Getting ready for the green stuff. 

 

On 4/11/2021 at 7:01 PM, .justin said:

 

I was just looking back through these pictures, and noticed how nicely the old power plant gets framed by the corner opening. The SE and SW corners each have really cool views that really tie the stadium in to the surrounding area. The NE and NW corners will eventually have a similar feel as surrounding development come on line. I think this is an underrated aspect of the stadium that will really become noticeable once people are able to get inside the stadium. It's something you don't really get with a stadium which has closed corners in more of an arena style.

46 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

I was just looking back through these pictures, and noticed how nicely the old power plant gets framed by the corner opening. The SE and SW corners each have really cool views that really tie the stadium in to the surrounding area. The NE and NW corners will eventually have a similar feel as surrounding development come on line. I think this is an underrated aspect of the stadium that will really become noticeable once people are able to get inside the stadium. It's something you don't really get with a stadium which has closed corners in more of an arena style.

 

I noticed that too and actually took a photo of that corner -- it'll be nice once the smokestack gets painted yellow:

 

Edited April 16, 20214 yr by .justin

That's awesome!! I concur, once Astor Park is built out, all 4 corners will have their own independent look and feel.

 

What is fascinating about this is how in less than 2.5 years, they went from losing the team because they were unable to secure financing and even a site (yes, I know this location had been proposed for a while but it was obviously never finalized until it was) and having the location, land transfers, easements and financing all accomplished over that short time frame. 

Cincinnati had essentially a year head start and is opening their stadium in the same season. 

19 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

What is fascinating about this is how in less than 2.5 years, they went from losing the team because they were unable to secure financing and even a site (yes, I know this location had been proposed for a while but it was obviously never finalized until it was) and having the location, land transfers, easements and financing all accomplished over that short time frame. 

 

That isn't why Columbus almost lost the Crew.  Columbus almost lost the Crew because Anthony Precourt purchased the team in 2013 with the intent to move the team to Austin - and with the assistance of MLS.  Precourt's purchase agreement with MLS had a clause that allowed him to move to Austin.  The interesting quote on the previous page from one of Precourt's henchmen, Dave Greenley, talked about Austin's 2021 season being a process "that was 8 years in the making"(!)

 

So it wasn't that Precourt couldn't secure this site or financing for new Crew stadium, it was that he had zero interest because he always wanted to have a team in Austin.  And MLS was going to let them leave and "replace" them with a Cincinnati team.

 

Ultimately, because SaveTheCrew caused such a public relations mess for MLS and because local leaders sued Precourt and MLS using the Modell Law - MLS brokered the much better deal we have today.  Precourt got an expansion team in Austin, Cincinnati got an expansion team, and the Crew were saved with much better ownership.

22 minutes ago, Columbo said:

 

That isn't why Columbus almost lost the Crew.  Columbus almost lost the Crew because Anthony Precourt purchased the team in 2013 with the intent to move the team to Austin - and with the assistance of MLS.  Precourt's purchase agreement with MLS had a clause that allowed him to move to Austin.  The interesting quote on the previous page from one of Precourt's henchmen, Dave Greenley, talked about Austin's 2021 season being a process "that was 8 years in the making"(!)

 

So it wasn't that Precourt couldn't secure this site or financing for new Crew stadium, it was that he had zero interest because he always wanted to have a team in Austin.  And MLS was going to let them leave and "replace" them with a Cincinnati team.

 

Ultimately, because SaveTheCrew caused such a public relations mess for MLS and because local leaders sued Precourt and MLS using the Modell Law - MLS brokered the much better deal we have today.  Precourt got an expansion team in Austin, Cincinnati got an expansion team, and the Crew were saved with much better ownership.

I did not mean to imply that the stadium was the reason why they almost lost The crew, they were moving to Austin no matter what once the team was sold. We just didn’t know the true intentions until a few years later. I was more just implying how impressive they were to get the stadium built and ready in the amount of time that it took

8 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

I did not mean to imply that the stadium was the reason why they almost lost The crew, they were moving to Austin no matter what once the team was sold. We just didn’t know the true intentions until a few years later. I was more just implying how impressive they were to get the stadium built and ready in the amount of time that it took

 

Understood.

 

Also, the city and team (under new ownership) got pretty lucky because the site of the new stadium was originally going to be the casino location passed by state voters in 2012.  But then local leaders forced another vote that moved the casino to a brownfield site on the west side.

