(WARNING: George, please take Valium before reading this. Your head might explode to see another favorite arena demolished.)
I just came across the following article from today's Delco Times:
As for me, I'm all for progress. I just hope the Phantoms stay in the city.
I just came across the following article from today's Delco Times:
PHILADELPHIA — Comcast-Spectacor is on the verge of announcing a plan to develop a multi-million dollar entertainment complex in South Philadelphia that could eventually lead to the demolition of the Wachovia Spectrum, the Daily Times has learned.If this goes through, I really will worry about my buddy George. He LOVES the Spectrum, he might chain himself to the front doors to prevent demolition crews from doing their work. He would be like that student in Tienanmen Square that stood before the Chinese tanks or those students at Cal-Berkely that are camping out in trees to prevent the school from knocking them down and building a football training center.
The Baltimore-based Cordish Company, a real estate development giant, has offered several proposals to Comcast-Spectacor that are still being considered.
The most attractive proposal would result in a complex called “Philly Live!” which would incorporate land development for such ventures as restaurants, retail shops, condominiums, small music venues, a movie theatre and other entertainment outlets in and around the stadium area.
According to one source close to the negotiations, a public announcement is expected before the end of January.
Comcast-Spectacor President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Luukko confirmed that discussions are ongoing and that several plans for the new development are being considered.
Comcast has worked through a “series of proposals” with this development project, Luukko said.
“We’ve had discussions with Cordish to look at some development proposals and they’re still ongoing,” he said.
Luukko would not comment on the possible demolition of the Spectrum, but said part of the proposal discussions did include the Spectrum site. Luukko stressed nothing had been finalized or decided with the proposals involving the Spectrum.
According to a Philadelphia business community source, one of the Cordish proposals would include the construction of an ultra-chic W hotel, owned by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Inc., which would be built where the Spectrum currently sits.
Comcast-Spectacor is mulling over that proposal while it decides whether a hotel or the 42-year-old Spectrum would be a more viable source of revenue for the company.
That analysis would also include determining if Comcast would rather continue to house the American Hockey League’s Phantoms and the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Kixx, or find a new home for both.
Comcast-Spectacor owns the Phantoms, but does not own the Kixx. All other events would be absorbed by the Wachovia Center. The Spectrum currently averages about 125 event dates per calendar year.
The Kixx and other MISL teams have struggled to hook on as a popular sports entertainment option in various U.S. markets.
Conversely, the Phantoms, with a history of sold-out games and two Calder Cup championships on their corporate resume, could be considered an attractive commodity for several markets in the region, including Trenton, N.J., and Atlantic City, N.J.
Comcast-Spectacor officials have not indicated whether they were pursuing such options.
Nevertheless, the belief is that a development of this nature would be a boon not only to the city, but anyone who ventures into the stadium vicinity.
“With the new ballparks and the fact that there’s more housing down here, the landscape has changed,” said Luukko. “And we feel there’s a need for a project like this not only for our fans, but for the community around us with restaurants, retail and a fun place to go both day and night.”
During construction of the Wachovia Center in 1996, Comcast-Spectacor struck a deal with the City of Philadelphia for exclusive negotiating rights for corporate land development at the stadium multiplex.
The deal gave Comcast a window of 20 years to develop a 300,000-square foot parcel of land that includes the Spectrum site.
It’s believed the project has been reviewed by officials from the Phillies and Eagles, and members of the city’s political community have also been briefed, with one prominent politician apparently liking what he saw.
“He saw a brief presentation from Comcast-Spectacor and that’s been the extent of his involvement,” said Gary Tuma, a spokesman for State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo. “He said it looked nice.”
Tuma said Fumo didn’t have a “blanket opinion” about what should or shouldn’t be done with the property, but that it would depend on what the final proposal might be.
A message left with a spokesman for Philadelphia City Council chairwoman Anna Verna, who represents the district in and around the stadium complex area, was not returned.
Newly minted Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and U.S. Congressman Robert Brady also couldn’t be reached.
The Cordish Company is one of the leading development firms for this particular brand of commercial endeavor and has built similar projects in other cities, including “Power Plant Live!” in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area; “Fourth Street Live” in Louisville, Ky.; “Daytona Live!” outside Daytona Motor Speedway in Daytona, Fla. And “Paradise Live!” and the Seminole Hard Rock Café Casino in Tampa, Fla.
The company is also involved in constructing “Woodbine Live!” at Woodbine racetrack in Toronto and “Ballpark Village” in St. Louis. While the cost of these projects vary from an estimated $35 million in Baltimore to $750 million in Toronto, the Comcast-Spectacor project, with a hotel, could eclipse the $100 million plateau.
A message left for a Cordish spokeswoman went unreturned.
Cordish has also developed several other shopping-based projects that include, “The Walk” in Atlantic City, “The Boulevard at Capital Centre” in Landover, Md. and the factory outlets in Ocean City, Md.
As for me, I'm all for progress. I just hope the Phantoms stay in the city.
6 comments:
Anything to make that area more desirable would be great.
This is an outrage. I don't need shops and a hotel to enhance my game experience. And I don't want to travel to Trenton or AC to watch the Phantoms. I plan on going to many Phantoms games in the coming years with my kids. When I was a kid I remember going to the game to see the game. Going to the game was not about schmoozing with clients, stuffing your face with food, or ordering specialty drinks in a lounge. I hate Comcast. I will chain myself to the Spectrum if this plan happens. The views and sounds from the Spectrum seats are 10 times better than that cavern across the lot.
And where will all the mice (and other things, I'm sure) that inhabit the upper deck go if it is torn down?
That's a lot of goddam animals that are going to need a new home!
This is a major city, we don't need a minor league facility. Put it in AC, Reading, Newark DE. There's plenty of 2nd rate towns to play a 2nd rate sport.
I do love the spectrum though, how about the fight scenes in Rocky. The red white and blue lights that surround the mezzanene level, thats my childhood.
I have to agree 100% with George. Why does everything have to cater to corporate people?
This "revitalization" project just reeks of sponsorship and unfriendliness to the down-and-dirty Philly sports fan. These plans are way too uppity for me and I know I'm not alone in my opinion.
Save some chain for me, George.
sjn in the house!
Post a Comment