Jeriat

 

Video on the Gateway Park Masterplan:

I like the plan but to compare this to Golden Gate Park or Central Park is ludicrous.

 

 

It's just a size comparison to give you an idea how much land there is available for this.

 

Would really love to see it updated and turned into a minor league soccer stadium that could possible draw an MLS team in the future.

I'd echo that but substitute w/ MLS team after a USL team for a bit.

 

I want MLS... but realistically, it would need to be the USL Championship team that we've BEEN TALKING ABOUT, first.

Kinda worried that Mansfield is going to end up getting it. 

Funding, and getting the council on board with that, will be a big topic still (when isn't it?).

 

There's two more council seats that didn't exist last time. Assuming the scope of the rail project is fairly confined to existing urban areas (Near Southside, West 7th, Panther Island, Stockyards and Downtown) the whole system is in two districts, 9 and 2, and maybe a sliver of 3 if it gets into the Cultural District/Dickies Arena. Voters and representatives from District 10 are going to get 0 perceived benefit from a central city investment. Some sort of localized funding mechanism, federal or state grants, or something that is coming from a bigger pool is going to be important in getting anything done IMO. 

That is a concern of mine, as well, but if this is starting off as something for tourism and economic development, I'd expect a bit more leaning towards making it happen, with some promise of future expansion. 

Of course, that last part is the optimist in me. 
 

 

 

I'm ONLY giving them the benefit of a doubt because it's a younger council overall...

But, as usual, I won't get my hopes up until it happens. 

 

 

Not only is the council younger, but the political makeup of the council has shifted since the last time. Although the council is supposed to be non-partisan, we don't live in that fantasy world. The previous council that rejected the streetcar was decidedly "right" and wanted to show Washington where they could stick their tax dollars. Washington was only to happy to then stick those funds in Dallas which has resulted in a multi million dollar explosion of growth in Oak Cliff. They certainly showed them!

With the progressive lean of our current council, things like Transit will certainly get more consideration than previous attempts. I'm frankly surprised the Mayor initiated this committee, but as pointed out previously, this was probably actually done at the request of the usual power brokers in the City who now see a benefit to their holdings. 

 

One final thought: That's a huge committee. I hope they can actually get something done.

 

Honestly, I try not to comment on the political side of things with this town. Although, I always make sure to note that Fort Worth isn't this right-wing paradise that people tried to make it out to be during the 2020 Presidential Debates.

It could be seen as progressive, but it could also simply just be them seeing the writing on the wall... Fort Worth isn't a small city anymore and not going to start shrinking any time soon. We HAVE to start adapting to the growth we're seeing, and this is a small part of it. 

I want to be encouraged, but the cynic in me says 1. how are the people that helped the mayor get elected going to feel about this and 2. insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

I'm ONLY giving them the benefit of a doubt because it's a younger council overall...

But, as usual, I won't get my hopes up until it happens. 

 

 

 

FW has never really supported any of the teams they do get.  

The Cats were supported for decades... they're not here anymore because the owner decided to pack up and abandon everything instead of finding a new league.
The Vaqueros, despite being a small, bottom of the pyramid team has had support and been around for about a decade.

So that's not true 

 
 
Believe me, I wish we had better fandom but I am only going what I have experienced growing up and living here.  These are my cases for why I say we don't support our teams.
 
Fort Worth Cavalry (Arena Football) - 1 year
Fort Worth Flyers (NBADL) - 2 years
Fort Worth Fire (CHL) - 7 years
Panther City Lacrosse (NLL) - 2 years and current
 
All these teams had/have the lowest average attendance for their respective leagues.  That, to me, speaks volumes about the city's fanbase.  

- An Arena League team in the early 90s, when the league wasn't as profitable. 
- Minor league with poor ownership 
- Minor league 
- Niche Sport...

 
 

Actually the Arena League is still going on and was in full swing in it's popularity when they came to FW.  I went to the inaugural season so I'm not just speculating, however it was low attendance that drew them away.
 
So you said I was wrong about FW supporting hometown teams.  So with your response to my examples about them being minor league or niche teams where are you getting the numbers to prove that I am wrong?  I'm not trying to create an argument I am just trying to see if I am missing something.

1. This is NOT the same Arena League from that era. It shut down sometime around the 2010s and just came back this past week... it didn't start off very well.

2.Yeah, I said you were wrong about Fort Worth never supporting its teams and I have you examples of the ones that were.

I said a lot more, earlier.