Phillydog

Thanks for engaging -- like I wrote -- Richmond has few peers when it comes to potential. I'm discouraged by the attitude of a lot of the suburbanites toward Rich City. For clarification, the Raleigh -Cary MSA is 1.5 million, Durham-Chapel Hill MSA is 800K. "Raleigh-Durham" was one MSA until 10 years ago before the Census split it which no thinks made sense since the biggest employment center in the region is Research Triangle Park which is in Durham and Wake (Raleigh) County. So, 2.4 is the Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Tidewater and DC are CSAs as well.

First, I worked for decades working on the project to connect Raleigh and Richmond via HSR rail. I think (and Raleigh people think) we could have benefited one another. It's relevant because economic regions don't stop at political borders. At one time, the southside of Virigina is in economic trouble - working together could have helped solve this. (The areas close to RDU and Greensboro CSMA's are benefitting as those cities grow northward). Alas, I was clearly wrong. 1.) Yes "publicize". Take all of that RDU "rah rah" bullsheitze over to the Raleigh UP forum - it's not even remotely pertinent to anything regarding RVA development. It was a legitimate question -- not "rah-rah" - and it is related to development in RVA ultimately. You seem to have a love affair with Atlanta, GA -- do you live there? 2.) Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro absolutely is one of metro RVA's regional economic competitors. Raleigh-Durham (2.3 million) is a bit larger than Richmond (1.3 million) but they could be economic partners. 3.) I won't argue with you here. We all know this to be a very sad state of affairs. HOWEVER - what you are doing -- publicizing this crap about RDU's example of "the rich getting richer" -- is part of the problem for RIC, NOT part of the solution. We tout RIC on here because we all want RIC to grow a lot faster and offer more robust air service. Bleeding away potential traffic out of state -- regardless of how incremental (so please spare me that push-back) only hinders that process. The fact is that the carriers are not flying to Richmond because the market is too small. Travelers are being bled to IAD or BWI (BWI isn't in VA). Do you think all those flights to ATL are helping RIC? Talk about bleeding passengers that could be served non-stop from RIC. 4.) You just moved to the area - great!! So how about trying to HELP the area advance and grow? What does coming on here and putting folks down and touting other cities' offerings do to help matters? What drew you to the RVA metro? Was it out of your hands? (work-related) - or was it a choice? I choose to move here. I am in a job that is supposed to "help" this region. Richmond should be exploding - it's one of the most beautiful cities in one of the prettiest locations on the East Coast. Instead of thinking super-regionally, heads are buried in the sand. God forbid you should consider thinking outside your box. As I said, Richmond should be the hub between the Carolina Crescent, the Northeast Corridor, and Tidewater/Northern OBX. The jealousy/hatred/arrogance turns out to be truer than the legend, "NC is a valley of humility between two mountains of conceit". 5.) If your handle is any indication, safe to say you're from Philly? Cool! Love the city. Have been there many times - one of my favorite places to visit and I had actually considered moving there more than 20 years ago. I've always had a good time in the city now being made famous for the "Brotherly Shove". No, I like Philly steaks. I'm from Connecticut. 38 years in DC - VA - NC.

You wouldn't think about going to Raleigh because you're provincial. How many of you said you wouldn't use Raleigh because it's not in Virginia? Travel time? Are you kidding? I drive to DC and Raleigh-Durham 4 times a month. You are hallucinating if you think getting through DC traffic is easier that I-85 to RDU. (And, if you live in Chesterfield County, it's effectively the same mileage). Sure, in theory it may take you 2:30 to get to IAD but unless you leave a 4AM, face it, it's not happening while I know I can get to RDU in 2:30 unless a meteor hits South Hill. Look, the visceral reaction to a simple question generated the response I kind of expected having lived in NC/VA - Virginians look down their noses at anything having to do with NC (well, except when taking over NC beaches). Having just moved to Richmond I thought, well, maybe it's not true. Wrong. Given a choice between an easy drive of roughly the same distance and time, the mere suggestion of using a NC airport throws people into a panic not seen since April 1865. And this is sexy AF? You need to get out more.

Interesting that RDU now serves more European destinations nonstop than Austin, Texas (a place that get 10000X more attention) and with the withdraw of Virgin Atlantic from that market, RDU has more international carriers than AUS. There are no other airports in RDu's class that come even close to RDU's service and carriers. I feel like we should take a snapshot because this moment may go away soon and not return for decades?

GREAT!!! Wiki needs an update. As an aside, I hate to say this, but Delta seems to treat its hubs much better than AA...or, UA. RDU seems to be really benefitting from its hub-lite status.

"Publicize"? It's news and it's relevant, and it's as close as IAD. My god, it's an airport not a life-support system. But seriously, you think Raleigh and Dulles are your "competitors"? No offense, but bless your heart. I just moved to the area and like to travel - frankly air service out of RIC is not great.

Don't count on it. Wow, you people are provincial.

Aeromexico announced service to RDU joining Air France, Lufthansa this year and Icelandair and Bahamasair last year. American flies nonstop to London Heathrow. I'm wondering if I wanted to fly nonstop to say Paris or Frankfurt would I use RDU or IAD. They are both about the same mileage but obviously traffic to Raleigh Durham has to be less of a hassle. Which would you do?

Charlotte has 2 Mexican airlines?

The Carolina Circle

Sadly, crickets in the national media. I mean $14 BILLION investment doesn't even garner a peep from CNBC???

...actually, correction, GA can't keep an NHL team...

Consider this -- there seems to be expectation of the major leagues that no city in the Carolinas can support a team on their own, so we have the CAROLINA Hurricanes, and the CAROLINA Panthers. Fine, in that case, 'The Carolinas" are the 5th biggest state in the country with a population close to 17 million. NY, FL, TX, CA are larger than us but obviously have multiple ML teams. in every sport. Even PA and IL and OH and GA which are smaller all have at least one team in every major league, some have more than one. So, either the next major league team is "Charlotte" or "Raleigh" or if it's going to be "Carolina" again, then we are past due for MLB. Grrrrrrrr....LOL. Imagine the rivalry of Washington - Raleigh/Charlotte - Atlanta. Carolina/Charlotte/Raleigh Croatans or Carolina/Charlotte/Raleigh Aviators (take that Ohio~!)?

Consider this -- there seems to be expectation of the major leagues that no city in the Carolinas can support a team on their own, so we have the CAROLINA Hurricanes, and the CAROLINA Panthers. Fine, in that case, 'The Carolinas" are the 5th biggest state in the country with a population close to 17 million. NY, FL, TX, CA are larger than us but obviously have multiple ML teams. in every sport. Even PA and IL and OH and GA which are smaller all have at least one team in every major league, some have more than one. So, either the next major league team is "Charlotte" or "Raleigh" or if it's going to be "Carolina" again, then we are past due for MLB. Grrrrrrrr....LOL. Carolina Croatans or Carolina Aviators (take that Ohio~!)?

obviously, the Queens!