197 replies to this topic

[cityboi]

The first concert at the White Oak Amphitheatre is a success. The Beach Boys performed Sunday

http://www.digtriad....s-First-Concert

[cityboi]

Another national swimming event planned for the Greensboro Aquatic Center. This means two national championships will now be held at the venue next year.

http://www.news-reco..._event_thursday

[cityboi]

more on the YMCA nationals

http://www.news-reco...g_to_greensboro

[citykidd]

cityboi, on 24 May 2009 - 02:53 PM, said:

Here is the thing. I wanted both the swim center and ACC hall downtown. But even though they arent going to be downtown, im still excited about both projects because they are worthwhile for our community. I agree that city leaders dont focus on downtown as they should. It takes groups like DGI and Action Greensboro to make things happen downtown. City leaders need to have a "Charlotte" mindset in this case. Downtown should be the the city's hub for cultural and recreational attractions such as the swim center. There is enough hotel rooms in the downtown area for a swim center. If you'll notice the strongest and most prosperous cities have a strong and vibrant downtown that is "THE" commercial, cultural, recreational and entertainment hub of the city, not commercial strips like High Point Rd or airport areas.

Agreed. Greensboro biggest downfall is that it has many great qualities and assets, but they are scattered throughout the entire city which in turns causes the city to compete against itself.

[cityboi]

Exterior of the Greensboro Aquatic Center is almost complete. I'm happy to see that the top white portion is not corrugated metal like in a few of the renderings. That would have made it look cheap.

Edited by cityboi, 26 July 2011 - 10:54 AM.

[twincity]

Congrats on landing the 'Watch the Throne' tour!  GSO is the only stop between VA and SC.

[cityboi]

twincity, on 26 July 2011 - 09:48 AM, said:

Congrats on landing the 'Watch the Throne' tour!  GSO is the only stop between VA and SC.

Coliseum manager Matt Brown has done a wonderful job managing the coliseum and recruiting concerts and big events at the coliseum. He deserves a lot of credit luring the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships to Greensboro and a number of other national sporting championships are coming soon. He was the driving force behind all the construction we are seeing at the coliseum and it appears as though the amphitheatre and aquatic center are going to be a huge success. Finally we may actually see the coliseum making money for the city instead of losing money. Its not an easy thing to do with a complex this large without a major league sports team as a tenant. We haven't seen the last of construction at the coliseum. Future plans, some long term, include adding 2,000 more permanent seats to the main arena (total of 25,500 seats), expansion of the ACC Hall of Champions (more than tripling the current size) and finally city leaders would like to see a large 4 star hotel (400 to 500 rooms) built in the coliseum complex, possibly attached to the coliseum. Then there is still the question about renovating War Memorial auditorium at the coliseum or building a downtown concert hall/performance arts center.

Edited by cityboi, 26 July 2011 - 11:14 AM.

[cityboi]

Fox 8 on the Aquatic Center

http://www.myfox8.co...0,1510814.story

[cityboi]

Greensboro Aquatic Center steals swim meet away from the Triangle.

The YMCA of the Triangle Area Swim Team has announced the 19th Annual TYR Capital Classic will move to the Greensboro Aquatic Center in December.

http://www.news-reco...s_triangle_meet

Edited by cityboi, 27 July 2011 - 12:40 PM.

[cityboi]

Once again Greensboro lives up to its name as "Tournament Town". At tonight's ribbon cutting ceremony for the Greensboro Aquatic Center, USA Synchro has announced that Greensboro will host the 2011 United States Synchronized Swimming Olympic Trials from Nov. 11-14, 2011. This will be the third national swimming event at the Aquatic center. Greensboro will also host the 2012 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals, YMCA Nationals and a host of regional championships (over 40 events so far!).

"The USA Synchro four-day event will feature America's elite athletes competing for a spot on the 2012 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Olympic Team that will head to London for the 2012 Summer Olympic games."

http://www.news-reco...tails_developin

Greensboro has always been a tournament town, but in the past Greensboro was only known for hosting the ACC Tournament and PGA golf (although Greensboro did host the 1974 Final Four basketball championship). Greensboro hosted the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and now these major national swimming championships. The city is starting to expand to other sports.. I would like to see the city seek other sports as well. The sports community here in Greensboro should try to land bowling. I would love to see Greensboro as one of the host cities on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. Those tournaments are covered an ESPN and would bring even more national attention to Greensboro. First we need a bowling stadium Maybe coliseum manager Matt Brown can build us one at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Greensboro really needs to build on its reputation as tournament town. The Gate City has found its niche in professional sports. We can't support a major league sports team but we can support many major sport tournaments that would bring just as much national attention to the city.

also here is a photo of the White Oak Amphitheater at the Greensboro Coliseum. The amphitheater includes fix seats and lawn seating. The seating capacity is almost 8,000

courtesy of Greensboro Daily Photo

Edited by cityboi, 26 August 2011 - 07:45 AM.

