OT: New Arena Planned for Henrico County

[Pablo]

Could the A10 men's basketball tourney move to Henrico County?

https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/henrico-county-approves-2-3b-greencity-arena-project/:

"Henrico County officials announced Tuesday plans for a $2.3 billion arena-anchored development, born out of the failed Navy Hill project proposal for downtown Richmond. But with private financing and no projected impact on county taxpayers, the GreenCity development may have a smoother path.

Proposed on the 204-acre former Best Products property owned by the county, GreenCity would be a mixed-use “ecodistrict” including a “green” 17,000-seat arena, 2.3 million square feet of office and retail space, 2,400 housing units and two hotels, with a sustainability focus.

The arena would be in operation in 2025, and the former Best headquarters would be adapted to commercial office space for multiple tenants, according to the proposed timeline for GreenCity. The buildout would be complete in 2033."

 

[tblack33]

Could the A10 men's basketball tourney move to Henrico County?

https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/henrico-county-approves-2-3b-greencity-arena-project/:

"Henrico County officials announced Tuesday plans for a $2.3 billion arena-anchored development, born out of the failed Navy Hill project proposal for downtown Richmond. But with private financing and no projected impact on county taxpayers, the GreenCity development may have a smoother path.

Proposed on the 204-acre former Best Products property owned by the county, GreenCity would be a mixed-use “ecodistrict” including a “green” 17,000-seat arena, 2.3 million square feet of office and retail space, 2,400 housing units and two hotels, with a sustainability focus.

The arena would be in operation in 2025, and the former Best headquarters would be adapted to commercial office space for multiple tenants, according to the proposed timeline for GreenCity. The buildout would be complete in 2033."

I argued with some illiterate vcu fan about this on Twitter, it would make absolutely no sense to move the tournament to Richmond, let alone Henrico. It's further away for 90% of schools in the A10. If we really want a central location, Philly is probably the best bet. I still don't see anything wrong with Brooklyn, although I do enjoy when they come to DC. Moving to a suburb of that cesspool down south would be a boneheaded decision by the A10 given the geography of the schools in the conference right now.

 

[mkaufman1]

No No No and No.

Keep it in the mid-atlantic. DC, Philly, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh. Hell rotate it I don't care.

Just nowhere near Richmond please.

 

[GMUgemini]

I argued with some illiterate vcu fan about this on Twitter, it would make absolutely no sense to move the tournament to Richmond, let alone Henrico. It's further away for 90% of schools in the A10. If we really want a central location, Philly is probably the best bet. I still don't see anything wrong with Brooklyn, although I do enjoy when they come to DC. Moving to a suburb of that cesspool down south would be a boneheaded decision by the A10 given the geography of the schools in the conference right now.

Any of the three major cities: D.C., Philadelphia, NYC make the most sense.

This project seems like a big waste of money. Why spend the money on a 17,000 seat arena when you have no professional sports franchise as an anchor?

 

[gmujim92]

Any of the three major cities: D.C., Philadelphia, NYC make the most sense.

This project seems like a big waste of money. Why spend the money on a 17,000 seat arena when you have no professional sports franchise as an anchor?

The arena is never gonna get built. The developers just included it as a sweetener so Henrico County would pay for the infrastructure for what is essentially a big residential project.

 

[Pablo]

https://richmond.com/sports/college...cle_8de4f9c2-962f-5d00-964e-0a5d1da86c38.html:

"The arena could appeal to the NCAA for its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, Schmitt said. He added that conferences with schools in the region may also be interested in holding league tournaments there.

The University of Richmond’s vice president and director of athletics, John Hardt, said Tuesday that the Atlantic 10 Conference, to which UR and Virginia Commonwealth University belong, has monitored developments in Richmond-area competition venues.

'Though I haven’t had any direct discussions with [A-10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade], I have to believe that this project will be of real interest to the league,' Hardt said.

Additionally, a new arena in the Richmond area could be a spot where vcu and UR may be able to play opponents that prefer not to face those teams at the Rams’ Siegel Center or the Spiders’ Robins Center, but would be open to a neutral site.

'Obviously, there are a lot of details that would have to fall into place, but I think there’s generally an interest to think about drawing events to the Richmond area, in addition to us hosting our usual robust schedule at the Robins Center,' Hardt said."

