that’s one of the reasons Top Golf put a location on the city, because the Chesterfield location was too far from 900,000 people in Metro East. How’s that working out?- 733
that’s one of the reasons Top Golf put a location on the city, because the Chesterfield location was too far from 900,000 people in Metro East. How’s that working out?- 6,119
Getting back to the Armory . . .
I see I failed to realize that there is collegiate hockey outside the NCAA. And NCAA hockey looks . . . kind of irrelevant, honestly, it's so small. Looks to me as though the NCAA has pretty much lost that sport, the ACHA appears to be much healthier and has most of the local schools. (Including SLU, Maryville, Wash U., Edwardsville, McKendree . . . ) They have tournaments, four divisions, all your usual NCAA trappings, except there's actually enough schools for competition to matter. And honestly, the NCAA is pretty vile, so if they lose out on hockey I think I'm fine with that.
Anyway, hockey may not be the only solution, but I can easily believe it could be part of the solution. There's clearly a demand for rinks around town and a rink at the Armory could host games from a variety of schools that would be closer, including colleges like SLU and Wash U and quite a lot of high schools. There's clearly demand, seeing as we keep building more rinks and they keep getting booked up. Would it be practical in that building? Maybe not. Would it pay for the building alone? Clearly not. But if there's a way to make it work that doesn't break the bank it could be a part of the equation.
I see I failed to realize that there is collegiate hockey outside the NCAA. And NCAA hockey looks . . . kind of irrelevant, honestly, it's so small. Looks to me as though the NCAA has pretty much lost that sport, the ACHA appears to be much healthier and has most of the local schools. (Including SLU, Maryville, Wash U., Edwardsville, McKendree . . . ) They have tournaments, four divisions, all your usual NCAA trappings, except there's actually enough schools for competition to matter. And honestly, the NCAA is pretty vile, so if they lose out on hockey I think I'm fine with that.
Anyway, hockey may not be the only solution, but I can easily believe it could be part of the solution. There's clearly a demand for rinks around town and a rink at the Armory could host games from a variety of schools that would be closer, including colleges like SLU and Wash U and quite a lot of high schools. There's clearly demand, seeing as we keep building more rinks and they keep getting booked up. Would it be practical in that building? Maybe not. Would it pay for the building alone? Clearly not. But if there's a way to make it work that doesn't break the bank it could be a part of the equation.
I live in U city and the chesterfield one is too far away.whitherSTL wrote: ↑Oct 09, 2024⬆ that’s one of the reasons Top Golf put a location on the city, because the Chesterfield location was too far from 900,000 people in Metro East. How’s that working out?
- 925
Well, I think the idea DB is presenting is that the hockey concept doesn’t necessarily pay for the building. The Blues would be taking over the property to have their practice arena and training ground at the Armory, along with a Blues hall of fame/fan experience open to the public. High school, college, Blues developmental youth leagues, tournaments would take place at the “Blues Hall of Fame Ice Rink”. Heck, the Blues could play 1 home game a year with as an experience game in an intimate setting that we now see a lot in pro sports as some kind of ode to the Arena/Checkerdome (the Armory structure actually has a similar vibe to the old arena).symphonicpoet wrote: ↑Oct 09, 2024Getting back to the Armory . . .
I see I failed to realize that there is collegiate hockey outside the NCAA. And NCAA hockey looks . . . kind of irrelevant, honestly, it's so small. Looks to me as though the NCAA has pretty much lost that sport, the ACHA appears to be much healthier and has most of the local schools. (Including SLU, Maryville, Wash U., Edwardsville, McKendree . . . ) They have tournaments, four divisions, all your usual NCAA trappings, except there's actually enough schools for competition to matter. And honestly, the NCAA is pretty vile, so if they lose out on hockey I think I'm fine with that.
Anyway, hockey may not be the only solution, but I can easily believe it could be part of the solution. There's clearly a demand for rinks around town and a rink at the Armory could host games from a variety of schools that would be closer, including colleges like SLU and Wash U and quite a lot of high schools. There's clearly demand, seeing as we keep building more rinks and they keep getting booked up. Would it be practical in that building? Maybe not. Would it pay for the building alone? Clearly not. But if there's a way to make it work that doesn't break the bank it could be a part of the equation.