[cityboi]

sneak peak inside the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) at  the Greensboro Coliseum. At over 78,000 feet, The Greensboro Aquatics Center is now the state's large Aquatic Center, topping the Triangle Aquatics Center (TAC) near Raleigh. TAC was the state's largest with 72,000 square feet. TAC seats about 1,000 and GAC seats over 2,500. The size of GAC is one reason a Triangle base swim competition is moving from Raleigh to Greensboro. I'm just waiting for Charlotte to top Greensboro's facility. Charlotte's current facility was built in 1991 and is outdated. The Queen City is due for a new Aquatics Center and you can bet it would be larger than Greensboro's.

Edited by cityboi, 26 August 2011 - 08:26 AM.

[citykidd]

What is Greensboro afraid of? Success? Why does the city keep building venues far flung across the city and not downtown?

[cityboi]

citykidd, on 24 September 2011 - 04:42 PM, said:

What is Greensboro afraid of? Success? Why does the city keep building venues far flung across the city and not downtown?

The biggest mistake city leaders made was not building the coliseum downtown in the late 1950s. In fact the plan was to build the Greensboro Coliseum downtown which was very forward thinking for the times. However neighbors in the downtown area fought the idea of a downtown coliseum and they ended up building it two miles west of downtown on Lee Street. I do get why they built the aquatic center at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex but yes it would have been great to have one downtown. In the late 1990s it was on a referendum to build a downtown aquatic center but voters turned it down. The only reason it passed several years ago was because the aquatic center was lumped with a parks and recreation bond. City taxpayers usually supports park bonds. I'll admit it was a sly way to get voters to vote for the aquatic center

Edited by cityboi, 28 September 2011 - 06:08 AM.

[cityboi]

The Greensboro Aquatic Center at the Coliseum has landed another national championship.
The 2012 AT&T National Diving Championships will be coming to Greensboro. The competition is scheduled for Aug. 14-19 and will be televised nationally. The event will take place on the same week as the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship, which is Aug. 16-19 in Greensboro. That means two major sporting events in Greensboro will be televised nationally at the same time. The 2011 National Diving Championships were held in Los Angeles. the U.S. Aquatic Sports Convention will be held in Greensboro in September according to the 2012 schedule on the website.

http://www.news-reco...g_to_greensboro

http://www.usadiving...ts/calendar.htm

Schedule:

AUGUST
2-4 USA Diving Age Group National Championships [Greensboro, NC]
5-10 USA Diving Junior National Championships [Greensboro, NC]
14-19 AT&T National Diving Championships [Greensboro, NC]

September
9-16 U.S. Aquatic Sports Convention [Greensboro, NC]

Edited by cityboi, 18 October 2011 - 12:51 PM.

[cityboi]

Greensboro Aquatics Center lands ACC diving and swim championships for 2013, 2014 and 2016.

http://www.news-reco...e_championships

Edited by cityboi, 07 November 2011 - 08:39 PM.

[cityboi]

The Greensboro Coliseum debt is paid off and now city leaders are planning further improvements to the coliseum complex. The seat cushions in the main arena would be replaced along with upgrades to the luxury box seats. More parking will be added but the largest project would be a new performing arts center at the coliseum. This would not be a renovation of War Memorial Auditorium but a new center built on the coliseum complex grounds. The performing arts center would cost $60 million. This of course will kill all hopes for a downtown performing arts center. Most of this would be paid for through the motel/hotel tax and private donations. The renovations and performing arts center would be completed by 2014.

http://triad.news14....es-to-coliseum/

http://www.digtriad....dyssey=obinsite

Edited by cityboi, 11 January 2012 - 11:39 AM.

