Kansas City begins talk and studies for downtown ballpark

[Titty Meat]

http://www.kansascity.com/news/polit...177058541.html

The city of Kansas City is funding a study of at least four potential sites for a downtown baseball stadium for the Kansas City Royals, according to documents obtained by The Star.

A series of emails shows that Kansas City Manager Troy Schulte was involved in funding studies of four sites within the downtown loop that might be suitable for a baseball stadium.

Two of those sites, according to slides prepared by architecture firm HOK, are immediately adjacent to the Sprint Center, one to the north and one to the east.

Another site is East Village, several blocks of mostly undeveloped land and surface parking lots east of City Hall. A fourth site would involve several blocks of mostly surface parking lots beginning at the northwest corner of 8th and Main streets.

Others involved in the planning include Jon Copaken, principal with real estate development firm Copaken-Brooks, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, JE Dunn, The Cordish Co. and Tower Properties.

Schulte said the studies started after the Downtown Council approached City Hall about the feasibility of downtown baseball. Schulte added that he agreed to help fund a study to consider whether the four sites would work so that the city could plan ahead if the idea gained momentum.

“At this point it’s nothing more than hopes and dreams and discussions,” Schulte said.

A May 12 email from Copaken obtained by The Star suggested that conversations with the Royals and Jackson County have started.

“[T]he studies are underway, invoices are out, conversations from the County and the team are actually heading in the right way and we are sufficiently in the loop to know that real progress is being achieved,” Copaken wrote.

Kevin Uhlich, senior vice president of business operations for the Royals, said he had been contacted about downtown baseball stadium proposals earlier this year.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by 007

You underestimate my resolve. I went to one concert at sprint center and have never been back.

IMO concerts at Sprint Center suck. Sounds quality blows and it's such a cookie cutter arena.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by DanT

I realize there are many Kansas Citians who love KCI or don't think it needs an expensive new terminal. It really depends on how one travels. For me, the place is bad and obviously needs to be updated. I couldn't imagine an airline choosing it for a hub, as it is currently configured. I think the airport hurts the city's commercial prospects, because it gives many travelers a really uncomfortable travel experience and gives a poor overall first and last impression of the city. But there are definitely folks who just need an airport for flying to and from places with fairly reliable service and little risk for flight delays. I imagine those customers like KCI a lot.

Sorry KCI sucks for you, but I am not willing to pay for a new airport.

For all of the talk about it not costing taxpayers anything...no one mentions how much air fares will go up if a new airport is built.

Say goodbye to any decent airfares....expect 50% or more increases in ticket prices because the airlines have to recoup their investment. That is a lot to pay for a few more overpriced restaurants and a bar.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

Sorry KCI sucks for you, but I am not willing to pay for a new airport.

Then say goodbye to any chance at trying to attract new business development to the area... i.e. Amazon's second headquarters.

[alpha_omega]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

KC needs a new airport... focus on that.

Wrong.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

Sorry KCI sucks for you, but I am not willing to pay for a new airport.

For all of the talk about it not costing taxpayers anything...no one mentions how much air fares will go up if a new airport is built.

Say goodbye to any decent airfares....expect 50% or more increases in ticket prices because the airlines have to recoup their investment. That is a lot to pay for a few more overpriced restaurants and a bar.

This post is just ****ing ignorant. How often do you travel. I use the airport 50 weeks a year and it’s the worst in the country outside of maybe LaGuardia. It’s a horrid first impression to what’s becoming a fine city. The airport is an outdated, logistical nightmare of a pile of shit.

My colleagues in Denver and Dallas pay far cheaper fares flying out of Denver or Love Field. The airlines have already stated that fares will not increase. It’s damn near impossible for me to get a direct flight to anywhere from KCI currently. There are More TSA staff at KCI than at JFK or Atlanta...fare prices may actually DECREASE when you don’t have to man 30 security checkpoints. Stop vomiting bullshit.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by Strongside

This post is just ****ing ignorant. How often do you travel. I use the airport 50 weeks a year and it’s the worst in the country outside of maybe LaGuardia. It’s a horrid first impression to what’s becoming a fine city. The airport is an outdated, logistical nightmare of a pile of shit.