 

So this site got totally prepped (with an abandoned building demo'd) and later Nationwide purchased the then-vacant site - all before the city and team got involved.  So that helped greatly with the time needed to get the stadium started.

37 minutes ago, Columbo said:

 

Understood.

 

Also, the city and team (under new ownership) got pretty lucky because the site of the new stadium was originally going to be the casino location passed by state voters in 2012.  But then local leaders forced another vote that moved the casino to a brownfield site on the west side.

 

So this site got totally prepped (with an abandoned building demo'd) and later Nationwide purchased the then-vacant site - all before the city and team got involved.  So that helped greatly with the time needed to get the stadium started.

 

Not only did the casino not happen, but there was also the Pen West development (or whatever it was called) that never actually got started. The stadium still probably could have been built even if that development would have happened since that development was essentially going in the exact spot the office and residential buildings will be built, but I'm sure it would have made things more complicated.

10 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Not only did the casino not happen, but there was also the Pen West development (or whatever it was called) that never actually got started. The stadium still probably could have been built even if that development would have happened since that development was essentially going in the exact spot the office and residential buildings will be built, but I'm sure it would have made things more complicated.

Wow, never saw the renderings for that pen west development. Thank god that didn’t go through. Those buildings looked like complete garbage. 

19 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Wow, never saw the renderings for that pen west development. Thank god that didn’t go through. Those buildings looked like complete garbage. 

 

Yea, that weren't great. The stadium still could have been built even if Pen West had been built, but I think what we are getting now is much better.

 

Here's what we could have had...

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Yea, that weren't great. The stadium still could have been built even if Pen West had been built, but I think what we are getting now is much better.

 

Here's what we could have had...

 

 

 

FYI:  That was a Borror-led proposal that would have had their HQ office near the former power plant, then a parking garage, and then a mostly residential building along that new road.  It fell through after Borror ended up putting their offices in the White Castle project in the Short North.

 

The Nationwide-owned property (e.g. the former casino property and now the stadium site) only ever had a very conceptual site plan for a mostly residential development that probably would have been like the 3-story Flats on Vine condo buildings.

 

All in all - it really is amazing that we're getting this stadium/astor park development in this form.

2 hours ago, VintageLife said:

Wow, never saw the renderings for that pen west development. Thank god that didn’t go through. Those buildings looked like complete garbage. 

And Astor Park has put the final nail in the coffin for the chance of any development in the area to have the awful name of "Pen West"... One of many wins in this situation.

4 hours ago, Toddguy said:

And Astor Park has put the final nail in the coffin for the chance of any development in the area to have the awful name of "Pen West"... One of many wins in this situation.

What’s the issue with “Pen West” as a name? Why’s it worse than “Astor Park”? What am I missing?

I actually prefer Pen West because it has some relationship to the history of its location. Astor Park seems like it came out of a random name generator for early 2000's suburbs. A few different clicks and we could have had Highland Ridge or Maple Village or Park Trails or Deer Brook, etc. 

1 hour ago, 17thState said:

I actually prefer Pen West because it has some relationship to the history of its location. Astor Park seems like it came out of a random name generator for early 2000's suburbs. A few different clicks and we could have had Highland Ridge or Maple Village or Park Trails or Deer Brook, etc. 

Or....Oak Heights, Glenn Hills, Spring Grove, Towne Pointe 

On 4/16/2021 at 9:47 PM, 614love said:

What’s the issue with “Pen West” as a name? Why’s it worse than “Astor Park”? What am I missing?

Because it is referring to the Penitentiary, which was a horrible place overall IMO and the scene of one of the worst building fires in US history and by far the most deadly in Ohio(over 300 dead-the vast majority in for rather minor or petty crimes-not awful violent ones). It was old, foreboding, and falling apart and was as an ugly symbol of decay that to me matched it's ugly past. I remember it well as I sometimes parked next to the walls-which a stretch of collapsed onto parked cars at one point. It was ugly in just about every way to me, and the only reminder of it's existence should be a memorial to the victims of the disaster that happened there as far as I am concerned.  If they had saved a small portion for that purpose I would have been fine with that. 

 

YMMV, of course.  And we all know about opinions too-yours is fine, just different than mine.

 

 

*It was also explained why they chose the name when they announced the name. Astor Park, Confluence Park, Arena West, Haslam Heights, Precourt-sucks-ville, I don't care what it is just about anything would be preferable over "Pen West" to me.

