Stadiums & Arenas

[yis2003yis]

I was on a Forum reading a few Posts and they were talking about places to hold some of these bowl games and championship games.....i was just thinking..Baton Rouge needs to step up and get a major stadium built other than tiger stadium....i don't know what the problem is but it seem like LSU is not too public friendly with their stadium..I mean i know they host a few events there...but in cities like Houson,New Orleans,Birmingham,Shreveport,Jackson,Little Rock,Mobile,Memphis. ECT. i can go on and on...they host alot of Major Events because they have the Venues to do so...and that also helps the cities economy....and when it comes to BR...Memorial Stadium is Small compared to other cities with Public Use Facilities ..and the centroplex is a nice size..but id like to see somethin like the N.O. Arena built here..

and jus imagine if there was a way...to put a nice major stadium somewhere off..i-10 between essen and bluebonnet ..or somewhere out on 12 where all that land lies along the strip...it would be nice like houston's reliant park.......jus driving down the hwy and all of a sudden seeing this Monster Facility to the side...

i mean is it just me..or do others feel it would be nice to have a Major Facility built here other than Tiger Stadium

[twstdndmntd]

I was on a Forum reading a few Posts and they were talking about places to hold some of these bowl games and championship games.....i was just thinking..Baton Rouge needs to step up and get a major stadium built other than tiger stadium....i don't know what the problem is but it seem like LSU is not too public friendly with their stadium..I mean i know they host a few events there...but in cities like Houson,New Orleans,Birmingham,Shreveport,Jackson,Little Rock,Mobile,Memphis. ECT. i can go on and on...they host alot of Major Events because they have the Venues to do so...and that also helps the cities economy....and when it comes to BR...Memorial Stadium is Small compared to other cities with Public Use Facilities ..and the centroplex is a nice size..but id like to see somethin like the N.O. Arena built here..

and jus imagine if there was a way...to put a nice major stadium somewhere off..i-10 between essen and bluebonnet ..or somewhere out on 12 where all that land lies along the strip...it would be nice like houston's reliant park.......jus driving down the hwy and all of a sudden seeing this Monster Facility to the side...

i mean is it just me..or do others feel it would be nice to have a Major Facility built here other than Tiger Stadium

[yis2003yis]

I am all for a major facility being built in BR, but only if the facility is adjacent to downtown. We are trying to revitalize downtown and lets face it anywhere out by Essen or Bluebonnet will just worsen the traffic in that area when an event is being held. I'm sure if they put their heads together they can find an area downtown. Even is something has to be sacrificed for it.

[buckett5425]

While it would be great for baton rouge to have a major venue, like a staduim downtown, Baton Rouge isnt big enough to support a venue that big yet, we dont need it. Its the same reason baton rouge will never have a night life, we are to close to new orleans. When people want a bourbon street atmosphere in baton rouge, they drive to new orleans, its not like laffyette, memphis, austin, or mobile where they all have nice entertainment districts. But why is this? because we can drive to nola, its only an hour away, and we will most liklely be required to do the same for major concerts. The have they have the metro to support a major venue, and we will probably always have to drive there.

Its true, when people visit you in baton rouge, the first thing you show them, is well, new orleans...lol

[dan326]

Lafayette is only a short drive from New Orleans too. And I don't think we don't have an entertainment district because New Orleas is so close, I think because we don't have an entertainmet district we driv to New Orleans. If we had one we would probably stay here and a good example is with the stores that are coming here. More and more, when people want to shop, they come here. And now when stores want to open a Louisiana location they come here.So as long as the people demand an entertainment district, one will develop. A major league stadium would be nice, but chances of that are slim.

[buckett5425]

I still disagree, because even if BR did have an entertainment district, it wouldnt compare to NOLA. The Nola experince is just more fun, especially because you feel like your in a big city. But regardless, if Baton Rouge ever hopes of having a fun night life. first thing to do is get people downtown, which is slowly happening, and with new residential deveolpments in the works, that will also help. Also, bars need to be able to stay open all night. Bars closeing at 2 is another outdated law br needs to do away with.

[dan326]

they drive to new orleans, its not like laffyette, memphis, austin, or mobile

[yis2003yis]

I still disagree, because even if BR did have an entertainment district, it wouldnt compare to NOLA. The Nola experince is just more fun, especially because you feel like your in a big city. But regardless, if Baton Rouge ever hopes of having a fun night life. first thing to do is get people downtown, which is slowly happening, and with new residential deveolpments in the works, that will also help. Also, bars need to be able to stay open all night. Bars closeing at 2 is another outdated law br needs to do away with.

