Posted July 11, 20195 yr New task force to develop vision for Ohio Expo Center Gov. Mike DeWine is launching new task force Thursday to help develop a long-term vision for the Ohio Expo Center. The event venue is home to the Ohio State Fair and other nearby attractions like Mapfre Stadium and the Ohio History Connection. The task force, dubbed Expo 2050, will review the future uses of the center and its surrounding amenities, according to a news release. The task force was designed to make sure an experience at the expo will include activities that "allow the public to get the most use and enjoyment" out of the area, according to the release. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/11/new-task-force-to-develop-vision-for-ohio-expo.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 11, 20195 yr On 7/11/2019 at 4:51 PM, ColDayMan said: New task force to develop vision for Ohio Expo Center Gov. Mike DeWine is launching new task force Thursday to help develop a long-term vision for the Ohio Expo Center. The event venue is home to the Ohio State Fair and other nearby attractions like Mapfre Stadium and the Ohio History Connection. The task force, dubbed Expo 2050, will review the future uses of the center and its surrounding amenities, according to a news release. The task force was designed to make sure an experience at the expo will include activities that "allow the public to get the most use and enjoyment" out of the area, according to the release. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/11/new-task-force-to-develop-vision-for-ohio-expo.html This is about a decade too late, the area is vastly misused and could be a hot bed for more hotels in close proximity to downtown and would've gotten the city off the hook for a new stadium for the Crew. I've shared my VERY rough idea of what I would do with the area a couple of times on here. "CL" would be Columbus LIVE! similar to what they have in South Philly and Arlington, TX among others. The yellow highlighted area would be hotels/mixed use areas. The OHC would remain but in a smaller footprint. Parking would be added via two new decks and some remaining flat parking for tailgating purposes. The red outline would be the fairgrounds and relocation of the OHSP to either London, Reynoldsburg where the fire academy is located or a new location TBD. The darker green would be the Crew's new training facility and the light green the main roads throughout.
September 23, 20195 yr Not sure if we should lump in the redevelopment of the current Mapfre Stadium site with the new stadium thread, create a new one, or just track it here. Regardless....the engineering application have been submitted to begin preliminary site work in preparation for the new training facility and community center to be built around Mapfre Stadium. https://portal.columbus.gov/Permits/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Engineering&TabName=Engineering&capID1=19PCS&capID2=00000&capID3=00226&agencyCode=COLUMBUS&IsToShowInspection=
November 14, 20195 yr Author Mapfre Stadium redevelopment negotiations to move forward after state commission vote A state commission on Thursday voted to move forward on a plan that could eventually allow the Columbus Crew SC and the city of Columbus to use state land to build a $30 million Crew training facility and community sports park at the site of Mapfre Stadium, despite lingering concerns from many members about the project. The Ohio Expositions Commission voted to allow the Ohio Department of Administrative Services to negotiate with the Confluence Community Authority, an entity controlled by the Crew, the city of Columbus and Franklin County, on plans for the site. The soccer team recently scaled back its vision for the Mapfre site as a result of commissioners' previously expressed concerns. The Crew now hopes to expand its existing 17-acre lease (set to expire in 2023) by 23 acres, to accommodate the development of the community sports park. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/11/14/mapfre-stadium-redevelopment-negotiations-to-move.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 15, 20195 yr 2 hours ago, ColDayMan said: Mapfre Stadium redevelopment negotiations to move forward after state commission vote A state commission on Thursday voted to move forward on a plan that could eventually allow the Columbus Crew SC and the city of Columbus to use state land to build a $30 million Crew training facility and community sports park at the site of Mapfre Stadium, despite lingering concerns from many members about the project. The Ohio Expositions Commission voted to allow the Ohio Department of Administrative Services to negotiate with the Confluence Community Authority, an entity controlled by the Crew, the city of Columbus and Franklin County, on plans for the site. The soccer team recently scaled back its vision for the Mapfre site as a result of commissioners' previously expressed concerns. The Crew now hopes to expand its existing 17-acre lease (set to expire in 2023) by 23 acres, to accommodate the development of the community sports park. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/11/14/mapfre-stadium-redevelopment-negotiations-to-move.html Does someone want to give me odds that the Browns end up having training camp here within the decade?
