www.capitalonecoliseum.org and .com I bought the names...and will post our idea tonight......Imagine....use your capital one points for free shows!!!! It will increase business.....but of course nobody in Richmond Political Circles will even bother to call but yet they will wait 7 years when it will cost at least $40 million more than today's price. This is whats wrong with America.....If they can build the Empire State Building in one year back in 1930's...why does it take us 7 years today?
$147 million arena proposed near Richmond Coliseum
Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones says the city has the right site for a new $147.1 million civic arena downtown, but no way to pay for it until the economy improves.
A consultant hired by four Richmond-area corporations said Thursday that the arena should be built near the 40-year-old Coliseum it would replace.
"I'm not focusing on the money right now," Jones said after a briefing by the consultant at Richmond CenterStage. "We need to focus on the vision so we have that; when the time is right, we can deal with the money."
The new arena would seat up to 14,000 people for concerts and 15,000 for events allowing 360-degree seating. The Coliseum currently seats a maximum of 13,410, but significantly less for most types of events. John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, the Coliseum's biggest competitor, seats up to 15,405, but only 14,075 for concerts.
The 6.17-acre site encompasses city-owned parking lots and the decrepit Richmond Public Safety Building between East Marshall, East Leigh, North 8th, and North 10th streets.
The consulting team, led by Los Angeles-based Barrett Sports Group LLC, said a regional financing plan isn't realistic until economic conditions improve in the city and surrounding counties.
Ultimately, the mayor said the decision on whether to replace the Coliseum won't depend just on the city to carry out.
"The decision is going to be based on our ability to ... work with our regional partners and our corporate partners," he said.
However, Henrico County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett cautioned that it may take seven to 10 years and a new funding source for a new arena to built.
"It's not impossible at all," Hazelett said Thursday, "but it's a project that's going to take some time to develop."
The $150,000 study was commissioned by four of the region's biggest corporations: Dominion Resources Inc., Altria, Genworth Financial, and MeadWestvaco.
"The business community's investment in the Coliseum study shows our commitment to moving this process forward," said Bob Blue, Dominion senior vice president for law, public policy and environment.
The three-volume study was done by Barrett, Populous Sports Architects, and Weston Sports & Entertainment. The team chose the site from four options, including the existing Coliseum property, a site near the Diamond, and the Virginia ABC headquarters and warehouse on Hermitage Road.
Jones said Thursday that he prefers the recommended site and believes an arena should be developed separately from a new baseball stadium for the Flying Squirrels.
Building an arena on the proposed site would require demolition of the Public Safety Building, as well as closing and rerouting North 9th Street. The site also is the smallest of the sites, with the least amount of on-site parking.
However, the site's advantage included its proximity to downtown entertainment areas and the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
"We're thrilled," said John F. Berry Jr., president and CEO of the Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's a huge win-win for us."
Construction of the new arena also would allow redevelopment of the existing Coliseum site, which lies next to the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park. The city parking lots and Public Safety Building are part of the research park's master plan, which considers the property strategically important.
"That's a bridge between the biotech center and the [VCU] medical center, and it is a very important one," said Robert T. Skunda, president and CEO of the research park.
Skunda said he would "reserve judgment" on the recommended site until he reads the entire study, including the potential redevelopment of the Coliseum.
The study recommends an arena that's big enough to attract minor league hockey, professional women's basketball, and early-round NCAA men's basketball tournaments, as well as all but a few concerts.
At a maximum of 15,000 seats, it would not be large enough to host the Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball tournament, which would require 18,000 to 20,000 seats.
The biggest hurdle for a new arena is paying for it, acknowledged Daniel S. Barrett, principal of Barrett Sports, who recommended that the study group wait until the economy improves "to put together a financing plan that makes sense."
"Right now, there just isn't one," Barrett said.
To find a solution to the Richmond Coliseum needs. In Addition to the Diamond!!!
READ THE SOLUTION!!
The Richmond region is an location that has a great quality of life. However when it comes to regional cooperation we seem to do great with some ideas and events but fail at others.
Positive Events: The Folk Festival, Ukrops 10K Run, The X Games and Carpenter Center.
We have a lot to be proud of and this web site is not looking to point fingers. We are dedicated to presenting an idea that quite frankly has never been presented.
We believe that a Modern and fully functioning Richmond Coliseum is Vital to our way of life and we feel that politics and ego's need to be checked at the door and implement a solution.
After many hours spent on formulating an Idea we feel that the best way to bring a solution to the table is through this web site.
Let's do it.
Please see "The Solution"
