Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
I love Arrowhead and the gameday experience. And I'm not a Jackson County taxpayer.
But I'm also realistic and Arrowhead is on borrowed time. That being the case, there's no sense in limping along here. The stadium was built in such a way that it just cannot continue to keep pace with other franchises through renovation. And if we are going to be (and should be) a crown jewel franchise for the next 10-15 years (and hell, we weren't dogfood before Mahomes), that's not tenable.
So I think I'm ready for a new stadium. And if that stadium is going to be done well, it's not going to be in Jackson County. So if that means a move to Wyandotte, I'll set my anti-Kansas bias aside because it's probably best for the Chiefs long-term.
So include me in the 'new stadium near the Legends' crowd. Or wherever it will need to go to get the kind of revenue that would make building a true state of the art stadium worthwhile for Hunt and the residents of wherever it's gonna go...
I expect that means a dome for a future SB or other events. And I hate that. So my compromise would be one where there are rules in place for when the roof can be used. I can't recall which stadium did that, but there's a baseball stadium somewhere that has it written into the lease that the roof cannot be closed on days where the weather is between X and Y degrees and there's no rain.
Would I miss the snow games? Yeah. Would I miss rain and frigid cold? No, not really. And again, that's going to mean a hell of a lot more revenue and thus more willingness by Hunt to pull out some of the stops and make this a stadium worthy of replacing an icon.
What I don't want to see is what the Cardinals did in STL. They tore down Busch II and replaced it with a generic retro ballpark that just isn't special in any way because they did it on the cheap. Man I'd hate to see that (and I worry that's what's in store for Kaufman, which is just an incredible place to catch a baseball game to this day. They're going to replace it with something that isn't as good)
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This is exactly the kind of well-thought out, well-written post that I’m going for, and most of my thoughts on this align with DJ. Though I’d like to know DJ’s ideas for what he wants out of a baseball stadium.
When TSC was built, it was unique and without equal. It was a big idea that has paid off quite well.
And I think it’s time for the next big thing to be done. Something that we won’t have to revisit again for at least the next 40 years.
Don’t really care where it is, as long as it’s within the KC Metro area, but I think it’s time for a new Arrowhead with a retractable roof, something that could perhaps encourage a Super Bowl or NCAA Men’s Basketball Finals, or any other massive event that could bring out of town dollars to KC anytime of the year.
But I don’t wanna see it trend in the current direction of losing 15,000 seats. The new retractable roof stadium should incorporate everything about our past with a clear vision of the future and include 70,000 seats. Something unique but not stupid or anything that will be an eyesore after the latest trend wears out. Encourage more tailgating at the stadium by giving groups their own lanes, and perhaps even a section for those who don’t even intend on going in for the game. I know certain Chiefs fans and tailgating is their religion. Plus it’s just known nationally about KC Chiefs games and tailgating. Encourage it and perhaps create a better version of it.
Should go without saying, but if you’re going forward with a brand new retractable Arrowhead, you’re gonna go big on all the required facilities to make it THE cutting edge and most enjoyable, comfortable, welcoming place for the players, fans and media. Eight games are guaranteed every year, and every game should be unforgettable. I think a brand new Arrowhead could exist at the current location. Anytime I’ve ever driven past TSC on 70, I always take a look at that beautiful crown KC Royals scoreboard. In the future, I’d like to see that crown replaced with a massive arrowhead signage or scoreboard piece on the brand new football field, with all the other facilities and accoutrement where the existing Arrowhead stands. Or, in Kansas near the raceway. Hundreds of acres to buy and build whatever.
As for baseball, I’d like to see the Royals get closer to downtown KC, if not downtown proper. Gotta keep the iconic fountains and crown scoreboard in some version. Those two things alone make Kauffman iconic and stand out. I’ve been to a lot of places and whenever I’ve sat down in a bar and a game at Kauffman is on, regardless of how the team is doing, everyone knows the game is in KC and there’s usually a lot of comments about how lovely it is. It’s just one of those great things they got right 50 years ago, and improved upon it with the renovations 15 years ago. No fountains, no crown scoreboard? Go **** yourself. Start over dickwad.
Plop Kauffman down in downtown and I’d be okay with that, but realistically, the facade could be prettier and more interesting. I guess a lot of Crossroads people hate the idea of a ballpark landing in “their” neighborhood, but I personally think it could be great, and it would immediately turn into KC’s version of Wrigleyville. I think the ballpark should remain about the same size, capacity-wise, hopefully not going below 35/36,000.
I personally like the configurations of the current field. Big outfield, decent sized foul territory. If you have good pitching and good defense, this place will favor you, and I like having a home field advantage if we can create a team to align with what could give us an edge. I’m okay with a more neutral ballpark. Just please god, no cracker box home run derby ballpark.
Wouldn’t mind seeing a more wrap-around look on one side of the seating, with perhaps even an old-school overhang. If that makes sense.
One cool thing about the current K is the Little K, and I don’t even have kids, but I know a lot of people love having something like that for the little ones, and I’m not sure what or how to include something like that to a new downtown ballpark where space will likely be quite limited. Tailgating is in the same boat. Sorry gang, that will probably go bye-bye with a downtown park, and hopefully the economic impact of 20 tailgaters for every 81 games doesn’t hurt the bottom line.
Oh, and figure out parking and make it a clear part of any future presentation, because god knows, KC doesn’t know what to do if they don’t have a place to easily park their car. Blows my mind, but whatever, it’s a weird KC thing, kinda like my mother and her little peccadillos. She’s 82, but I get it. If you’ve gotta dig 500 feet below the ballpark to deliver the world’s most ridiculous parking garage, ****ing do it.
I guess that’s enough for now.
Jesus…. This post reads like a psycho.