So the Blues buy the space and use it for their training purposes supplemented with revenue producing experiences like a hall of fame and ceremonial games/tournaments. Just like Centene Ice Community Center in Maryland Heights but with an added Blues fan experience/hall of fame since it is close to Enterprise Center.
At least how I understand it, and I think that would be awesome.
- 952
Blues center is a great idea but who pays for the transformation and and on going upkeep?
Enterprise?
Will they (Enterprise) want to take this on considering at some point updates/upgrades will be needed for the present Enterprise center?
Enterprise?
Will they (Enterprise) want to take this on considering at some point updates/upgrades will be needed for the present Enterprise center?
How about the Blues because they didn't pay anything for arena improvements. Right? Plus then they get to tout philanthropic ventures like growing the sport of hockey in the City of St. Louis, a largely underrepresented population in the sport.chris fuller wrote: ↑Oct 09, 2024Blues center is a great idea but who pays for the transformation and and on going upkeep?
Enterprise?
Will they (Enterprise) want to take this on considering at some point updates/upgrades will be needed for the present Enterprise center?
- 1,607
Arent the Blues in a brand new practice facility in Maryland heights?
- 733
Yes, like 3rd season. But don’t let that obstruct out city dreams….
Correct. And it's a loss leader at this point.TheWayoftheArch_V2.0 wrote: ↑Oct 09, 2024Arent the Blues in a brand new practice facility in Maryland heights?
The Blues paid part while the City paid for most of the renovations. But the City paid for the renovations because they make healthy profit off the parking which they control. It's a partnership.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Oct 09, 2024How about the Blues because they didn't pay anything for arena improvements. Right? Plus then they get to tout philanthropic ventures like growing the sport of hockey in the City of St. Louis, a largely underrepresented population in the sport.chris fuller wrote: ↑Oct 09, 2024Blues center is a great idea but who pays for the transformation and and on going upkeep?
Enterprise?
Will they (Enterprise) want to take this on considering at some point updates/upgrades will be needed for the present Enterprise center?
Ran a new PlacerAI report on the City Top Golf.
Last 6 months: City location had 221,700 visits and Chesterfield had 325,200 visits.
To DB’s point, a lot of visitor density from Belleville, Collinsville and Edwardsville. But overall the most density of visitors was CWE/Wash U and South City.
As for hockey, I think SLU could just use their own arena for hockey rink should they get serious about the sport. Blues aren’t leaving their new facility out west.
Last 6 months: City location had 221,700 visits and Chesterfield had 325,200 visits.
To DB’s point, a lot of visitor density from Belleville, Collinsville and Edwardsville. But overall the most density of visitors was CWE/Wash U and South City.
As for hockey, I think SLU could just use their own arena for hockey rink should they get serious about the sport. Blues aren’t leaving their new facility out west.
- 9,554
Would be interesting to see chesterfield # pre midtown opening.
I talked to a server at the midtown location who used to work in Chesterfield. They said Chesterfield mostly has stayed the same, maybe a slight drop. Wait times aren’t as long as they used to be.
Switching sports, while probably not a money maker, I think it would be very cool to set up an indoor track in the Armory. The region does not have much in terms of a quality 200m banked indoor facility. While there is not a true high school indoor track season in Missouri, there are many HSer's that could utilize it throughout the winter with meets and practices and there are a lot of collegiate teams in the area that lack good indoor track facilities. I would think you would be able to host meets throughout most of the winter.
