1001 replies to this topic

[BlueMound]

Renovations underway for Cattle Barn 1 and the Poultry Barn
https://www.fwhccpla...ARN RENOVATIONS

[txbornviking]

so this isn't the arena, but it is with the Will Rodgers Complex, can anyone explain to me the open air bard/shed build near Casa Manana a couple years back?

[JBB]

Multipurpose open air arena for equestrian events.  It was used as covered parking during the last Stock Show I went to in 2017.  It might get used for equestrian events during other times of the year.

[txbornviking]

Multipurpose open air arena for equestrian events.  It was used as covered parking during the last Stock Show I went to in 2017.  It might get used for equestrian events during other times of the year.

 

Yea, the covered parking is what I've seen several times as well. Seemed an odd use to me. And an open air arena seemed odd too as there are already multiple covered equestrian venues on-site.

 

oh well.

[tamtagon]

Upgrading and expanding the whole Will Rogers Complex - Dickie's being the first significant component in decades - is just the beginning the generation of consistent and extensive growth to the urban topography in Fort Worth.  Scaling and modernizing the Will Rogers Complex to accommodate 2.5-3 million Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo visits represents the safest possible investment. The new arena was expensive but I think will actually pay for itself without heavily relying on algorithmic multipliers to show economic impact.

 

The potential for what's considered Downtown Fort Worth is hard to overstate (...and I sure can enjoy the hyperbole but seems diminishing if to heaped it on in this instance). The real estate between the CBD and Cultural District will not be recognizable in 20 years, this whole swath will be "Downtown". Firm view corridors boundaries are critical in shaping the area. The CBD impact will reach river, augment the view from Amon Carter's lawn, and the view will be nicely framed    

[Austin55]

Here's some sections and plans I've come across

 

 

 

 

[Dylan]

These diagrams are pretty neat. They make me feel a little bit less frustrated about the size of our arena.

[JBB]

No surprise given the architect, but I couldn't help but notice that the concourse layout is very similar to the AAC.

[Jeriat]

These diagrams are pretty neat. They make me feel a little bit less frustrated about the size of our arena.

 

...I still wish capacity was an extra 2k, though. 

[Austin55]

Keller will use the arena for graduations.

[John T Roberts]

I was downtown briefly yesterday and on my return to the office, I noticed the ridge truss is now being installed that will connect the roof members together.

[Austin55]

Neat view of the pavilion building 

 

https://twitter.com/...048000262156288

[Now in Denton]

^^^Nice

[johnfwd]

Photographers, the exterior is just about finished.

[JBB]

I noticed today that the east side only has one section of roof material left to install before it is completely covered.  I assume that there's another layer of roof material going on top of this since the renderings show a white roof and the current material is dark (could be painted, I suppose).  There's also a gap left to be filled in with a brick wall between the seating bowl and the roof structure.

 

Maybe it's just me, but the brick going up looks more dark red than the tan color brick in the renderings.

[Austin55]

Had it's topping out ceremony today.

[renamerusk]

Wow. It is amazing, awesome, mind blowing just how much is coming to fruition for Fort Worth this year - Tarrant Express Rail, D.A, FTW, High rise Residential!

 

Really exciting times.

[panthercity]

Had it's topping out ceremony today.

https://www.google.c...e213604614.html

Looking good, hopefully it will attract events year round!

[tamtagon]

Wow. It is amazing, awesome, mind blowing just how much is coming to fruition for Fort Worth this year - Tarrant Express Rail, D.A, FTW, High rise Residential!

 

Really exciting times.

 

What's mind blowing is that it's just now happening, about a generation behind if you ask me!!! haha

 

groovey

cool

gnarly

dope

[renamerusk]

 

Wow. It is amazing, awesome, mind blowing just how much is coming to fruition for Fort Worth this year - Tarrant Express Rail, D.A, FTW, High rise Residential!

 

What's mind blowing is that it's just now happening, about a generation behind if you ask me!!! haha      groovey cool gnarly dope

 

  Yeah, one would think that, sooner or later, it would come about..though there has been plentiful skepticism.

[John T Roberts]

Here's the construction photo taken yesterday, June 24, 2018 from the northwest.

 

[Austin55]

I love how the building looks at night. The cranes look light the building as if alien ships are abducting it. The building is flying along and looking great!