[cityboi]

Looks like some are pushing for a downtown performance arts center instead. Mayor Perkins says there is no land or parking for a downtown location but I disagree. The Weaver property (old Duke Power site) was "land banked" for development and is next to the Children's Museum in the cultural district. The Church Street parking deck is also across the street from the site so this would be the perfect location for a performing arts center. I prefer a downtown location. There is enough stuff at the coliseum already. Downtown is better because many people like to dine before or after a show and with all the downtown restaurants within walking distance, its a no brainer. A downtown facility would attract more downtown development. There clearly are two separate factions in Greensboro on this subject. The coliseum boosters and the downtown boosters. Action Greensboro has a downtown performance arts center in its comprehensive plan. I am a Robbie Perkins supporter but I am disappointed in his lack of vision on this particular issue. There is no rush. Do it right and build a downtown performance arts center the whole community can be proud of. I'm sure private donors and a developer using a center like this as a project anchor can come up with the funds. I'd rather wait 8 years to come up with private funds for a downtown facilty than build a facility next year at the coilseum.

http://www.myfox8.co...0,1097762.story

Edited by cityboi, 13 January 2012 - 12:01 PM.

[cityboi]

Coliseum director pitches $60 million in projects in bonds at the coliseum, half of which would go towards a new performing arts center. This will require voter approval and I will be voting no. The performing arts center belongs downtown and i'm tired of our short sighted city leaders always building venues that belongs downtown elsewhere in the city. It also irks me that a few people seem to be making the decision that this venue should be built at the coliseum. Action Greensboro and Downtown Greensboro Inc. have been talking about a downtown performing arts center for a number of years now and city leaders should be backing that plan. Let the private sector build this facility.

http://www.news-reco...nsboro_coliseum

Edited by cityboi, 19 January 2012 - 09:36 AM.

[cityboi]

Looks like the city will vote on a bond in November for a performing arts center. After outcry from the public, city leaders are looking to build it downtown. However the city projects it will cost an additional $20 to $30 million to put it downtown and that additional cost will have to be picked up by the private sector, donations ect. Coliseum manager Matt Brown would still run the center if it is built downtown. If built downtown, the center could cost as much as $72 million.

http://www.news-reco...d_vote_on_table

Hopefully Mr. Issac Cain can help build it privately. Such a center is part of the "Greensboro Triumph Center". Such a center would be great for downtown. Imagine attracting broadway shows, famous hollywood personalities and well known music artists to the center-city. These acts currently come to the War Memorial Auditorium at the coliseum but lately new performing arts centers in cities such as Durham have been luring events away from Greensboro.


Performing Arts Center at the Greensboro Triumph Center
http://www.greensbor...ifications.html

Edited by cityboi, 25 January 2012 - 07:23 AM.

[cityboi]

Coliseum Director Matt Brown can be credited for the ACC Hall of Champions, ACC Banquet hall, the aquatic center and the amphitheater at the coliseum. While he would prefer the performing arts center be constructed at the coliseum, he admits a few downtown sites would be the right fit for a larger 3,600 seat facility. If its built at that size, it would be the largest performing arts center in the Carolinas. Durham's performing arts center only seats 2,712. Charlotte's performing arts center seats 2,100. Having the largest facility in the state would make Greensboro more competitive in attracting many events.

I disagree with Matt Brown in regards to the performing arts center being built at the coliseum but I will say Matt Brown has done a great job attracting new venues at the coliseum. He stated that there is more planned for the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Of course two of the plans is to build a large parking structure attached to the coliseum and add an additional 2,000 seats to the main arena giving the coliseum a seating capacity of 25,500. By comparison, the seating capacity at the RBC Center in Raleigh is 20,150 and Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte is 20,200. But Matt Brown has even bigger visions for the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The plans? an on site 4-star hotel at the coliseum, converting the old Canada Dry building on the coliseum property into an entertainment venue, another indoor sports facility, an outdoor sports complex at the coliseum that would include soccer fields and a football stadium where Greensboro could host the state high school championships and other major football games. Currently Kenan Stadium, Carter-Finley Field and BB&T Field host these championship games.  I'm not exactly sure how big the football stadium would be. Maybe he is hoping to attract the ACC football championship. Greensboro might have a difficult time competing with Charlotte, Tampa and Jacksonville for the ACC football championship because those stadiums seat between 65,000 and 76,000. I can't imagine a football stadium that large being built at the coliseum.  But it would be nice to see Greensboro have a new state-of-the-art football stadium. The largest football stadium in the city is Aggie Stadium at NC A&T. Its not a very good looking stadium. While it has a seating capacity of 23,000, its a bleacher styled stadium and doesn't really have any external architecture. Although they are constructing a exterior new entrance and press box.

Aggie Stadium

Edited by cityboi, 09 March 2012 - 12:48 PM.