"a few miles from the Arena District".

Well...DUH!

The Fairgrounds are just "a few miles" from downtown. See many people heading downtown after a game from Freedom Hall? HA!

Another thing hurting Columbus is what hurt the Galleria...poor hours:

Hours: 10:00-7:00 Mon-Sat, 12:00-5:00 Sun


Comparing that to putting a new arena at, say, 2nd St., for UofL is comparing apples to oranges.

The creative class

I was watching Wall Street Week with Fortune this past Friday evening (June 17, 2005). One segment on the program was discussing how the U.S. and its cities can best battle globalization and the ever-increasing foreign trade deficit. The segment discussed ways in which cities and even the U.S. can stem the loss of the creative class to other cities and countries.

The guest in that segment was Richard Florida, author of national bestseller, "The Rise of the Creative Class", and recently released, "The Flight of the Creative Class". The author was asked the following question by host, Geoff Colvin: "...you mentioned fleetingly a while ago stadiums and how this is the wrong way to go, the monster development of stadiums and so forth. Is it because there’s something bad about that or just because you feel it’s a waste of money?"

Florida responded, "You know, I’ve been in debate over the nature of urban affairs for 10 years, and I have many critics. I will tell you one thing, myself and each one of my critics right and left agree on, is this stadium building is senseless. There is not a single urbanist of substance in this country who will say do this thing. I do not understand why otherwise sensible mayors go down this road. We know they don’t generate revenue. We know they cost more than they’re worth. Spend that money where it counts. Invest in your people, invest in creativity, invest in safety and security, invest in schools, and invest in parks. Over the long run that will pay off for your town."

Mayor Abramson: Are you listening?

My biggest beef with putting it downtown is the lack of safe parking and the time it takes to get to an interstate after exiting a downtown event. The fairgrounds has adequate parking and minimal pain when exiting.
And yes, to the Cheese's point.... the money would be better spent elsewhere.

the arena it self will NOT BE SELF SUPPORTING.It will always cost us more than it will return.I hate to see our money used for this,when we have so many other things that are more important.I know the power that be haven't said how they will finance it .But i bet tax dollars will be a good part of it.All this went the mayor and gov are crying about tight budgets.Also if the arene is built it would be robin hood in reverse taking money from taxpayers to help rich people have a place to play

Yesterday just confirmed my opinion that if we insist on building an arena in Louisville, downtown is NOT the appropriate location.
I spent 45 minutes yesterday trying to find a parking spot to go to a Louisville Bats game. Given the amount of traffic and lack of parking, I would have expected it was a sold out crowd. Not so. After parking over 5 blocks away and walking to the stadium, (missing the first 3 innings in the process), I found the stadium to be less than half full.
My point being that parking in downtown Louisville is insufficient to support the current needs. How could it support the additional requirement imposed by a new basketball arena.
Use the money on Freedom Hall. Plenty of parking and wonderful access to interstates.