A good facility with a banked track would immediately become one of if not the best facilities within an hour or two drive (or farther). Mizzou's track is a flat 200m, I think Principia has one in Illinois, and there are a handful of others options (maybe I'm missing something?), but it would not take much to beat out anything nearby. I think you would ideally pair it with additional fitness facilities in the rest of the space, but my main point is that rather than have the building compete with 10+ other hockey rinks or however many bars or offices, the track facility would have very little competition (although may also not have as much immediate demand either, lol)
A good facility with a banked track would immediately become one of if not the best facilities within an hour or two drive (or farther). Mizzou's track is a flat 200m, I think Principia has one in Illinois, and there are a handful of others options (maybe I'm missing something?), but it would not take much to beat out anything nearby. I think you would ideally pair it with additional fitness facilities in the rest of the space, but my main point is that rather than have the building compete with 10+ other hockey rinks or however many bars or offices, the track facility would have very little competition (although may also not have as much immediate demand either, lol)
- 2,630
I wouldn't be surprised if Bass Pro Shops is on their list of entities to market the building towards
- 2,419
I think that whatever entity that ends up going into the Armory should be something that would be okay with the surface lots near the MetroLink station being developed.
Why is that ?GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Oct 10, 2024I wouldn't be surprised if Bass Pro Shops is on their list of entities to market the building towards
My guess is what they have going on with the Bass Pro in Memphis being a destination. You could do some really cool stuff in that space (retail wise).
Interesting. Bass Pro would be great. Destination that brings people into the City.TRUESONJB wrote: ↑Oct 10, 2024My guess is what they have going on with the Bass Pro in Memphis being a destination. You could do some really cool stuff in that space (retail wise).
- 2,419
Wasn't a brand new, fairly large Bass Pro just built and opened in Sunset Hills?
I'm not sure Bass Pro would go for this, though I'm not opposed.
I'm not sure Bass Pro would go for this, though I'm not opposed.
Yes.RockChalkSTL wrote: ↑Oct 10, 2024Wasn't a brand new, fairly large Bass Pro just built and opened in Sunset Hills?
I'm not sure Bass Pro would go for this, though I'm not opposed.
- 925
Since Bass Pro is based in Missouri, I could actually see them taking a look. Would certainly be an advertisement opportunity on top of sales for them. Not likely a strong market amongst city residents for their goods but the location would be squarely off of 40/64 for interstate travelers and rather central for the greater metro as a whole.STLAPTS wrote: ↑Oct 10, 2024Interesting. Bass Pro would be great. Destination that brings people into the City.
There was an impact. It was top 3 busiest TopGolf’s in the country. But it has dropped a bit down the rankings.
- 2,630
It would be a tourist play like the Memphis Pyramid for sure. I would prefer another use but I could see it happening. That surface lot would definitely be staying though.
I also like the idea of a massive 80s style hotel event/conference center being built in the surface lot. Being such an isolated and blocked off area, it would actually make sense here. Easy airport and downtown connection via metrolink + the pedestrian viaduct could funnel guests right into the Foundry
I also like the idea of a massive 80s style hotel event/conference center being built in the surface lot. Being such an isolated and blocked off area, it would actually make sense here. Easy airport and downtown connection via metrolink + the pedestrian viaduct could funnel guests right into the Foundry
- 2,419
If I could, I'm pretty sure I would nix any use that wants to keep that surface parking lot right next to the MetroLink station.
But I don't think I'll have to worry about that.
I don't see any major retailer wanting down there as it is currently, to be honest. It's kind of a pain to get to the Armory.
Unless the Armory becomes housing itself, I think any use, especially quasi-tourism-based retail, is going to need a residential/multi-use component, better connection to MetroLink, and to the Foundry (which is coming for pedestrians).
I don't know how they make it easier to get there by car. I sure don't want new spiral ramps coming off the Grand viaduct.
Sent from my Pixel 8a using Tapatalk
But I don't think I'll have to worry about that.
I don't see any major retailer wanting down there as it is currently, to be honest. It's kind of a pain to get to the Armory.
Unless the Armory becomes housing itself, I think any use, especially quasi-tourism-based retail, is going to need a residential/multi-use component, better connection to MetroLink, and to the Foundry (which is coming for pedestrians).
I don't know how they make it easier to get there by car. I sure don't want new spiral ramps coming off the Grand viaduct.
Sent from my Pixel 8a using Tapatalk