May 15, 200619 yr Is our population booming enough to justify the addition of new highway lanes to allow for more outlying development?
May 16, 200619 yr The population is pretty static in Summit Co. but still half the size of Cuyahoga. The real issue though is that Summit Co. is truly a crossroad of trucking traffic throughout Ohio and the midwest. I would guess there are probably 2-3x more trucking depots in Summit co. than Cuyahoga Co. Roadway is still headquartered in Akron. Summit Co. isn't "Southside". Accessibility to the 271 corridor is going to get more challenging since that area is absolutely growing with Progressive announcing more plans to build and UH announcing a major new hospital as well. Plus access already sux at best from Summit Co. getting to UC.
May 27, 200619 yr I hate this idea exactly because it is right on top of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Development around the park is getting insane, and it threatens to ruin it. In order for this area to truly succeed, we need more than an Chili's on every corner. The National Park is a beautiful place, and it's one of the reasons that brought me back home. And who the heck wants to see soccer around here anyway? I don't believe it is a viable idea. Why don't they play at Cleveland Browns Stadium?
May 27, 200619 yr Ok, I haven't been keeping up with this conversation, but seriously, wtf? I went to Browns Stadium last night for the US v Venezuela match and the place had 30,000 fans jammed in, singing, cheering, and hooting. We all poured in and out and spent money on tickets and restaurants and bars and cabs and I couldn't help but ask the same question as JamieC...why don't we have a team play up here instead of building another Richfield Coliseum way out in podunkville? Isn't this a Wolstein-led venture? Isn't he trying to build a neighborhood just around the corner from Browns Stadium?
May 27, 200619 yr BTW, that 30k attendance was the largest ever to see a US Men's soccer match in Ohio. That's something worth noting!
May 27, 200619 yr ^I was there last night as well, it was a great time. The crowd moved up the hill to the warehouse district after the game, and the festivities continued. Do you think it would still be possible to get something done downtown, or has the ship already sailed?
May 27, 200619 yr I was surprised how well Browns stadium worked for soccer. The way the stands are built keeps the noise in and and the sightlines intimate. The lower bowl was absolutely packed which creates great atmosphere. We went to the warehouse district afterwards but being from Columbus we are now allergic to bar smoke. Browns stadium was great with 30k. MLS games draw 15k. In addition to killing the atmosphere the economics don't work as well to open a huge stadium for $10-$15 a head. Not to mention seasonal scheduling conflicts and gridiron (literally, the painted lines) overlap. MLS knows this so they are only awarding teams which already have a (Soccer Specific) stadium built or far along in the planning process.
May 28, 200619 yr BTW, that 30k attendance was the largest ever to see a US Men's soccer match in Ohio. That's something worth noting! Holy crap, that's awesome! I was down in the WD last night for dinner, and it was cool to see all the people going to the game. It looked like a totally fun time. I was surprised how well Browns stadium worked for soccer. The way the stands are built keeps the noise in and and the sightlines intimate. The lower bowl was absolutely packed which creates great atmosphere. We went to the warehouse district afterwards but being from Columbus we are now allergic to bar smoke. Browns stadium was great with 30k. MLS games draw 15k. In addition to killing the atmosphere the economics don't work as well to open a huge stadium for $10-$15 a head. Not to mention seasonal scheduling conflicts and gridiron (literally, the painted lines) overlap. MLS knows this so they are only awarding teams which already have a (Soccer Specific) stadium built or far along in the planning process. I did a little research, and I see what you're saying about the scheduling. It looks like MLS soccer goes all the way into November (assuming you play for a championship, but this is Cleveland, so that would never happen :) So, that would hose with the Browns. Bummer. I have to stress that I am completely against creating a professional sports stadium in Nordonia, which I grew up near but have no idea where it's located. Why can't they put this thing in a more central location? Put it on an old brownfield, or something. Call the team the Cleveland Industrialists and make the logo have smokestacks or something. I don't know about this Wolstein guy. He's making me worried.
May 30, 200619 yr This could be a perfect time to incorporate a second stadium into CBS. Sort of like the Superdome/New Orleans Arena. However, the design could be insirational and the smaller stadium could be a multifunctional use stadium and encourage soccer throughout NEO and the Great Lakes Region.