 

 

[renamerusk]

Dickie Arena - FYI

 

FWBP - http://www.fortworth...d5f25cccfa.html

[Doohickie]

That article gets me pumped up:  President and General Manager from the Wells Fargo Center in Philly?  Operations Manager from Soldier Filed in Chicago?  Food and Beverage Director from Honda Center in Anaheim?  That's big league talent.  I hope they're successful.

 

I know there's the deadspot during the Stock Show, but I'd love to see women's hockey or indoor lacrosse or some other team sport there.  It would be very cool.  Maybe while the stock show is in town they do a few games at the AAC in Dallas to introduce there what's going on in Ft Worth to the people at the eastern end of the Metroplex.

[Austin55]

The AHL's Rampage have the same issue, they just go on a month long road trip.

[Doohickie]

Yeah, not totally out of the question.

[Jeriat]

If the San Antonio Spurs can go on a "Rodeo Road Trip" every season, then a minor league team should have no problem with that at all. 

[renamerusk]

....I know there's the deadspot during the Stock Show, but I'd love to see women's hockey or indoor lacrosse or some other team sport there.  It would be very cool.  Maybe while the stock show is in town they do a few games at the AAC in Dallas to introduce there what's going on in Ft Worth to the people at the eastern end of the Metroplex.

 

I will continue to be an outlier, maybe the sole one, who thinks that the best return on the arena is for 80% or more of the scheduled events to be the kind of events that bring an infusion of out of town money. 

 

An infusion of out of town money (OTM) circulates in the local economy as hotel nights, restaurants and food service sells, retail receipts and visits to local attractions (museums, Downtown, Stockyards, FWZoo,).  Local sport teams do not generate substantial infusion of OTM; instead, teams compete with money that locals would otherwise spend at restaurants and other establishments.  Austin, Texas has the state's strongest per capita infusion of OTM because it schedules 100's of small, medium and large meetings/conventions annually resulting in a robust hospitality sector, a growing airport, etc. Austin accomplishes this without a local sport team.

 

An occasional concert, circus, etc should be offered to local residents, but the goal of the arena should be to import dollars into the local economy rather than to take existing dollars and shift them within the local economy.

[txbornviking]

This certainly seems promising:

 

"Homan said his goal is to keep the arena booked with at least 140 events a year..."

http://www.fortworth...d5f25cccfa.html

[Austin55]

Render of the Pavilion

 

[John T Roberts]

That's a nice space.  I look forward to the opening of the entire complex.

[Doohickie]

Fort Worth has a certain style that I quite like.  It's retro and modern, a little bit of Old West and a chunk of Art Deco.

[Austin55]

[Jeriat]

Dickies Arena seat viewer

(It looks like a mini-AAC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jeriat]

[renamerusk]

 

Dickies Arena seat viewer

(It looks like a mini-AAC)

 

 Both American Airlines Center and Dickie's Arena are the works of David Schwarz.

 

 A tale of two cities - the AAC design was not universally liked among some members of the Dallas Council; not modern enough looking; too western. While in Fort Worth, the design of DA is seen as an ideal fit in its neighborhood.

[Doohickie]

The lower seating for basketball looks ugly in the corners.

[Jeriat]

 

 

Dickies Arena seat viewer

(It looks like a mini-AAC)

 

 Both American Airlines Center and Dickie's Arena are the works of David Schwarz.

 

 

I know. That's why I'm not surprised. 

Still wish it was a little bigger, though... or at least built to expand somehow.

[renamerusk]

Still wish it was a little bigger, though... or at least built to expand somehow.

 

 For reference, Fenway Park (Boston) and Wrigley Field (Chicago)  both rank in the top 5 stadiums for total attendance years round. Amenities, closeness to the action are thought to provide for a better fan's experience than the size of the crowd.

 

 Even though the New Globe Life Park will have 9,000 few seats, when it opens, it will likely match or exceed the highest ever attendance for a year by the Arlington parks. 

