8 replies to this topic

[eastsider]

A former owner of the Dallas Stars has a new proposal for a 7,000-seat arena in Cedar Park. No details have been released yet, but Norman Greene will address the CP city council tonight. It is likely that a hockey team will be a tennant of the new arena, possibly the Austin Ice Bats.

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This will be the fourth time Cedar Park has considered an events center. Last year's failed multipurpose events center would have been home to the Ice Bats, who now plan to move to Chaparral Ice in North Austin. Voters approved $30.8 million in bonds for the events center in February 2005, but the city killed the $38 million deal last July in the face of rising costs and missed deadlines with its private partner, Global Entertainment Corp. The bonds have not been issued. Lemon said that he is not in favor of any issue that would require the use of the bonds.

In 2002, voters defeated a $8.6 million bond package to construct a $32 million ice rink and amphitheater for a proposed minor-league offshoot of the Dallas Stars. After the Ice Bats proposal, a consultant hired by the city recommended in November that Cedar Park build a 12,500-seat sports arena at a cost of $75 million — or nearly four times the city's entire annual budget.

At that point, the City Council decided to stop soliciting arena proposals, and instead wait for proposals to come to them. Green is the first to bring a proposal to the city.

Austin American-Statesman: Cedar Park gets new arena proposal

Edited by eastsider, 26 May 2006 - 09:42 AM.

[JDawgboy]

What we need is an arena in Austin proper.  Not out in the suburbs.  Always the suburbs seem to be getting whatever minor league teams we have here.  Im just saying its time for Austin to quit using the Frank Erwin Center as the city's Arena because it belongs to UT and we cannot rely on UT forever.  I know its wishful thinking right now but eventually the city of Austin will have to deal with the subject of building a new Arena for the city if we want to get any sports event or even more large concerts to come through the city.

[erdogs]

It's been my experience that cities are reluctant to spend tax money on arenas because they are rarely profitable. Some one will have to come in with a sustantial amount of money for the city to consider it seriously.

[eastsider]

Mr. Green addressed the CP city council last night providing some details of his proposal. It will be located on a 20-acre site at New Hope Rd. and the future 183-A toll road. The final price for the arena was not given, but the city would have to contribute $18 million plus the cost of building roads to the arena.

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In return, Green's company, Dallas Hockey Inc., would assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Cedar Park Entertainment Center, and would receive a dollar-a-year lease from the city for the 20-acre site. It also would keep all profits from the center. After the 30-year lease ended, the ownership and operation of the building automatically would revert to the city.

Austin American-Statesman: Cedar Park gets details of ice hockey arena plan

[eastsider]

This is the presentation given to the Cedar Park city council in the form of a 27 page pdf file. Doesn't have many details, but has some site plans, renderings, etc.


http://www.ci.cedar-.....-06 FINAL.pdf

[eastsider]

The Cedar Park City Council decided to put the decision to use sales tax revenue for the new arena on the Nov. 7 ballot.

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Voters would not be approving a particular project, although the $18 million-plus ice hockey arena that one-time Dallas Stars team owner Norman Green proposed in May could come up again.

A portion of the city's sales taxes goes into a 4A economic development corporation as a way to pay for this type of commercial development.

"If the voters say, 'Let's go forward with 4A,' then great," Powell said. "We'll know exactly what we have to spend."

Austin American-Statesman: Cedar Park voters to decide on entertainment center

[eastsider]

Another proposal for the Cedar Park Entertainment Center has surfaced, this time as the home as an affiliated hockey team of the Dallas Stars.

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The city's 4A Board has received a proposal from James Lites, president of the Dallas Stars and Hicks Sports Marketing Group, to bring the professional hockey team's affiliate farm team, also called the Stars, to Cedar Park. If the city approves the proposal, Dallas-based Hicks Sports Group would operate the entertainment center through its affiliate Center Operating Co.

The proposed arena would cost an estimated $45M and have a minimum of 6,000 seats. It could also open as early as late 2008.

Austin Business Journal: Dallas Stars affiliate proposed for Cedar Park

[Texas Hill Country]

This is done deal and Austin will now have two minor league hockey teams.  What the hell is up with that?  It's so damn hot here.  People here have no use for ice except to put it in ice tea and margaritas.

[SeaToby]

Texas Hill Country, on May 3 2008, 07:55 AM, said:

This is done deal and Austin will now have two minor league hockey teams.  What the hell is up with that?  It's so damn hot here.  People here have no use for ice except to put it in ice tea and margaritas.

No, the Ice Bats shut down, not wishing to compete with an AHL team with the new arena in Cedar Park. One might say Global Entertainment underpriced their arena. The Dallas Stars on the other hand didn't, and offered $12 million in cash to help build the arena, along with any cost overruns. Deal done. While I like the CHL, they missed on this one, paving the way for the AHL to enter. The way I see it, San Antonio and Houston will provide better rivarlies anyway.

Arenas aren't just for ice hockey either. They are great for arena football, indoor soccer, basketball, gymnastics, indoor lacrosse; along with rodeos, horse shows, dog shows, circuses; not to mention most imporantly, music concerts of all types, from classical to rock to country. A high school could use an arena for graduation ceremonies and with their annual dance. Much more going on here besides ice hockey.

As for the indoor arena team, they are thinking about moving into this new arena, even though its smaller than the UT basketball arena. Why, suites of course. Whatever revenue in attendance which may be missed will be more than made up with the fact the suites provide guaranteed revenue.