[richyb83]

Thanks for starting this new thread yis Sorry this reply is so long.

Answering your 1st post....with the "major stadiums"...I understand what you are saying about public use facilities that those cities have; but none of those cities mentioned above have anything nearly as "Large" as Tiger Stadium's capacity of +92,700. *Houston's Reliant Stadium is nice and sleek,but it only holds 71,500; Birmingham's Legion Field the same(71,500);and the Liberty Bowl in Memphis approx. 60,000.

Other Bowl Games hosted at the public-use Ladd Peebles in Mobile is only 41,000 for football/50,000 for concerts; the stadium in Las Vegas for their bowl only seats 36,800. And not much more than that in the Fort Worth Bowl at TCU. Not sure if the Jackson Stadium has been torn down or not??

Maybe doubling the size of Memorial Stadium(currently 21,395) to 42,000 would equal those in the places mentioned above. I think the much larger Tiger Stadium would make an excellent venue for a bowl game. Only the Rose Bowl would be larger..... My point is Baton Rouge has as "major" a stadium as anybody in the country, it's a world-class facility! The New Orleans Saints played a few games there while the Superdome was being repaired. As far as public use...Only mega-huge cities like L.A. or Dallas can support anything like multiple huge stadiums.

Something like the New Orleans Arena would be nice for BR; but I question the demand and proximity to NOLA itself.

As for Entertainment Districts; proximity to NOLA, Lafayette, should not matter for sucess. BR's is coming along nicely. BR labels it's new Entertainment District "Arts & Entertainment" with theatres, museums, art galleries,etc. While other cities may opt for a more "Sports" themed entertainment district. I think a mix of both would be good; interesting mix of people.

Entertainment Districts should be more than just bars and clubs. Make it more unique with plenty of outdoor seating with stages for live entertainment, fountains, parks, retail/open-storefronts, digital billboards, brick paving(sidewalks/crosswalks), good mix of restaurants, cinema, residential, office, hotels, etc..

[yis2003yis]

Very true....but that was my point LSU is one of da largest in the country ...BUT....it cost a pretty penny to rent it out....somethin in the range of 40,000-55,000 would be perfect....i would love to see Memorial Rebuilt...that's the perfect spot...right in the Curve

[twstdndmntd]

I don't think the reason we don't have an entertainment district is b/c we are so close to NOLA. I don't drive to NOLA to go out simply b/c I don't want to have to drive back at 4 in the morning, and this coming from someone who used to live there. The reason we don't have a viable entertainment district downtown is b/c we abandoned downtown years ago and now we are having to build it back up. It's happening tho, it's a process and we are well on our way. Prime example is the repeal of the blue laws. I said it before and I'll say it again Rome wasn't built in a day and our downtown won't revitalize in a day. It has to be a collective effort with ALL of us. I think if we quit wishing what could be or what should be and work toward what we want it could/ would happen.

[drew6974]

Just a little tidbit I caught the other day in an article on casino money. Talks are underway again on bringing a minor league baseball team to BR with a new stadium downtown apparently. This has been talked about for years. I guess there must be something to it for the discussions to be going on that long.

I had heard about the Magic Johnson deal but this was the first time that I heard of other developers looking at this.

Quoting Walter Monsour.

"The boats are in the mix of what will attract people downtown for the arts and entertainment district and for the riverfront

restaurants," Monsour said.

There's even talk about attracting a minor-league baseball team to an area near downtown, he said.

Former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson had initiated discussions about bringing a baseball team to Baton Rouge, but Monsour said negotiations have advanced with another group he declined to identify

[yis2003yis]

Just a little tidbit I caught the other day in an article on casino money. Talks are underway again on bringing a minor league baseball team to BR with a new stadium downtown apparently. This has been talked about for years. I guess there must be something to it for the discussions to be going on that long.

I had heard about the Magic Johnson deal but this was the first time that I heard of other developers looking at this.

Quoting Walter Monsour.

"The boats are in the mix of what will attract people downtown for the arts and entertainment district and for the riverfront

restaurants," Monsour said.

There's even talk about attracting a minor-league baseball team to an area near downtown, he said.