November 19, 20195 yr On 11/14/2019 at 7:01 PM, wpcc88 said: Does someone want to give me odds that the Browns end up having training camp here within the decade? Obetz' old mayor said he was going to take away access to the current Crew training facility unless they brought a Browns event to Fortress Obetz. He got voted out a couple weeks ago though.
February 25, 20205 yr Author Columbus Crew, OhioHealth ink sponsorship deal OhioHealth is doubling down on its commitment to Columbus Crew SC, turning its longtime status as the team's healthcare sponsor into a naming-rights deal for the Crew’s planned training facility. Under the deal, the club’s future $30 million training facility on the site of the existing Mapfre Stadium will be known as the OhioHealth Performance Center. The training facility, set to open in 2021, is slated to house the Crew’s headquarters and player training center. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/02/25/columbus-crew-ohiohealth-ink-sponsorship-deal.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 17, 20204 yr With the Crew announcing that they have broken ground on their new training facility next to Mapfre Stadium on the Ohio Expo Center grounds (aka The State Fairgrounds), I thought it would be a good idea to break this construction news - plus any other Fairgrounds development and planning news - into a separate thread.
June 17, 20204 yr https://www.thisweeknews.com/sports/20200608/crew-announces-it-has-broken-ground-on-training-facility
June 17, 20204 yr Link to the construction cam for the OhioHealth Performance Center next to Mapfre Stadium: https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/ohpc/construction-cam
September 19, 20204 yr Columbus Crew’s new training facility completes stage of construction ahead of summer 2021 opening Stamped with the Columbus Crew SC name and the signatures of club staff and players, the final steel beam was raised to the top of the Ohio Health Performance Center on the west side of Mapfre Stadium on Friday afternoon to commemorate an ending of one phase of construction on the club’s new training facility. On schedule to open June 2021, about a month before the new downtown stadium opens next year, the $30 million training facility will be 42,000 square feet with three fields for the Crew and one for the Crew Academy youth teams. Both the first team and academy will have their own locker rooms, lounges, training and workout rooms at the facility with a full dining area and kitchen. The first team will have its own sleep and recovery room in addition to a hydrotherapy area. Crew chief business officer Steve Lyons said the next phase of the project will be enclosing the facility while work continues on the practice fields. MORE: https://www.thisweeknews.com/sports/20200919/columbus-crewrsquos-new-training-facility-completes-stage-of-construction-ahead-of-summer-2021-opening
November 12, 20204 yr Above is a recent aerial of Mapfre Stadium on the State Fairgrounds (aka Ohio Expo Center) showing the on-going construction of the Crew's new team practice facility next to the stadium. Also visible is the construction staging area in the former parking lots that will become part of the City of Columbus' proposed recreational sports park at Mapfre Stadium. Or at least that is the plan. In the below-linked article, the Dispatch is reporting that this major piece of the new Crew Stadium deal that doesn't directly benefit the team, is now being negotiated with the State separately from the team's adjacent practice facility. Despite the on-going construction of the new Crew practice facility, the team and the State haven't finished a long-term lease of the state property yet. Since construction began in June, they have been operating with a series of short-term leases. The Dispatch is reporting that the hold-up on a long-term lease with the Crew is over the final dollar amount of the lease payments. The now-separate negotiations with the State over additional land needed for the City of Columbus' recreational sports park might be another matter. Previously, the Ohio Expositions Authority board - the group that managed the State Expo Center - has made noises about the amount of parking being lost to make way for sports park fields. And although the City's piece of the overall project - the sports park - wouldn't start until next year at the earliest, it sounds like the team doesn't want to get caught up in any difficulties between the City and the State over that part of the project. Or as the official statement from the City in the below-linked article says: 'The team and the city "are working together to negotiate separate leases on a parallel path," said Robin Davis, spokeswoman for Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther.' Columbus' plan for Mapfre sports park separated from Crew practice facility in talks with State
December 10, 20204 yr A ton of progress has been made at the Crew's new training center. They have laid grass for the training fields and appear to be putting up field lights.