 

I hope this answers your questions. 🤝

It really was a gulag even if the main building had a nice facade. It really stuck out in the shiny, new cleaned-up Columbus of the late 1980s. Frankly it looked like it should have been torn down by the '50s. The walls were very imposing and it was unpleasant to drive past, especially on Neil Avenue. The whole area looked scummy and couldn't be made nice like most other old buildings can,

On 4/18/2021 at 7:59 PM, GCrites80s said:

It really was a gulag even if the main building had a nice facade. It really stuck out in the shiny, new cleaned-up Columbus of the late 1980s. Frankly it looked like it should have been torn down by the '50s. The walls were very imposing and it was unpleasant to drive past, especially on Neil Avenue. The whole area looked scummy and couldn't be made nice like most other old buildings can,

Yeah the area was more than bit scummy and very desolate at night...but still...RIP Herbie's-the first LGBT bar I ever went to. There was a sh#tload of gravel lots and tracks through that area.  A part of the facade either in place or relocated would have been the only part possibly worth saving IMO for historical purposes(and a memorial as well IMO).

Sod has arrived:

 

Edited April 20, 20214 yr by .justin

1 hour ago, .justin said:

Sod has arrived:

 

Somebody on reddit pointed out that it's getting grass on 4/20.  Coincidence?

The seats are so close to the field. This is going to be a great place to watch a game.

 

 

We really should do a UO Meet at a Crew game when we can.  

Construction update from yesterday by Red Hawk Drone.

 

 

Grass.

 

3 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

Grass.

 

Someone should find a way to send these great pics to Precourt, especially the ones where the skyline is visible through the southeast opening...since his stadium will not have this since it is so far away from downtown Austin basically stuck out in a low rise suburbanish commercial zone.

More grass.

 

 

6 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

Grass.

 

 

Whoa. The mirroring of the pitch with the opening of the roof is just...wow. I just keeping loving all the nuances of this stadium.

That's a pretty interesting "pattern" on the grass. I suppose it will go away once the sod takes hold and starts growing.

First parts of the bridge being assembled. 

 

 

Random question, but all of the renderings have shown that roof to be gray/black matching the wrap finishing of the stadium.  It almost looks like it could have a matte finish.  As it is right now, it looks to be just a raw metal, being very shiny reflective.  I'm really hoping that this is not the finished product, because it just gives it a very unfinished look IMO.  I'm loving everything about this stadium, and all of the interior renderings and lounges look top of the line, but if the roof remains as it is, I will feel like we got short changed on what was proposed.  I realize it's just a roof, but in the age of drones and image, it better be completed as advertised.  All that being said, I also realize we have a little over 2 more months of construction, so I may be getting ahead of myself.  Anyone have inside info on the status of the roof?

 

Posting the current drone pic posted on insta vs what is in all of the renderings...

 

 

27 minutes ago, Gnoraa said:

Random question, but all of the renderings have shown that roof to be gray/black matching the wrap finishing of the stadium.  It almost looks like it could have a matte finish.  As it is right now, it looks to be just a raw metal, being very shiny reflective.  I'm really hoping that this is not the finished product, because it just gives it a very unfinished look IMO.  I'm loving everything about this stadium, and all of the interior renderings and lounges look top of the line, but if the roof remains as it is, I will feel like we got short changed on what was proposed.  I realize it's just a roof, but in the age of drones and image, it better be completed as advertised.  All that being said, I also realize we have a little over 2 more months of construction, so I may be getting ahead of myself.  Anyone have inside info on the status of the roof?

 

Posting the current drone pic posted on insta vs what is in all of the renderings...

 

 

 

Thanks for asking this question; I too have been curious to know if this is the final iteration of the roof. I too hope not, and that the stadium is finished according to the renderings. Or might a name/advertising be going on the roof soon, hence the lack of finish?

51 minutes ago, Gnoraa said:

Random question, but all of the renderings have shown that roof to be gray/black matching the wrap finishing of the stadium.  It almost looks like it could have a matte finish.  As it is right now, it looks to be just a raw metal, being very shiny reflective.  I'm really hoping that this is not the finished product, because it just gives it a very unfinished look IMO.  I'm loving everything about this stadium, and all of the interior renderings and lounges look top of the line, but if the roof remains as it is, I will feel like we got short changed on what was proposed.  I realize it's just a roof, but in the age of drones and image, it better be completed as advertised.  All that being said, I also realize we have a little over 2 more months of construction, so I may be getting ahead of myself.  Anyone have inside info on the status of the roof?

