Your NWA Wishlist

[bubba72704]

Yes, from what I hear they're looking to widen the overpass and they don't expect to begin construction for another year and a half.  It hurts me to think that this situation will be in place for another couple of years.  Hope they change strategy soon.

 

And I love that vision for the drive-in.  Very nice!

[aerotive]

Maybe its because the mayor of Fayetteville is far more interested in being a Social Justice Warrior than anything else.  Lioneld Jordan is a joke.  And if I owned a tech company and the "maer of fedvul" started talking to me about his "grate citeh" I'd assume it was some putrid backwater.  

 

Uh, every city with a decent number of tech jobs has a non-discriminatory ordinance.  Seattle, Portland, LA, SF, Denver, Austin, NY, Boston, Chicago...though I'm sure you're well aware of that, and given your use of the sjw slur, I'm sure the policies you have in mind would attract only the backward and the bigoted.  Precisely the sort of people who won't be starting tech companies, certainly.

[RemusCal]

Or maybe because the mayor is a wannabe socialist without a college education or any understanding of economic development.  

 

Either way, he sucks and is an embarrassment.  

I am not a fan of Mayor Jordan either.  He definitely doesn't seem to understand how business functions and works.  Everyone talks about how they see Fayetteville as the next Austin.  It won't be as long as we continue to have an ordinance for every single minor issue.  From talking with business leaders and builders, they say Fayetteville is awful to do any project.  The whole development and planning process needs reformed to make it more business-appealing and Mayor Jordan definitely needs to go.

 

P.S. I also was really agitated that the city of Fayetteville was trying to ban Uber from doing business in town.  That is exactly the type of thinking that will push tech companies away.

[bubba72704]

I wish the Fayetteville Flyer would expand it's format to the entire NWA region.  Specifically I think they're very thorough with reporting city meetings and upcoming construction/development.  If they would do this I would happily unsubscribe to the NWA Democrat Gazette.  IMHO nwanews.com just keeps getting worse and worse....

[TRB]

I wish the Fayetteville Flyer would expand it's format to the entire NWA region.  Specifically I think they're very thorough with reporting city meetings and upcoming construction/development.  If they would do this I would happily unsubscribe to the NWA Democrat Gazette.  IMHO nwanews.com just keeps getting worse and worse....

I click on The City Wire daily

[jatello]

I agree. The local paper does not have any local news just press releases reprinted. I get most of my news from this board.

[UrbanArkie]

The Flyer is pretty local to F'ville.

It seems boards that attempt the same for the Region eventually go dormant.

I feel the NWACouncil should fund a Regional website.

[JayDR]

A pro soccer team, maybe in the USL Pro or NASL. Could build a good 7,500-10,000 seat soccer stadium with additional standing + expansion room, for a cost under $25M.

 

Also, a Arena with between 7,500-12,500 for concerts, comedy, fights, possible NBDL, AHL, Arena Football teams.

[JayDR]

I would love to see a Trolley in Fayetteville that connects Dickson, Farmers Market, Downtown. A light rail that connects all the core NWA cities, as well as XNA. Could use a better bus system as well. I would love to see Downtown Fayetteville add some mid rise buildings (10-25 floors). I think it would look good coming into Fayetteville from the south on 49, and tell everyone driving through that we mean business. Those mid rises could be a couple of hotels, a condominium, and a few mixed use building that include office space, retail, and dinning. It would get more people living, staying, and working in the heart of Fayetteville. I think a good comedy club on Dickson, as well as some new legit nightclubs (Not bars), a few new live music venues, and new quality restaurants will add a lot to an already fun area of NWA. A top notch water park, and theme/amusement park would be a positive addition to the area. 

[Mith242]

A pro soccer team, maybe in the USL Pro or NASL. Could build a good 7,500-10,000 seat soccer stadium with additional standing + expansion room, for a cost under $25M.

 

Also, a Arena with between 7,500-12,500 for concerts, comedy, fights, possible NBDL, AHL, Arena Football teams.

Yeah, I'm a big soccer fan, so I'd also love to see a team here.