August 14, 200618 yr Not sure how much this will affect this situation, but none the less... Lerner agrees takeover of Villa Aston Villa's board have accepted a £62.6m takeover of the club from American billionaire Randy Lerner. A club statement on the Stock Exchange said a stake of 56.85% of majority shareholders had been secured by Lerner at 547 pence per share. Four consortia had been linked with the club but the Villa board have recommended 44-year-old Lerner's offer to shareholders. Doug Ellis, 82, chairman from 1968-75 and since 1982, is to stand down. He has been the target of constant supporter unrest in recent seasons, with fans upset at his lack of financial backing. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4789693.stm
August 14, 200618 yr This could be a perfect time to incorporate a second stadium into CBS. Sort of like the Superdome/New Orleans Arena. However, the design could be insirational and the smaller stadium could be a multifunctional use stadium and encourage soccer throughout NEO and the Great Lakes Region. Yeah I think that would be a pretty good idea....sort of like the Home Depot Center in LA. That facility gets a ton of use! My guess is that this is just a pie in the sky sort of thing...I would bet that the venue would end up outside the city limits.
September 16, 200618 yr From the 9/15/06 PD: Developer wants acres annexed Sports complex would go into Macedonia Friday, September 15, 2006 April McClellan-Copeland, Plain Dealer Reporter Macedonia - A developer wants the city to annex more than 100 acres in Northfield Center Township to get water, sewer and other services for a proposed sports stadium and shopping district. Macedonia Mayor Don Kuchta said this week that he supports the request from Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group, but he pledged not to saddle city taxpayers with the cost of extending the services. "I have promised our voters that this would not increase their taxes," Kuchta said. "I am staying with my position that we have to make this happen with no impact on my residents and the surrounding community." Steven Brunot, Macedonia finance director, said the city could pay for the extension of sewer and water service with bonds. A portion of property taxes from the development would then pay the debt, an arrangement known as tax-increment financing. http://www.cleveland.com/sun/nordoniahillssun/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1158252879230950.xml&coll=3
September 28, 200618 yr From the 9/20/06 News Leader: More sports complex details outlined City Council questions terms of finance request by Jeff Saunders Reporter Macedonia - While a letter requesting millions of state tax dollars to help build a soccer stadium and retail complex raised concerns among City Councilors last Thursday, an official helping organize financing for the project maintains nothing has been finalized. The project is proposed for 450 acres off Route 8 between Twinsburg and Highland roads in the city and Northfield Center. The letter, written by Chris Burnham, executive director and president of the Summit County Port Authority, asks Gov. Bob Taft and state legislative leaders to support $3 million in funding from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Grant program for the $265 million project. http://www.the-news-leader.com/article.php?pathToFile=/archive/09202006/news/&file=_news1.txt&article=1&tD=09202006
September 28, 200618 yr From the 9/28/06 PD: Trustee says developers backed off stadium promise Thursday, September 28, 2006 April McClellan-Copeland Plain Dealer Reporter Northfield Center Township -- Township Trustee Paul Buescher on Wednesday accused developers of reneging on a commitment to invest $90 million of their own money in a proposed multipurpose stadium along Ohio 8. Buescher said the developers made the verbal commitment at a meeting in February, but this month listed the private investment as only $15 million in a letter requesting state aid for the project. "There are a lot of things we don't know about this project," he said. "The whole thing boils down to lack of communication." Paul Garofolo, president of Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group, declined to comment on the accusation Wednesday. The Wolstein Group has proposed building the $180 million stadium with a retractable roof and an $85 million retail village on land straddling Macedonia and Northfield Center Township. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/1159432361254700.xml&coll=2
October 10, 200618 yr From the 10/5/06 Nordonia Hills Sun: Out of the loop? Council cries foul over stadium letter Thursday, October 05, 2006 By Calvin Jefferson Nordonia Hills Sun A visit by the head of the Summit County Port Authority to the Macedonia City Council last Thursday seemingly did little to quell some Council members' concerns about the proposed plan to build a soccer stadium and retail complex in the city. At the invitation of Macedonia Mayor Don Kuchta, Port Authority Executive Director Chris Burnham addressed Council specifically to explain language in a letter he sent to the governor and state legislature leaders concerning the project. But Burnham's attendance _ as had the letter _ instead stoked the frustrations of Council members who apparently feel as if they are being left in the dark on project planning. This Council has not been kept in the loop on negotiations at all, Councilwoman Peggy Spraggins said. No one has ever even told us what kind of money we are talking about. More: http://www.cleveland.com/sun/nordoniahillssun/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1160066781116430.xml&coll=3
October 22, 200618 yr This makes no sense, I believe this could easily be absorbed into a stadium already built in Cleveland. This sounds like toy project by someone with too much money and no fuckin' clue! This is a white elephant in the making.