December 28, 20204 yr Not sure if this is the spot for this, but couldn’t find a good one for it. Was at Aldi on silver drive and the lot in between Aldi and Lowe’s is being developed. Does anyone have any idea what’s going in?
December 28, 20204 yr 39 minutes ago, VintageLife said: Not sure if this is the spot for this, but couldn’t find a good one for it. Was at Aldi on silver drive and the lot in between Aldi and Lowe’s is being developed. Does anyone have any idea what’s going in? A Dollar Tree store is being tacked onto the Aldi.
January 31, 20214 yr On 11/12/2020 at 12:07 PM, Columbo said: Above is a recent aerial of Mapfre Stadium on the State Fairgrounds (aka Ohio Expo Center) showing the on-going construction of the Crew's new team practice facility next to the stadium. Also visible is the construction staging area in the former parking lots that will become part of the City of Columbus' proposed recreational sports park at Mapfre Stadium. Or at least that is the plan. In the below-linked article, the Dispatch is reporting that this major piece of the new Crew Stadium deal that doesn't directly benefit the team, is now being negotiated with the State separately from the team's adjacent practice facility. Despite the on-going construction of the new Crew practice facility, the team and the State haven't finished a long-term lease of the state property yet. Since construction began in June, they have been operating with a series of short-term leases. The Dispatch is reporting that the hold-up on a long-term lease with the Crew is over the final dollar amount of the lease payments. The now-separate negotiations with the State over additional land needed for the City of Columbus' recreational sports park might be another matter. Previously, the Ohio Expositions Authority board - the group that managed the State Expo Center - has made noises about the amount of parking being lost to make way for sports park fields. And although the City's piece of the overall project - the sports park - wouldn't start until next year at the earliest, it sounds like the team doesn't want to get caught up in any difficulties between the City and the State over that part of the project. Or as the official statement from the City in the below-linked article says: 'The team and the city "are working together to negotiate separate leases on a parallel path," said Robin Davis, spokeswoman for Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther.' Columbus' plan for Mapfre sports park separated from Crew practice facility in talks with State An update on the lease talks between the Crew and the State of Ohio (Ohio Expositions Commission) for a long-term lease for the Crew's new training facility at Mapfre Stadium: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/01/29/crew-training-site-lease-payment.html https://www.thisweeknews.com/story/news/2021/01/28/state-columbus-crew-reach-deal-for-training-facility-mapfre-stadium-fairgrounds/4276170001/ The Ohio Expositions Commission has agreed to a 75-year lease with the Crew. Here are the lease details: The Crew will make a $2 million up-front payment due in April Starting in 2022, the Crew will begin making annual rent payments to the commission of $100,000 a year for the next three years Those rent payments will grow to $200,000 in 2025, and will adjust every five years for inflation. After the first 40 years, the Crew will have an option to extend the lease five years at a time until the deal ultimately expires after 75 years in 2096. As noted previously, this deal with the Ohio Expositions Commission is specifically with the Crew, and not with the City of Columbus. In 2018, city officials announced that the city would build on the state's land a "Community Sports Park", adjacent to Mapfre Stadium and the Crew's new training facility, that could potentially include indoor community spaces, indoor basketball courts, a full-size indoor soccer field, and at least six outdoor athletic fields. City and State officials will only say that those lease negotiations are still on-going with no set deadline or timeline.