[JBB]

The idea of wanting it bigger is tied into the idea that they could lure a NBA or NHL tenant later on.  I get it and it's a nice dream, but it's a huge longshot that rarely works.  Major professional franchises want to be in on the planning and splitting of the revenue pie (and public handout) from the beginning.  The arena was built to the specifications of the chief tenant: the rodeo.  For concert capacity, it is going to fill a need that will hopefully help the area pull in shows that have been going to Winstar instead of coming here.  Sure, Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift or Kenny Chesney won't play here in the near future, but U2 played BOK in Tulsa on their most recent tour and it has an end stage capacity of less than 14,000 (and it was probably less than that for U2 since they had an end stage and a satellite stage with a runway in between).

[Austin55]

It's amazing how much of the buildings volume is contained above the top row of seats. Cavernous.

[JBB]

The lower seating for basketball looks ugly in the corners.

That's usually the case in any arena with an elongated shape. The Toyota Center in Houston and the AAC both have similar awkward corners. Round or octagonal arenas like the AT&T Center in San Antonio or Madison Square Garden can eliminate the awkward corner and better orient the seats to point at the court.

[Austin55]

Nice video - clearly trying to sell Fort Worth and the arena.

 

https://twitter.com/...196262498672640

[renamerusk]

I'm gaining appreciation for the size of this arena.... at first I was pretty disappointed it would not hold more people and suitable to NBA or NHL, but I've been warming up to the mid-size arena more and more.

 

 Building an arena suitable to NBA or NHL made no sense for several reasons; but two come to mind immediately:

 

 1. Neither the NBA or NHL would be willing to bisect the established market of two of its current members and drive down their respective value: Mavericks and Stars. The increase cost of pursuing that objective would have been throwing money away instead of using in ways to enhance the arena experience. 

 

2. The arena will have the flexibility to schedule a range of diverse type of entertainment year round and will be able to capture events on nights that have been shut out by the NBA and NHL teams in AA arena.

[JBB]

I noticed yesterday that the white material is starting to go up on the north end of the roof.  The building is going to look pretty sleek when that is finished.

[renamerusk]

Not only could the arena draw more patrons to the area, it could also serve as a catalyst for other development up and down Montgomery Street, much of which was, until recently, lined with industrial buildings......Nearby residents, however, are concerned that a new arena would bring unwanted traffic and noise to their neighborhood, and they want to make their voices heard as plans unfold.

 

...."We understand Montgomery is primed for development," said resident Mike Beaupre. "We want to be a part of the conversation the city has with the

Neighborhood concerns

Residents in an Arlington Heights neighborhood across Montgomery Street from Will Rogers, however, have nervously watched the demolition of familiar businesses along Montgomery Street....."We all recognize that Montgomery is a busy street; it's also an interface and boundary to the neighborhood,"

 

"If the needs of the neighborhood are not addressed, we can be very negatively impacted. It would be very simple to fix if we'd simply sit down and talk to them.""Parking for the new arena would be accessed primarily via University Drive and Montgomery Street, plus a newly realigned Harley Street," he said. "This should effectively reduce the impact on residential neighborhoods to the west....

 

"Montgomery Street wants to be included in the Cultural District," he said. "They should line both sides of Montgomery Street with some kind of activated retail so it's not a parking lot."
 

 

 

  Montgomery Street should be considered a part of the Cultural District.  I understand that the Arlington Heights HOA may want to control development along either sides of Montgomery Street, but the HOA should not be dictating development along this vital corridor.

 

 Perhaps a wall can be erected to shield the neighborhoods that have a physical contact with Montgomery Street. Planners can make the major ingress and egress to these neighborhoods at Lafayette, El Campo and Byers.

[youngalum]

Most of the neighborhood within 6/7 blocks to the west of Montgomery will be redeveloped or torn down in the next 5 years of less

[renamerusk]

Most of the neighborhood within 6/7 blocks to the west of Montgomery will be redeveloped or torn down in the next 5 years of less

 

 I don't foresee that happening. What would be the cost of such buyouts and who would fund those?

 

Instead, I see a wall as a solution, like the one constructed along the path of SH183 through Irving,  that will shield the adjacent neighborhood from commercial development on each side of the freeway.

 

As for as commercial development, any hotel(s) should only be allowed on the east side of Montgomery as a means to protect the privacy of homeowners living right up to the base of the wall. 

[george84]

The empty land just north of the antique mall might be perfect for a hotel. They demolished the building there years ago but nothing has ever happened there.

[roverone]

I thought I saw a plan from long ago that changed the entrance and parking for the Botanic Gardens that subsumed all of that land including the antique mall.