November 27, 200618 yr From the 11/1/06 News Leader: Developer: $2 billion in business possible from stadium project Officials waiting for promised financial study by Eric Marotta Editor Twinsburg - A proposed Major League Soccer stadium and accompanying retail development could bring up to $2 billion in economic activity to the area, according to Paul Garofolo, president of the Wolstein Sports and Entertainment Group. But local officials say they want to see hard numbers before they will play ball. Garofolo made the claim and detailed plans for the project before a crowd of about two dozen who attended a meeting at Twinsburg City Hall Oct. 25 hosted by County District 1 Councilman Nick Kostandaras. More: http://www.the-news-leader.com/article.php?pathToFile=/archive/11012006/news/&file=_news1.txt&article=1&tD=11012006
November 27, 200618 yr tear... and I thought that the Cincinnati Kings would get some attention and go pro... they only lost to Columbus Crew 1-2 in a preseason 2005 game... then again, it was the Columbus Crew. The last game I went to at Crew Stadium was the Kansas City Chiefs and Columbus Crew and Columbus just gave it up in the end... pathetic Well... yay for more soccer, I cant complain aobut that!
December 1, 200618 yr um what can i say but wow... Here's the Beacon-Journal link: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16129439.htm Here's another link about the announcement http://ssl.hammerhead.net/OHNeMail/e...sID=10 &ID=32 Here's a link to the Official Site: http://www.neoprosoccer.com/
December 1, 200618 yr what a waste. steel and glass plopped down in teh middle of a corn field. Can anyone say, "the Coliseum at Richfield"?? People didn't want to drive out there in winter or nights because of the roads....now we're donig the same damn thing!
December 1, 200618 yr C'mon billions and billions of dollars of something created over its lifetime however long that may be. 25 soccer fields PLUS a legacy village and some kind of medical center. Did I hear Retractable dome? Too bad they can't tie it in with casino gambling... That would be one humdinger of a deal. I still feel people from Cuyahoga Cty can't get their fill of once a year trips to Summit County via Blossom and they need to see a random MLS soccer match in Macedonia. I guess I would like to hear what an MLS team name would be, before I'd be whole heartedly supportive. Macedonia Knights? Dragons? Perhaps they'll grab the Nordonia moniker since it'll be in both Northfield Center and Macedonia. Nordonia Devils would be kinda cool. The average person just sees a bunch of trees and wetlands alongside a busy highway. The wolsteins see kids, lots and lots of kids, in freshly mowed fields kicking a ball around and shopping. Vision...
December 1, 200618 yr C'mon billions and billions of dollars of something created over its lifetime however long that may be. 25 soccer fields PLUS a legacy village and some kind of medical center. Did I hear Retractable dome? Too bad they can't tie it in with casino gambling... That would be one humdinger of a deal. I still feel people from Cuyahoga Cty can't get their fill of once a year trips to Summit County via Blossom and they need to see a random MLS soccer match in Macedonia. I guess I would like to hear what an MLS team name would be, before I'd be whole heartedly supportive. Macedonia Knights? Dragons? Perhaps they'll grab the Nordonia moniker since it'll be in both Northfield Center and Macedonia. Nordonia Devils would be kinda cool. The average person just sees a bunch of trees and wetlands alongside a busy highway. The wolsteins see kids, lots and lots of kids, in freshly mowed fields kicking a ball around and shopping. Vision... They said the EXACT same thing when the Coliseum went up...then it became obsolete as folks didn't go there. The cavs, the barons, the Crusaders, the Force, the Crunch all suffered because peeps don't wnat to drive out to the exurbs for their sports fix with NOTHING else to do. Have we learned nothing?? I see failure written all over this!