March 2, 20214 yr Mapfre no more: Columbus Crew seeks new naming-rights partner for historic stadium Hayleigh Colombo - Columbus Business First - Mar. 2, 2021 "Mapfre Stadium is no longer the name of Columbus Crew SC’s original stadium off Interstate 71. The Crew is now calling its original stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium in the nation, Historic Crew Stadium – at least until it gets a new naming-rights sponsor. ... The Crew’s deal with Mapfre Insurance, which was inked in 2015, expired at the end of December."
March 22, 20214 yr Columbus offers state $10 for land needed for Mapfre public sports park Bill Bush - Columbus Dispatch - Mar. 20, 2021 "...more than 27 months later, the city still has no deal with the Ohio Expositions Commission to transfer land needed for the project, which Ginther dubbed the 'Columbus Community Sport Park.' With its expansive outdoor playing fields, it would sit adjacent to a brand-new and enlarged Crew training facility that would also be built on state land, the mayor said. ... The city is offering to pay a total $10 in rent for the next century, which works out to less than a penny an acre annually, for prime state-owned land adjacent to a major highway, Interstate 71. ... Documents released by the state also show that the city's originally proposed site has gotten smaller, squeezed from the south by the state, and from the north, by the Crew's practice fields. The city's site allocation appears to be about a third smaller than the one displayed at the 2018 Ginther news conference."
May 20, 20214 yr Ohio Expo Commission allows city to begin working on sports park site but no lease yet Mark Ferenchik - The Dispatch - May 20, 2021 "The Ohio Expositions Commission has approved an agreement that allows the city of Columbus to start working on land near Mapfre Stadium for a new city recreational sports park, even though a lease agreement for the land is still being negotiated. ... Before finalizing a site plan, city officials will meet with leaders and residents of nearby areas, including Clintonville, Linden and the University District to hear what they'd like to see in the plan, Rakosky said. Those meetings will go at least through June. ... But Rakosky said the details on the lease agreement between the city and the commission for the land still have to be worked out. The city had offered to pay a total of $10 in rent for the next century, which works out to less than a penny an acre, for the state-owned land next to Interstate 71." When I went by last weekend to see the progress on the performance center, the new sign at the entrance on Silver Drive had the 1st version of the new logo ("Columbus SC" and the corner triangle). That sign only lasted a week!
June 9, 20214 yr OhioHealth Performance Center a ‘gamechanger’ for The Crew Charlie Hatch - ColumbusCrew.com - June 9, 2021
June 9, 20214 yr 40 minutes ago, NorthShore647 said: OhioHealth Performance Center a ‘gamechanger’ for The Crew Charlie Hatch - ColumbusCrew.com - June 9, 2021 "State-of-the-art" and "world-class" get thrown around alot when any MLS team opens a new training facility - but this is seriously GREAT(!!!) What a huge step up from the Obetz facility! Plus adding it to the original Crew Stadium, and thus preserving the first MLS soccer-specific-stadium, is a huge bonus! More about today's opening from the Dispatch, plus another youtube team video showing the rendering to reality: https://www.thisweeknews.com/story/sports/2021/06/09/columbus-crews-new-training-facility-aligns-clubs-aspirations/7560186002/
June 17, 20213 yr Despite no state lease for land, Ginther wants to begin $4M design work on new city sports park Bill Bush - The Dispatch - June 17, 2021 "Two and a half years after announcing it would build a community sports park on state land in connection with a new stadium deal for the Columbus Crew, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced Thursday he is proposing $4 million in capital dollars to begin design work. However, the city still has no lease from the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair for land needed for the project, which was originally scheduled to be under construction starting in July ... As Crew players worked out behind a fence, Ginther announced he would propose $4 million for 'design and engineering' work on the sports park, but declined to say whether the size of the expenditure meant that the facility would include an indoor recreation center, as initially proposed." Take the survey at - https://crpdsports.org/communitysportspark/
June 18, 20213 yr Author Here's where things stand with the community sports park planned near Historic Crew Stadium There are 200,000 people living within 3 miles of Historic Crew Stadium and Columbus officials say they want their feedback before building a new community sports park near the site. Now that the Crew’s new training center has opened and the team is ready to move its games to the new downtown stadium, Mayor Andrew Ginther said his office is proposing that the city spend $4 million on designing and engineering the new park. “Plans are taking shape,” Ginther said. “We want families from all walks of life to be able to engage, participate and enjoy these amenities, whether you’re a young person or a senior. We’re determined to get it right and that means listening and following the lead of our neighbors.” More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/06/18/community-sports-park-build.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 22, 20213 yr The OhioHealth Performance Center from the last game at Historic Crew Stadium You can just barley see the cup and some of our other hardware on the first floor Some additional photo's from the last Crew game at the fairgrounds People lining up to take a photo with the man that made history here in Columbus, and changed soccer in the US forever. Thanks for 22 years Lamar.