[Mith242]

I would love to see a Trolley in Fayetteville that connects Dickson, Farmers Market, Downtown. A light rail that connects all the core NWA cities, as well as XNA. Could use a better bus system as well. I would love to see Downtown Fayetteville add some mid rise buildings (10-25 floors). I think it would look good coming into Fayetteville from the south on 49, and tell everyone driving through that we mean business. Those mid rises could be a couple of hotels, a condominium, and a few mixed use building that include office space, retail, and dinning. It would get more people living, staying, and working in the heart of Fayetteville. I think a good comedy club on Dickson, as well as some new legit nightclubs (Not bars), a few new live music venues, and new quality restaurants will add a lot to an already fun area of NWA. A top notch water park, and theme/amusement park would be a positive addition to the area. 

I think many of us on the forum would agree.  The idea of a trolley in that area has been discussed on here years ago.  But just doesn't seem like it will ever get off the ground until someone with money is willing to get the ball rolling.  Would also love to see some mid rise buildings in downtown Fayetteville.  But right now all of that type of activity seems to be up in Bentonville/Rogers.

[bubba72704]

I would love to see a trolley/streetcar in Fayetteville but there doesn't seem to be much political will. I would bet Bentonville will get one first now that they're working on expanding their downtown experience. they also have a lot more money to work with...

[bubba72704]

I'd love to see Fiesta Square re-imagined with a new facade for current buildings, build some stand-alone retail and dining in that vast parking wasteland near the rolling hills entrance & maybe cut a road north from the small parking area north of the theater up to Millsap behind Whole Foods for some traffic relief on College Ave.

[wmr]

I agree about Fiesta Square.  Maybe the Whole Foods coming in will get the attention of some investors.  There is some vacant land in the area between Fiesta and Whole Foods.  

 

The entire center could be gradually revamped and rebranded into more of a "town center".

[JayDR]

I think if we get a soccer team, I hope it is a USL Pro team as we would have rival 2 hours away in Tulsa. Also St Louis, OKC, Austin are nearby teams. The league also seems to be better structured compared to NASL. This is Morrison Stadium for Creighton University. Has a capacity of 6,000 plus additional grass area for extra fans. I think it would be a good size stadium for NWA, with a nice design, and expansion would be easy. With Tyson, JB Hunt, WalMart, Arvest, Sam's Club, jersey and stadium sponsorship shouldn't be too hard to find.

[Mith242]

I think if we get a soccer team, I hope it is a USL Pro team as we would have rival 2 hours away in Tulsa. Also St Louis, OKC, Austin are nearby teams. The league also seems to be better structured compared to NASL. This is Morrison Stadium for Creighton University. Has a capacity of 6,000 plus additional grass area for extra fans. I think it would be a good size stadium for NWA, with a nice design, and expansion would be easy. With Tyson, JB Hunt, WalMart, Arvest, Sam's Club, jersey and stadium sponsorship shouldn't be too hard to find.

I agree USL Pro would probably work best.  For me personally I'd also love it if a team could be also affiliated with MLS team Sporting Kansas City.  Just curious to know if the area could support a team.  Other areas near us seem to be doing okay.  But Arkansas is also more rooted in 'SEC' culture.  We don't even have a men's college soccer team as do almost none of the other SEC schools.  Then there are other questions like where to locate the team and stadium.  Do you try to centrally locate a team a bit like the Naturals?  Does it matter if the team is located on one of the ends of the metro?  

[wmr]

I agree USL Pro would probably work best.  For me personally I'd also love it if a team could be also affiliated with MLS team Sporting Kansas City.  Just curious to know if the area could support a team.  Other areas near us seem to be doing okay.  But Arkansas is also more rooted in 'SEC' culture.  We don't even have a men's college soccer team as do almost none of the other SEC schools.  Then there are other questions like where to locate the team and stadium.  Do you try to centrally locate a team a bit like the Naturals?  Does it matter if the team is located on one of the ends of the metro?  

 

The primary reason for no men's college soccer at most colleges is Title IX.  I actually think there'd be at least some support for men's soccer here, but the scholarship numbers don't work out under Title IX.  That's why gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, and soccer are women's only sports at most major colleges these days.

[Mith242]

The primary reason for no men's college soccer at most colleges is Title IX.  I actually think there'd be at least some support for men's soccer here, but the scholarship numbers don't work out under Title IX.  That's why gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, and soccer are women's only sports at most major colleges these days.