December 1, 200618 yr #1. Those wetlands serve a purpose! All over that part of Summit County, developers are draining the wetlands and putting crap up. All the sudden, houses are getting flooded! #2. I oppose this because it is, once again, squeezing up on the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. That park can't be touched on the inside, but everything that happens around it affects the health of the park. No one seems to care. I just hope that residents don't support it. This is silly. Put this sort of thing in Cleveland or Akron. Wolstein has created a cool little tool to help protest their development, too: http://www.neoprosoccer.com/take_action.aspx
December 1, 200618 yr Maybe its just me being from Cincinnati... but, why would they put a stadium SO far away from downtown!? I personally like it... even with a bajillion soccerfields just lining the side... it kind of reminds me of heaven
December 1, 200618 yr Maybe its just me being from Cincinnati... but, why would they put a stadium SO far away from downtown!? I personally like it... even with a bajillion soccerfields just lining the side... it kind of reminds me of heaven Are you sure you don't mean Hell?
December 1, 200618 yr why couldn't this have been done in the city, near the old stadium or in conjunction with the AA sports project. Cleveland school children, the community, CSU could have all benefitted from a structure like this. The could grow leagues and have championships held there. This is stupid. Is the developer asking for tax payer money for this?
December 1, 200618 yr Yep, the developer wants tax money to pay for half of this. Brilliant! :| Shit like this is exactly why I left Cleveland
December 1, 200618 yr Yep, the developer wants tax money to pay for half of this. Brilliant! :| Shit like this is exactly why I left Cleveland Hey, that's Summit County that wants this stadium. I would never want this city to subsidize a soccer team, but it would be great if Krenzler field could have been turned into something like this. Does it crack anyone up that this would have a retractable dome?
December 1, 200618 yr If they dont put it in nearby cleveland downtown-ish, why not put it in downtown Akron?? Or am I making to much sense to myself?
December 1, 200618 yr ^because the lifestyle center and big box portion is what will help them make a lot of cash. Also, how the hell would they ever assemble that much land in downtown cleveland or akron? I'm sure that they'd have to build parking garages, clean up contaminated land, etc.
December 1, 200618 yr If only there was already a large stadium in downtown Cleveland that was only used 10 times a year... I'm sure the answer is earlier in the thread, but why can't a soccer team play in Browns Stadium?
December 1, 200618 yr Yep, the developer wants tax money to pay for half of this. Brilliant! :| Shit like this is exactly why I left Cleveland You prefer the $900MM or so NY taxpayers about to lavish on the Yankees and Mets? I think it's stupid too, but it's hardly Clevo-specific.
December 1, 200618 yr If only there was already a large stadium in downtown Cleveland that was only used 10 times a year... I'm sure the answer is earlier in the thread, but why can't a soccer team play in Browns Stadium? The MLS policy is to award expansion franchises to cities that will build 20-25k soccer-only stadiums.
December 1, 200618 yr I wonder what they will call this team? With a team in Columbus, "Ohio" is out. I can't see them calling it the "Akron.." But, it would be more of an Akron team than a Cleveland team, so I can't see them putting 'cleveland' in the name. Nobody outside of this area knows what Western Reserve means. NEO United
December 1, 200618 yr ^It'll proably be called the Cleveland ________s just because it would get more name recognition.
December 1, 200618 yr It is also probably another reason it's in Macedon instead of downtown Akron. It draws into the flawed theory that putting the stadium between two cities will draw from both. This failed with the Coliseum and it will likely fail again. It succeeds in making it about 30 minutes from Everything. If Major League Soccer grows as the Wolstein Group expects, the payroll from soccer at the stadium could reach $40 million in 10 years, Garofolo said. Is this the same boom in soccer that's supposed to have taken hold in this country for something like the past 20 years? And perhaps we should ask the folks in Eastlake what kind of financial state their new stadium has put them in.