June 22, 20213 yr From the looks of it @NorthShore647and I were sitting very close to each other this past Saturday. Glad to see you made it to the game!
July 14, 20222 yr Ginther announcing right now the Ohio Expo Center still refusing to negotiate on land for the sports complex at Historic Crew Stadium, so instead Rec & Parks will invest money in the Kilbourne Run Sports Park to bring enhanced features to that soccer facility. He also said the city is still willing to build next to the stadium if Ohio Expo will negotiate.
July 14, 20222 yr 10 minutes ago, amped91 said: Ginther announcing right now the Ohio Expo Center still refusing to negotiate on land for the sports complex at Historic Crew Stadium, so instead Rec & Parks will invest money in the Kilbourne Run Sports Park to bring everything there that was planned for the stadium sports complex. Well that is annoying
July 14, 20222 yr But hey, some dude from Bucyrus will be able to park his F150 within walking distance of the state fair for a day. So I mean, it evens out for us in Columbus.
July 14, 20222 yr From a Columbus Underground article today. It’s always about parking…. “The plan to add recreation facilities to the stadium site ran into problems from the very beginning, the most significant one being that the entity that owns the land – the state of Ohio – never supported it. The leaders of both the Ohio Expositions Commission and the State Fair expressed concerns about losing parking, and an agreement was never worked out.” https://columbusunderground.com/city-dropping-plan-for-sports-complex-at-historic-crew-stadium-bw1/
July 14, 20222 yr 30 minutes ago, Kriegs said: From a Columbus Underground article today. It’s always about parking…. “The plan to add recreation facilities to the stadium site ran into problems from the very beginning, the most significant one being that the entity that owns the land – the state of Ohio – never supported it. The leaders of both the Ohio Expositions Commission and the State Fair expressed concerns about losing parking, and an agreement was never worked out.” https://columbusunderground.com/city-dropping-plan-for-sports-complex-at-historic-crew-stadium-bw1/ Put in a 3 level parking garage, problem solved.
July 14, 20222 yr 40 minutes ago, VintageLife said: Put in a 3 level parking garage, problem solved. I actually remember this being mentioned somewhere that the team and city offered to finance a garage but the Expo Center/State shot back that a garage was not a feasible option because of trailers and trucks that use the parking during the Quarter Horse. Do I buy that there was no way to build a garage capable of this? Not really, but I do buy the Expo Center/State wanting to just keep the excuses going or the city/team weren't willing to pay for a special designed garage. Edited July 14, 20222 yr by DevolsDance
July 14, 20222 yr 2 minutes ago, DevolsDance said: I actually remember this being mentioned somewhere that the team and city offered to finance a garage but the Expo Center/State shot back that a garage was not a feasible option because of trailers and trucks that use the parking during the Quarter Horse. Do I buy that there was no way to build a garage capable of this? Not really, but I do but the Expo Center/State wanting to just keep the excuses going or the city/team weren't willing to pay for a special designed garage. It’s a pretty easy work around, leave spaces in lots for trailers, cars go to the garage. It’s most likely the state and fair board just being idiots and not wanting to help the city.