Former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson had initiated discussions about bringing a baseball team to Baton Rouge, but Monsour said negotiations have advanced with another group he declined to identify

[BRPJ]

As far as night life, Baton Rouge has to stop waiting around for it to happen, and make it happen. The best cities have the most versatile dontown's and entertainment districts. Yeah We are smaller than new Orleans, Less unique arguable, and a 45 min drive away. But I think there is obviously demand for the nightlife in Baton Rouge, since evryone goes to new orleans.. question is how do you make them stay. I think We need some sort of a Strip, that has night clubs and other entertainment downtown. not some rinkadink strip, but some a real BLVD of just entertainment and nightlife. I bet everyone would be there!

Far as a stadium or arena, that would be nice, but you can't just build a stadium, and hope some convention comes to town. We need a pro team. and I don't see that happening. Besides, I think most people around are content with LSU

[richyb83]

No doubt this is a college"LSU"/Southern U. city. I don't see BR ever having a Pro team either. Just like Austin has no Pro teams due to the close proximity to San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. They have UT there for them.

Third Street is already becoming an smaller entertainment district that's growing. It has been very vibrant the last time I rolled thru there. A real "Boulevard" setting would be nice; but I don't think North Boulevard qualifies.

[drew6974]

Actually Austin does have a triple A baseball team.

I don't know if minor league baseball would make it here or not but the talk has been going on for years. So far it's just talk but the way it's ongoing, there must be some interest by someone. Time will tell.

[byrde]

I see no need for another stadium or arena in BR. Other than LSU Football, we don't sell out the events that we have in town. Concerts at the RiverCenter, FG Clark or the PMac don't sellout. Have you seen the crowds at basketball games for SU or LSU? If anything we have to do a better job of supporting the events we have before we start dreaming of something new.

[yis2003yis]

I see no need for another stadium or arena in BR. Other than LSU Football, we don't sell out the events that we have in town. Concerts at the RiverCenter, FG Clark or the PMac don't sellout. Have you seen the crowds at basketball games for SU or LSU? If anything we have to do a better job of supporting the events we have before we start dreaming of something new.

[byrde]

The Saints went to SA because you have a dome there that was readily available. No problems scheduling games there at the last minute.

What events do you want in BR that we can't accommodate? We are not getting a bowl game. Even when the Saints played a few games in Tiger Stadium, the largest crowd was what? 50K?

[yis2003yis]

The Saints went to SA because you have a dome there that was readily available. No problems scheduling games there at the last minute.

What events do you want in BR that we can't accommodate? We are not getting a bowl game. Even when the Saints played a few games in Tiger Stadium, the largest crowd was what? 50K?

[BRPJ]

but they were still on the news and media sayin how Lsu didn't really want to work with them to much like SA did...and thats not the only time ive heard of LSU in the bad bargins topic

ok check this ...example ...The swac championship....if they decide to relocate..lsu/Su are out the question....memorial is 2 small ...and its not just that event but we need to have something mid sized so if some one has a need..we can accommodate it

jackson and little rock are perfect cities when just looking for a stadium to book your event

there is much more to stadium use other than football

if ur booking an event would u book BR's memorial Stadium or

War Memorial....if they both are in the same price range

War Memorial

[richyb83]

I know Little Rock has a nice-sized Memorial Stadium of almost 55k near their Zoo. I'm unsure if I heard that Memorial Stadium in Jackson was to be demolished?? In those two cities Memorial Stadium is the main player; while in BR Memorial Stadium is only 3rd largest.

Yeah Austin has a Triple A Team, I don't consider that Pro; actually it's in suburban Round Rock TX. I wondered if suburban BR (Denham Springs in Livingston) near Pass Pro or (Gonzales in Ascension) near Cabela's might work?? Have a minor league ball park as part of a larger entertainment complex?? Jackson has a Bass Pro/ball park in suburban Pearl.

I'm not sure the folks in downtown BR would like that?? I like downtown as much as anybody, but I am trying to be realistic. Might a possible ball park near the foot of the I-10 Miss. River Bridge workout great?? or the suburbs??

[yis2003yis]

jackson and lil rock have stadiums?

[MobileLSUboy09]

jackson has a stadium holdin 60,000 +...i go there every other year...nice tail gating

they are still deciding if they wanna build a new stadium or keep memorial

birmingham has a nice stadium and they just got approved to build a 60,000 seat dome and no word of tearing down the 80,000 seat stadium yet......they have no real pro teams but that stadium has paid off big time for them

[MobileLSUboy09]

Those don't sound like big cities to me . . .