcclone]

Wild starts up in a month, Wolves in two months so maybe less concerts because of that?
I ponied up some bucks for the Eagles.

Eagles in the Well? Nice!

 

[Trice]

I thought some of CyTown was to be a conferencing destination, like ag symposiums and such, maybe using a revamped Stevens/Scheman/Fisher.

I'm really interested to learn more about what the feasibility study revealed. I wonder how much of that info we'll get.

 

[CYdTracked]

LITERALLY the first point in the first post of this thread:

1. The Hilton update and remodel project is still planned, but since it will require the issuing of bonds to raise the needed funds, don't expect any movement on the project until after the new Big 12 TV deal is finalized.

Yes I read it... my point is there have been previously announced concepts and plans for Hilton over the years that have never resulted in any meaningful renovations yet. There once was a concept about adding some premium seating/suites just above the lower level seats on 1 side that never happened. There was going to be some big plaza or something built right outside of the South entrance that never happened. I could be wrong but I swear I remember in the late 90's there was even an idea on the local ballot to add onto Hilton that would add more upper deck seating too. Just look at how much Jack Trice has transformed over that same period of time with the SEZ, the bridge, the video board, the new football facility, I would even tie the new performance facility into that too as it is prominent right next to the stadium. Even the Bergstrom practice facility was built in the early 2000's. I am glad we invested in football as it was needed, but our basketball facility other than a few minor updates has basically stayed the same the past few decades. The current concept to renovate and open up the concourse and update the concessions has been long overdue.

We did move the basketball offices out of Hilton and renovate that space for Johnny's so I did originally forget to mention that.

 

[GetAwesome]

There are two guaranteed things in life that the common Cyclone fan will always be an immediate expert in:

1. Revenue generating property development ideas.
2. Offensive (football) play calling.

I’ll take care of both right now: Pollard should sell shares w/ voting rights and gameday play calling rights in the Iowa State Athletic Department.

 

[CYdTracked]

As cool as those stadium concerts were, I don't know that there are many acts these days that would get close to filling JTS...even if they put a floor over the grass, which they wouldn't. Music acts were just bigger back then. Now it is so fragmented that there just aren't many that would fill an outdoor stadium. Garth Brooks would be about the only one I can think of.

I knew there was some big country music concert at Jack Trice in the late 90's and think I found the thread that mentioned it: https://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/threads/concerts-at-jack-trice-cyclone-stadium.48260/

I think if you did an all-day music event and brought in a handful of popular acts you could easily do 50k+ for an event. You are right that it would have to be a pretty big name or event to draw that but with the right marketing and acts I think it would be possible.