December 18, 200618 yr All from the 12/1/06 ABJ: SUMMIT SOCCER STADIUM PLAN UNVEILED Public dollars part of financing By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer MACEDONIA - It is the perfect site: the crossroads of Northeast Ohio. That's what drew Paul Garofolo and Scott Wolstein to northern Summit County as the proposed site for a 20,000-seat soccer stadium with a retractable dome and grass surface. On Thursday, Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group of Moreland Hills unveiled a project estimated at $327 million that would have the stadium -- to be home for an expansion Major League Soccer team and other events -- two retail developments, a medical complex, at least one hotel and up to 15 restaurants. The 450-acre site is on the east side of state Route 8 between I-271 and the Ohio Turnpike in the city of Macedonia and Northfield Center Township. The project hinges on construction of the stadium, they said, and the stadium will require public tax dollars to make it work. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16138870.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news Outdoor retailer could be key to development A highly popular retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear may be an anchor to a proposed retail development in northern Summit County. The retailer was not identified by name at Thursday's media event in Macedonia, although it is said to be Cabela's Inc., based in Nebraska. It has 18 stores in 16 states and an additional 12 stores in the works. This would be Cabela's first outlet in Ohio. At 250,000 square feet, it could occupy about 30 percent of the space in Chapel Hill or Summit malls, both of which are about 850,000 square feet. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16138888.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news About the complex 20,000 seats Soccer stadium with 20,000 seats. Could accommodate another 5,000 in suites and standing-room areas. Would have retractable roof and movable natural grass field. May be expanded to 30,000 seats. Would be home to an expansion Major League Soccer team, perhaps in 2009. Would be used for international and collegiate matches. Would cost $170 million. Would be used for concerts, basketball and other events. Could be surrounded by 25 lighted soccer fields. Medical complex Medical complex costing $30 million. Would have 24-hour urgent care center, medical office building, sports rehabilitation facility and wellness center. Retail areas One would cover 425,000 square feet on 45 acres. Would be similar to Crocker Park in Westlake and Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. The second retail area would cover 250,000 square feet on 30 acres for a retailer, believed to be Cabela's Inc. The two developments would cost $120 million. At least one hotel costing $7.5 million and perhaps up to 15 restaurants. Who's paying? A cigarette tax of about 30 cents a pack in Summit County. It would require approval of the Ohio Legislature, Summit County Council and perhaps voters. Up to $14 million in state grants. The money would be sought for the soccer stadium. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16138937.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
December 18, 200618 yr From the 12/2/06 ABJ: Stadium plan's fans have clout Bipartisan support comes with caveat that funding would be closely watched By Rick Armon Beacon Journal staff writer The Summit County delegation to the state legislature is willing to fight for state tax money to help build a professional soccer stadium in the county, several lawmakers said Friday. But they warned they wouldn't support a local cigarette tax unless county residents vote on it. And they said the project will face intense scrutiny, especially when it comes to how it's financed. The Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group unveiled the $327 million, 450-acre project on Thursday. It includes a 20,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof, medical campus and two retail developments to be built along state Route 8 in Macedonia and Northfield Center Township. The entire project is contingent on the stadium, which could host a Major League Soccer franchise. The facility, estimated to cost $170 million, would be owned by the Summit County Port Authority and paid for through a 30-cent per pack tax on cigarettes, ticket surcharges, $14 million in state grants, private financing and other sources, officials have said. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16147914.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
December 18, 200618 yr From the 12/5/06 ABJ: Stadium plan stumbles with some Flood of pro e-mail kicked back by state By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer A flood of e-mail from supporters of a proposed $170 million soccer stadium in northern Summit County led state officials to cut off the messages and bounce them back to the company behind the project. The volume of incoming e-mail to the Ohio legislature reached 104 a minute and more than 420,000 messages may have been sent to Columbus. The deluge threatened the state's computer system, Tasha Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the Republican Caucus of Ohio House Republicans, said Monday afternoon. The state's computer system was "at risk of crashing,'' she said. The incoming e-mail was cut off only after state officials determined that the messages were not from individuals but were being sent out en masse and were considered spam, she said. The Wolstein Sports and Entertainment Group, the Moreland Hills company behind the stadium project, set up a new Web site on Thursday. Anyone going to www.neoprosoccer.com was encouraged to write positive comments about the project proposed for Macedonia and Northfield Center Township. The company's server automatically turned each message into 350 separate messages to members of the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate and to other state leaders. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16166946.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