July 15, 20222 yr 14 hours ago, DevolsDance said: I actually remember this being mentioned somewhere that the team and city offered to finance a garage but the Expo Center/State shot back that a garage was not a feasible option because of trailers and trucks that use the parking during the Quarter Horse. Do I buy that there was no way to build a garage capable of this? Not really, but I do buy the Expo Center/State wanting to just keep the excuses going or the city/team weren't willing to pay for a special designed garage. That's such a lame excuse... Basically what they are saying is they never had any interest in negotiating because they might be slightly inconvenienced at some point. There is so much space there, just build a garage and plan the events accordingly and have dedicated areas for trailers and what not during that one event where people have trailers. Peoples love of surface parking is just baffling. Edited July 15, 20222 yr by TIm
July 15, 20222 yr 8 minutes ago, TIm said: That's such a lame excuse... Basically what they are saying is they never had any interest in negotiating because they might be slightly inconvenienced at some point. There is so much space there, just build a garage and plan the events accordingly and have dedicated areas for trailers and what not during that one event where people have trailers. Peoples love of surface parking is just baffling. That one event is a massive month-long event which brings more than a half million people and upwards of $250M to Columbus. The American Quarter Horse Congress is huge deal and is one of the largest horse shows in the world. In fact, it's become so large that it's nearly outgrown the Ohio Expo Center. In recent years, the Quarter Horse Congress has started raising concerns over site constraints and suggested moving elsewhere. This would be a huge blow to the Ohio Expo Center, so from their perspective I can completely see why they wouldn't want to create any more constraints than what already exist. This isn't a classic development issue we generally run in to where people are just attached to surface parking just because they are used to it. In this situation, the amount of surface parking is quite literally what makes or breaks their ability to host their marquee event and they can't afford to lose anymore of it.
July 15, 20222 yr 16 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: That one event is a massive month-long event which brings more than a half million people and upwards of $250M to Columbus. The American Quarter Horse Congress is huge deal and is one of the largest horse shows in the world. In fact, it's become so large that it's nearly outgrown the Ohio Expo Center. In recent years, the Quarter Horse Congress has started raising concerns over site constraints and suggested moving elsewhere. This would be a huge blow to the Ohio Expo Center, so from their perspective I can completely see why they wouldn't want to create any more constraints than what already exist. This isn't a classic development issue we generally run in to where people are just attached to surface parking just because they are used to it. In this situation, the amount of surface parking is quite literally what makes or breaks their ability to host their marquee event and they can't afford to lose anymore of it. Seems like a fairly simple issue that can be solved by putting any effort into planning as far as I can see. Why not lease a lot somewhere else for the month, have trailers come in, do what they need to do and then head to the other lot and shuttle people over? Or do the opposite, limit all visitor parking to an offsite location and shuttle the visitors in and reserve all the onsite parking for trailers with horses. Seems super short sighted to just cry "my parking!" when they haven't even attempted to do anything to mitigate the issue or plan for the future of either the site growing or the event itself growing. I'm sure there are some large lots in South Linden they could lease for the month or they could coordinate with OSU and use football parking when there isn't games, parking for the Schot or somewhere else. They should try and do something other than just saying "Screw you Columbus, this event for people not from here is more important than those of you that live here". Just look at how they handle The Memorial golf tournament in Dublin. The golf course obviously can't handle all the PGA tournament traffic volume so they coordinate with the Zoo and have people park there then shuttle patrons over. Limits congestion onsite and probably spreads some more money around the local community by hiring shuttle services, bus drivers etc. Edited July 15, 20222 yr by TIm