True.  But I've also noticed hardly any SEC teams have men's soccer.  Once again because of Title IX.  But the southeast also isn't exactly a hotbed of soccer, granted we're pretty much on the edge of that area.  As I said before, I'd love to have a local soccer team to support.  But I just wonder if there's enough support in the area for a team.  But it would be great to try to get something started.  As JayDR mentioned, I don't think it would be too hard to find some sort of local sponsor in the area.  But still would have to find someone with some money to be willing to shell out the bucks for a franchise fee.  Not really sure what fees are for USL Pro or NASL.  With the way MLS keeps adding NASL teams to their league, it would seem that the NASL would certainly be looking for some more teams.  Especially because of rumors of more teams possibly jumping up to MLS in the near future.

[aerotive]

There's men's little soccer in the SEC because of the domination of football.  NCAA scholarship rules are also a problem.

 

Re a pro team, not sure if there's enough soccer fans around here for it to work. I do like the idea of it being associated with Sporting KC.

[JayDR]

The average current 2015 attendance for the USL Pro (3rd Division) is 3,319. It was 3,114 in 2014. I definitely think their is enough support to get the average attendance. Maybe, even slightly more. Probably no more than 4,000 with the exception of possibly a US Open match versus a MLS team. For the NASL (2nd Division) the average attendance so far for 2015 is 6,466. In 2014 it was 5,501. I don't think we could get that right now, but maybe in 20 years once the fan base grows we could. But, I definitely think we could support a USL Pro team.

[Mith242]

The average current 2015 attendance for the USL Pro (3rd Division) is 3,319. It was 3,114 in 2014. I definitely think their is enough support to get the average attendance. Maybe, even slightly more. Probably no more than 4,000 with the exception of possibly a US Open match versus a MLS team. For the NASL (2nd Division) the average attendance so far for 2015 is 6,466. In 2014 it was 5,501. I don't think we could get that right now, but maybe in 20 years once the fan base grows we could. But, I definitely think we could support a USL Pro team.

Yeah I think we can agree USL Pro is the realistic way to go.  I guess the biggest problem is finding someone with the money willing to shell out the franchise fee and paying for a field to play.  

[JayDR]

Being a sucker for highrise, I would love to drive down I49 looking at this.

[TRB]

I printed off two copies and told my twelve year my idea for the 112 drive in  and to cut and glue it. Here it is, The 112 Drive and Dive In

 

[wmr]

Wow, that's a great idea.  That would be an excellent area for a water park/aquatic center.  And with city influence and resources invested in a park there, in partnership with the drive-in owners, we'd be more likely to preserve the old drive-in.  

[TRB]

That's a park on a greater scale than any city owned park, those complexes come from Whitewater West, I'll attach the concept art for the park n Thailand that's taken from. It has some of their best slides including a water coaster(uphill sections) and a boomerang that are a blast, pound for pound it's one of the best small footprint park concepts I've seen. Whitewater In Branson would be very shamed. Remember the wave pool would have a screen for movie nights. The park would be retro in it's furnishing and theme to match the existing drive in. The water dump bucket play structure would be concession stand themed with the water bucket themed to a popcorn bucket . The slides would have 50s and 60s sci fi b movie themes in names and signage. It's really a combination of using what's there and two places in Orlando, DHS sci fi dine in restaurant and the Universals Cabana Bay hotel. The beauty of it is that that all 5hat wouldn't open the park but the complexes would be done to hang a new slide for "new additions" and all preplanned for continued marketing purposes. This would draw folks in from the River Valley and Tulsa easily. It would be unique enough to land on travel channel shows and best of lists. I've got lots of little features that I'm not banging down from a phone.

 

But pull up Google Earth and the drive in and look at that wooded area to the east and boundaries by I49, that's ready made shade for a small amusement park. You'd have to buy out the vacant lot between the drive in and the beauty supply property to even think about it. Get the state to move it's road matainance compound and you are really talking. This is't Silver Dollar City but there some really cool, neat stuff out there that's not found anywhere and here.

The land Tracy had across 112 would really be prime for a hotel or two with this. Here's the kicker, it got some bonus weekends built in for extra profit not usually availible to an operation like this. It's usually Labor day and done.  Game day weekends of mid Sept. It's usually warm enough for it and that's ready made customers. There's that possibility.

 

If the city helped put up the 30 million needed for something like this, I'd be most impressed. All these cities like Rogers and Ft. Smith hire management firms to run these. Rogers is making a profit, a nice profit for that little thing.I'm shocked they haven't expanded cause it's got the area reserved, I though a flowrider would have been a no brainer by now.