Post#9 » by drsd » Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:15 am
Events like the ASW are big money makers for a city. That there are few tickets for Orlando residents is part of the point. This is all "new" money from non-residents. Tens-of-millions of dollars come to the local Orlando community from the fat-cats. And that's before market-merchandising, and TV money.
More than any other reason, the City of Orlando agreed to this new arena to attract events such as this. (And March madness events; Conference Championships; etc.)
Getting The Boss or Britney to come to Orlando because of a shiny new arena is nice for the locals, but Sports events that attract external/non-local fans are the cash cow that makes cities interested in these arenas.
One interesting question is if Orlando can squeeze a second ASWs into this new arena: say 2015 after the near-certain date of 2011. But that second event will depend on the success of an NBA ASW at a Football stadium. San Antonio already proved that regularly playing basketball in a massive stadium can be a problem, but for an ASW, maybe. Dallas will put on a show in 2010. But will it work in general?
One point here in Orlando's favor for further ASWs is that there will be a slow down in arena construction projects. Orlando as the second largest city for hotels clearly will be favored by Stern et al. as a city for festival events, such as the ASW. Heck, if Orlando can ask for a second ASW in the new arena, why not a third? One could make a serious argument that for the coming ten years the ASW should/could cycle between three venues: i) Las Vegas, ii) Orlando, iii) everywhere else. Over ten years, that's three ASWs.