July 15, 20222 yr 4 minutes ago, TIm said: Seems like a fairly simple issue that can be solved by putting any effort into planning as far as I can see. Why not lease a lot somewhere else for the month, have trailers come in, do what they need to do and then head to the other lot and shuttle people over? Or do the opposite, limit all visitor parking to an offsite location and shuttle the visitors in and reserve all the onsite parking for trailers with horses. If they do that then the AAQHC is leaving town, guaranteed. 6 minutes ago, TIm said: Seems super short sighted to just cry "my parking!" when they haven't even attempted to do anything to mitigate the issue or plan for the future of either the site growing or the event itself growing. I'm sure there are some large lots in South Linden they could lease for the month or they could coordinate with OSU and use football parking when there isn't games, parking for the Schot or somewhere else. They should try and do something other than just saying "Screw you Columbus, this event for people not from here is more important than those of you that live here". First off, we don't know what they've looked into and what they haven't looked into. Secondly, they aren't saying "screw you Columbus". The Ohio Expo Center exists to hold expositions. Their job is not to build youth soccer fields. I completely understand the frustration with the planned sports park not happening, but I can also see why the Ohio Expo Center feels they can't afford to lose that space. Ultimately, I don't see why we absolutely have to force a community sports park into this specific spot. There is plenty of space in this city to build that and also allow the Ohio Expo Center to continue operations as they see fit.
July 15, 20222 yr The city really botched this by making the public announcement before engaging the state/Expo Center/State Fair leadership. Part of the Columbus Way is a forced cooperation among community partners, but the state does not play that way. If the city wanted to offer something to the community as part of the Crew stadium deal/announcement, they should have committed to the community sports park without a specific site identified.
July 15, 20222 yr 28 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: If they do that then the AAQHC is leaving town, guaranteed. Wait, so we don't know for certain what they have/have not looked into but we know for certain they would leave town (to go where??) if they were asked to use another parking lot for some cars? I don't understand this logic at all. The organization that hosts this event is headquartered here and it's right in the middle of the State in a rapidly growing city, I think they could give a little leeway and still be happy. Edited July 15, 20222 yr by TIm
July 15, 20222 yr 56 minutes ago, TIm said: Wait, so we don't know for certain what they have/have not looked into but we know for certain they would leave town (to go where??) if they were asked to use another parking lot for some cars? I don't understand this logic at all. The organization that hosts this event is headquartered here and it's right in the middle of the State in a rapidly growing city, I think they could give a little leeway and still be happy. Yes, we do know for certain they would leave town. They've already threatened to do so. Forcing participants to stash their car in some off-site parking lot separate from their space on the fairgrounds is going to piss them off. The participants have already complained about other site constraints, and this would certainly bring about a ton of complaints. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/03/horse-show-threatening-to-abandon/24179055007/
July 15, 20222 yr That is one organization that I can picture could be unsympathetic to urbanist concerns.
July 15, 20222 yr 25 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: Yes, we do know for certain they would leave town. They've already threatened to do so. Forcing participants to stash their car in some off-site parking lot separate from their space on the fairgrounds is going to piss them off. The participants have already complained about other site constraints, and this would certainly bring about a ton of complaints. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/03/horse-show-threatening-to-abandon/24179055007/ That article is nine years old and there is no mention of parking-the problems mentioned were not enough horse stalls and the need for maybe a new building. A garage that could be used for parking(for cars) might be a solution and might even free up some space(but yeah, the $$$$$'s needed-that is why we need a patron saint billionaire for the city lol.)