December 18, 200618 yr From the 12/8/06 PD: Summit may bypass voters on tax for soccer complex Friday, December 08, 2006 April McClellan-Copeland Plain Dealer Reporter Akron -- State lawmakers may bypass voters and impose a cigarette tax in Summit County to raise money for a proposed soccer stadium. Gov. Bob Taft, House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate President Bill Harris have agreed to consider a request by developer Paul Garofolo to give the county special permission to impose the tax instead of taking the issue to county voters, said Tasha Hamilton, Husted's spokeswoman. The tax legislation had not been drafted as of Thursday, Hamilton said. State law allows any Ohio county to impose a tax of up to 4.5 cents per pack of cigarettes for building a sports facility, according to Gary Gudmundson, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Taxation. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/1165571688326570.xml&coll=2
December 18, 200618 yr From the 12/13/06 ABJ: Stadium tax plan in hands of Senate Proposal would raise money for soccer arena from cigarette tariffs By Phil Trexler and Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writers Time is running out on a cigarette-tax proposal to generate $7 million a year for a soccer stadium in northern Summit County. Supporters of the project were disappointed when the cigarette tax was left out of the state capital budget that left the Ohio House of Representatives last week. The budget bill is now in the Senate, and efforts continue to include the cigarette-tax measure before legislators go home for the holidays next week. If approved by legislators, the cigarette tax could then be considered by Summit County Council and placed before voters, perhaps as early as 2007. "It's alive and kicking, but it's on life support,'' state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, said Tuesday. The tax is considered the financing centerpiece of a $170 million soccer stadium plan unveiled Nov. 30 to lawmakers and the public by developers Scott Wolstein and Paul Garofolo of Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group of Moreland Hills. The 30-cents-a-pack cigarette tax is expected to raise $210 million over 30 years to pay off bonds issued to finance construction of the stadium. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16228150.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
December 18, 200618 yr From the 12/17/06 ABJ: Soccer questions answered Where would money for stadium, retail complex come from; where would it go? By Phil Trexler and Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writers State Rep. Brian Williams walked into his office last week to find a 50-page document on his desk. The pages contained proposed legislation that would allow Summit County government to levy a hefty cigarette tax to fund a new $170 million soccer stadium -- and the Akron Democrat was listed as the sponsor of the bill. Funny thing, though. Williams didn't ask for the legislation, nor is he yet a supporter of the proposal. Williams tried, but he was unable to find the person who left the bundle on his desk. "I thought, 'Something crazy's going on here,' '' he said. "I didn't ask for it. And I still don't know who did. I'm all for jobs and economic development, but I still have a lot of questions about this project.'' http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16260136.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
December 18, 200618 yr Wow $170 million for a soccer stadium? LOL This is one headache I am glad to not have to deal with in SW Ohio. Although we have too many malls that eat into each other providing a half ass shopping experience. Do you guys have concerns that this will lure away events that might be held in the city of Cleveland?
December 18, 200618 yr One of the main issues for me is this stadium doesn't help Cleveland or Akron or a lot of the surrounding communities. This doesn't help Cuyahoga Falls with their Blossom Music Center. It also doesn't help the Cuyahoga Valley N.P. which is about a 1/2 mile away. Its kind of nice driving along Rt 8 highway and looking over at all the trees and wetlands on both sides of the highway for 3-4 miles. I don't think the people that are living directly in the area would be too happy having this white elephant coming in stripping out the wetlands for soccer fields all over the place. I currently reside in Macedonia but I'm thankfully a good 7-8 miles from where this thing would go in at. In my mind Macedonia is a blue collar suburb with touches of white collar definitely. The focus here is football especially with one of the top high school running backs in the state ever in Nordonia. Macedonia or the immediate area is absolutely not hurting for more shopping either. There are enough enormous old empty malls and old outdated shopping centers around Northeast Ohio that could be redeveloped that there would be no need to turn up fields next to a highway just to add more easy shopping. A brand new huge strip of stores just went up 4 miles north of this. In retailing options and ease, Northeast Ohio definitely does not lack. Personally if they're going to build it somewhere they should tear down Randall Park Mall one of the largest malls in the country pre 1985. That location is just 10 miles further up rt. 8. The opportunity cost is that should the University of Akron decide they would like to use a small cigarette tax to build their football stadium this would obviously make it unlikely for them to use this vehicle. I think the UofA's stadium is in the range of $75-90million.
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