My colleagues in Denver and Dallas pay far cheaper fares flying out of Denver or Love Field. The airlines have already stated that fares will not increase. It’s damn near impossible for me to get a direct flight to anywhere from KCI currently. There are More TSA staff at KCI than at JFK or Atlanta...fare prices may actually DECREASE when you don’t have to man 30 security checkpoints. Stop vomiting bullshit.

**** you, you ignorant asshole. I fly out of KCI 5-10 times a year, and KCI is by far the easiest airport I have been to in terms of getting in and out. I also fly to plenty of places on a direct flight. It is a no frills airports, to be sure, but too much emphasis is being placed on making the airport a hip place to be. There is no ****ing way KCI is the worst airport in the United States.

I do not give a shit what the airlines say...their are not going to invest that kind of money and not expect to a return on that investment...and how do you think the airlines will do that...hmmmmm.....

The idea that this airport is going to somehow cost taxpayers and customers nothing is ****ing stupid. Everything has a cost to it.

You are entitled to your opinion, even if you are a ****ing asshole.

[SAUTO]

5-10 or 50?
I'm taking the guy's opinion who does it 50 times a year

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

5-10 or 50?
I'm taking the guy's opinion who does it 50 times a year

I mentioned it earlier in this thread, but I've always heard people who live there like KCI and those who don't, don't.... and probably the better way of saying it would be vacationers vs business travel.

I've flown out of KC quite a bit for work (not close to every week though), but was lucky enough to have direct flights to large cities for the most part... or if it wasn't a direct flight, it was because the town's airport only connected with the large cities in that state.

Hell, I'm not going to pay taxes on it... go for it, KC.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

5-10 or 50?
I'm taking the guy's opinion who does it 50 times a year

I probably flew off the handle a bit...but the guy was being an asshole, so I called him out on it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, although I thins 50 times a year could be a bit of a exaggeration (only home two week out of the year?) --- of course, nobody does that on the interwebs. I can only base my opinion on my experiences...and based on those, I think KCI is just fine.

I am sure that the KC City Council will figure out a way to waste money whether they build an airport or not.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

I probably flew off the handle a bit...but the guy was being an asshole, so I called him out on it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, although I thins 50 times a year could be a bit of a exaggeration (only home two week out of the year?) --- of course, nobody does that on the interwebs. I can only base my opinion on my experiences...and based on those, I think KCI is just fine.

I am sure that the KC City Council will figure out a way to waste money whether they build an airport or not.

I know people who do it (travel every week of the year, and well, exaggerate on the internets), it's pretty crazy.... my last job was "up to 100% travel," but I'd be in one place for 3-6 months at a time and would only fly back at most once per month. I know people who fly out every Sunday and fly back every Friday.... I'm sure it burns out most people on travel after only a year or two.

[Discuss Thrower]

The airport's supposed advantage of being convenient will be negated when you're down to maybe three flights a day per airline to maybe 4 to 5 different hub cities.

Good luck if your final destination isn't Atlanta, Chicago, Denver or Dallas.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

I probably flew off the handle a bit...but the guy was being an asshole, so I called him out on it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, although I thins 50 times a year could be a bit of a exaggeration (only home two week out of the year?) --- of course, nobody does that on the interwebs. I can only base my opinion on my experiences...and based on those, I think KCI is just fine.

I am sure that the KC City Council will figure out a way to waste money whether they build an airport or not.

I understand

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

The airport's supposed advantage of being convenient will be negated when you're down to maybe three flights a day per airline to maybe 4 to 5 different hub cities.

Good luck if your final destination isn't Atlanta, Chicago, Denver or Dallas.

If we build a new airport...what airline is putting a hub here?

If no airline puts a hub here, then the new airport will face the same fate as the old.

[Titty Meat]

KC has little man's syndrome. It thinks it's a big city (it's not) yet we pay more in taxes than a place like Dallas and have very little to show for.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by Scooter Libby

KC has little man's syndrome. It thinks it's a big city (it's not) yet we pay more in taxes than a place like Dallas and have very little to show for.

KC politicians certainly do think that.

Best thing about KC is that it is just big enough (NFL, MLB) to be a major city, but it is small enough to be affordable and easy to get around.

Best of both worlds.