 

Posting the current drone pic posted on insta vs what is in all of the renderings...

 

 

From what I have read on other forums, it is not finished yet, and I would have to agree. Seems insane that owners would spend $300+ million on a stadium and leave a roof like that. 

12 hours ago, CMHOhio said:

 

Thanks for asking this question; I too have been curious to know if this is the final iteration of the roof. I too hope not, and that the stadium is finished according to the renderings. Or might a name/advertising be going on the roof soon, hence the lack of finish?

This is my assumption. It could also be a reallocation of labor to finish the parts of the stadium critical to opening day, versus things like the roof finish that are not required for occupation.

But the panels on the sides were pre-finished, no? So why not on the roof? Thats been my curiosity. Without prefinished panels, they now also have to control overspray underneath etc so it is generally odd to me as well. Seems like it's more work in the end to me. 

44 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

But the panels on the sides were pre-finished, no? So why not on the roof? Thats been my curiosity. Without prefinished panels, they now also have to control overspray underneath etc so it is generally odd to me as well. Seems like it's more work in the end to me. 

This is from someone who toured the stadium back in March or so, this was the information they were told. 
 

“The Roof: Someone in here suggested the existing roof would be "painted," and that person deserves an apology from those of us who poo-pooed the suggestion. Well, mostly. The existing roof is "the" roof, but will be "coated." With what type of material, I don't know, but the bottom line is that there is not an additional roofing layer that's going on top of what you see now.”

 

It sounds like it will be a type of coated roof, maybe not paint but possibly something that is rolled or sprayed on. 

On the eve of another Crew game this Saturday, I wanted to post a stadium-related pic and the neighborhood-related pic I found:

 

The stadium-related pic is from 

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMassive/comments/mwkq03/nice_pics_of_crews_new_grass_but_look_at_this/

 

This reddit user posted a photo of the field before the dirt and sod were installed.  It shows a heating system for the field that underlays that beautiful green grass.  Pretty clever and useful for our climate and another upgrade from Historic Crew Stadium to New Crew Stadium:

 

As for the neighborhood-related pic, a Crew fan at https://twitter.com/crewfanscott/status/1388534180536066069 shared this photo of the new pedestrian bridge spanning the river installed:

 

On 4/29/2021 at 12:09 PM, VintageLife said:

This is from someone who toured the stadium back in March or so, this was the information they were told. 
 

“The Roof: Someone in here suggested the existing roof would be "painted," and that person deserves an apology from those of us who poo-pooed the suggestion. Well, mostly. The existing roof is "the" roof, but will be "coated." With what type of material, I don't know, but the bottom line is that there is not an additional roofing layer that's going on top of what you see now.”

 

It sounds like it will be a type of coated roof, maybe not paint but possibly something that is rolled or sprayed on. 

 

Paint people call paints "coatings", FWIW.

1 hour ago, GCrites80s said:

 

Paint people call paints "coatings", FWIW.

Ah, well I learned something new, thanks. Either way, the roof isn’t finished, so that’s awesome. 

If we're posting bridge pics, I took this last saturday

 

 

Are they repurposing the structure on the other side of the bridge (right to the right of the tree)?  The little concrete building at the end of Nationwide?  Looks like its being renovated.  Thanks!

 

 

Edited May 24, 20214 yr by OhioFinest

Looks like the parking garage may start soon. The downtown commission meeting tomorrow has the garage, Columbus crew way and some of the landscaping on the agenda. 

Edited May 25, 20214 yr by VintageLife
Added some pictures.

 

Here is a video I got with my drone from inside the new Crew Stadium.

 

 

Edited May 26, 20214 yr by RedHawk Drone

I haven't been over to that area in a while, but now that the stadium is almost complete have they started work on all the surrounding mixed use projects?

47 minutes ago, TIm said:

I haven't been over to that area in a while, but now that the stadium is almost complete have they started work on all the surrounding mixed use projects?

 

Not yet. They are using most of the area the parking garage and office building will be built on as parking for the massive amount of construction workers working on the stadium every day. Once the stadium opens in July they will likely begin work on the garage and then the rest of the components will follow.

Bridge parts delivery

 

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 20214 yr by Pablo

2 hours ago, Pablo said:

Bridge parts delivery

 

WOW 😮  Did they make that turn on to Nationwide?

^Yes, but just barely