July 15, 20222 yr I think it really is tunnel vision overall. The state/expo center really make or break their year with Quarter Horse, that is their Arnold. My guess is that they simply aren't willing to "risk" the possible blowback from the congress when they have something right now that works... even further is they see lots as a crucial piece of their offerings while they look around and see parks everywhere. Yes, the complex is more than a park, but I would guess in their eyes it really is just a fancy park. While solutions exist (parking over stables, custom garages, more efficient site plans), someone would have to pay and the expo center has to handle the blowback from extended construction and reorg the site. Truly, its not an impossible fix, but you have two sides with their heels dug in and I just do not see that changing. It's really unfortunate because the fairgrounds could be quite impressive with a serious master plan and the will to move forward on it, but everyone is too stubborn and likely too scared to take a risk with such large stakes... so here we are and here we will probably stay. Edited July 15, 20222 yr by DevolsDance
July 15, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, Toddguy said: That article is nine years old and there is no mention of parking-the problems mentioned were not enough horse stalls and the need for maybe a new building. A garage that could be used for parking(for cars) might be a solution and might even free up some space(but yeah, the $$$$$'s needed-that is why we need a patron saint billionaire for the city lol.) The article proves that the organization is willing to move elsewhere. And I never said it specifically mentioned parking. I pointed out that attendees have already been complaining for a while about constraints, so adding even more constraints will only make it more likely for them to look elsewhere.
July 15, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, cbussoccer said: The article proves that the organization is willing to move elsewhere. And I never said it specifically mentioned parking. I pointed out that attendees have already been complaining for a while about constraints, so adding even more constraints will only make it more likely for them to look elsewhere. The article absolutely does not prove they will leave, it just proves that they are willing to threaten to leave. The amount of time, effort and money they would need to sink into finding another acceptable venue with a ton of hotel options nearby that's also accessible for the patrons and participants in an area people would be happy to visit would be an enormous undertaking. Reads as an empty threat to me, especially since the article mentions they've made this threat before. Edited July 15, 20222 yr by TIm
July 15, 20222 yr Interestingly enough the existing 1970s-era main horse barn / building just south of 17th Ave bordering the railroad tracks has a very sizable parking lot on its roof - roughly 750 spaces, and is the only structure on the fairgrounds with this feature
July 16, 20222 yr On 7/14/2022 at 5:36 PM, Kriegs said: From a Columbus Underground article today. It’s always about parking…. “The plan to add recreation facilities to the stadium site ran into problems from the very beginning, the most significant one being that the entity that owns the land – the state of Ohio – never supported it. The leaders of both the Ohio Expositions Commission and the State Fair expressed concerns about losing parking, and an agreement was never worked out.” https://columbusunderground.com/city-dropping-plan-for-sports-complex-at-historic-crew-stadium-bw1/ Based on the site map in that article, it looks like they plan to realign the park entrance with Westerville Woods Rd and add a traffic light. Good news for traffic calming over there. Existing layout: Site map:
July 16, 20222 yr 17 hours ago, NW24HX said: Interestingly enough the existing 1970s-era main horse barn / building just south of 17th Ave bordering the railroad tracks has a very sizable parking lot on its roof - roughly 750 spaces, and is the only structure on the fairgrounds with this feature A lot of buildings on the property are downright strange.
July 16, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, GCrites80s said: A lot of buildings on the property are downright strange. That whole area is a weird crazy quilt of uses, and yeah many of the buildings are strange. One of the oddest parts of the city maybe.
July 18, 20222 yr Lulz. Tempting to revisit a parking rant. There is SO MUCH opportunity here. From 11th to Hudson. On State land and private land. Many solutions aren't even that bold or exorbitantly expensive. Many solutions would improve events, expand event opportunities, etc even more bold and expensive solutions offer greater opportunities. But again, too many entities thinking individually. Especially when dealing with a weird history of tradition accommodating fairs and fairgrounds. Maybe they'll surprise us with the 2050 plan but without a willingness to work with other entities, say goodbye to older facilities and rebuild new in a more efficient campus, relocate the State Patrol, buy more land east of Clara and South of 11th, build garages, improve roads and exits, add transit options, etc. the State will continue to manage land nearly equivalent to Ohio State between High and 315 within close proximity to the University and be a poor manager of said property. One of my weird oreferences would be an expansion of the ODNR park. It's a cool asset that goes underutilized and could be so much more for the adjoining communities year round as well. Edited July 18, 20222 yr by DTCL11
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