Post#77 » by HKPackFan » Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:46 am
Agreed with skywalks and the idea that as one is walking from a parking garage they will walk through a skywalk and then be connected to an indoor walkway/plaza that has ENTERTAINMENT/DINING/SHOPPING options.
So over your 5+ minute walk toward the stadium you have bars/restaurants on the sides, a couple of shops selling bucks and sports merchandise and other things, a coffee shop, a simple food stall/cart selling something, an ice cream shop, maybe a entrance toward a movie theater and/or bowling alley, before you reach the arena. So on your way there and on your way back from the arena event there are lots of spots that could spend some money and use your entertainment dollars. It also gives you reasons to be there even if there is no event in the arena.
Talking about other events like making it a spot to watch a world cup match in the summer. Some of the sports shops could be selling world cup jerseys for the folks who drove down to the pavilion, open plaza to watch the game. If you have a big music concert, maybe they switch over to Taylor Swift Tshirts. If the new Star Wars movie #8 comes out and they do a grand opening, they could be selling Star Wars stuff. Have someone build a giant lego millenium falcon in the middle of the plaza a few weeks before the movie comes out. People will be showing up in costumes and taking pictures and selfies and hanging out and eating and of course watching the premiere.
There are a zillion things you can do to make this place THE DESTINATION for all sorts of events. Sporting events, concerts, movie premieres, NFL draft day, it's endless.
How cool would it be if you are having the NCAA tourney at the arena and there's a ton of extra things to do between all the games going on. The early game finished eat something and hang out, then come back later for another bball game if you have tickets to multiple games that day.
In Hong Kong for example the malls here go crazy mad and build 30 foot tall transformers or build a mini Harry Potter world, or various holiday themes. They always do something creative to bring in traffic. And of course people take pictures, selfies, then shop, eat, watch movies at the mall.
Although the parking garage doesn't need to be heated since it's covered it's not as windy or cold.
The last thing I want to see is people getting out of a cold parking garage to walk out to a cold windy outdoor open plaza that's connected to nothing that you have to walk through and then continue that cold miserable walk until you finally get into the arena. Getting in and out of the BC in the dead of winter before/after a game to your car is one of the most miserable experiences.
This is our one chance to get it right and make it so much more, I hope they figure it out.
#FreeChuckDiesel