 

[Pablo]

https://www.wric.com/news/local-new...ty-mix-use-project-includes-17000-seat-arena/:

"The arena is planned to be the greenest arena venue in North America. It would be catered to touring concerts, family shows and potentially ECHL Hockey and G-League Basketball, according to the county.

The 2,420 residential units would include multifamily homes over retail space, single-family homes, townhomes, villas, senior multi-family homes and senior villas. Some affordable units would be developed into each of the housing types, according to ‘GreenCity.’

Developers said they will work to set standards of net-zero energy, net-zero water and best sustainability practices in waste management for the 204 acre ‘GreenCity.’

Henrico County said the development process will begin in early 2021, when Formal GreenCity, LLC will submit its plans and apply to rezone the site to Urban Mixed-Use.

Commercial office space and some housing is slated to open in 2023. The ‘Village Center’ and additional residential space is set to open in 2024. The arena is slated to open in 2025.

The complete development is projected to open by 2033."

 

[Patriot8]

I argued with some illiterate vcu fan about this on Twitter, it would make absolutely no sense to move the tournament to Richmond, let alone Henrico. It's further away for 90% of schools in the A10. If we really want a central location, Philly is probably the best bet. I still don't see anything wrong with Brooklyn, although I do enjoy when they come to DC. Moving to a suburb of that cesspool down south would be a boneheaded decision by the A10 given the geography of the schools in the conference right now.

Going to go ahead and brace for impact here..

If you really think Richmond is a cesspool, you haven't spent any time there in the past 5-7 years. I don't believe the tournament should move there; although it absolutely will, but Richmond is night and day better than it was in the old CAA Tourney days.

I'd rotate between Brooklyn, Philly, and DC.

 

[Pablo]

https://richmondbizsense.com/2020/1...anned-in-henrico-whats-next-for-the-coliseum/:

"With an arena planned in Henrico, what’s next for the Coliseum?
Jonathan Spiers December 8, 2020 19


The Coliseum as it appeared last week. (Jonathan Spiers photo)

After a brief run last year as a post-apocalyptic set in a zombie TV franchise, the Richmond Coliseum has become a go-to spot for homeless encampments.

It has sat dormant for most of the last two years, a casualty of the failed Navy Hill proposal.

But last week’s announcement about an arena-anchored development in the works in Henrico puts the future of the Coliseum land in a new light.

If the $2.3 billion GreenCity proposal and its 17,000-seat arena on the former Best Products site get a green light, city administrators said last week that, in such a scenario, they would not fight to keep a regional arena in Richmond. That would leave one less option for invigorating development of that part of downtown.

'We do not believe the region has the capacity to support two 17,000-seat arenas within 15 miles of each other, and should the GreenCity development win approval, we do not think it would make sense to pursue a similarly-anchored development within city limits,' administration spokesman Jim Nolan said in an email.


Signs on the doors of the Coliseum list phone numbers for homeless services. (Michael Schwartz photo)"

 

[Five Two]

https://richmond.com/sports/college...cle_8de4f9c2-962f-5d00-964e-0a5d1da86c38.html:

"The arena could appeal to the NCAA for its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, Schmitt said.

I think Mr. Schmitt is dreaming on this point. The NCAA is all about $$$$. Why hold NCAA men's games near Richmond at a 17K seat arena when you can host games in downtown DC at an arena with more seats, more suites, charge a higher ticket premium, with numerous hotels all within walking distance?? While the NCAA does try to spread out regionally, I'm not sure they'd view Henrico County as a better mid-Atlantic option that DC for what they need. On the women's side, maybe thats an option they'd try once. The NCAA has been basically using women's hoops as a testing ground for minor rules changes and other stuff. Throwing them a bone to host a regional final for women's might be their best bet (women's 1st and 2nd rounds are still held on campus sites).

Other events? Sure. Arena shows like Disney On Ice, Monster Jam, Arena Cross, etc will certainly love a new arena as they need to be more mobile with their tours. But the NCAA doesn't, IMO.

 

[Pablo]

I think Mr. Schmitt is dreaming on this point. The NCAA is all about $$$$. Why hold NCAA men's games near Richmond at a 17K seat arena when you can host games in downtown DC at an arena with more seats, more suites, charge a higher ticket premium, with numerous hotels all within walking distance?? While the NCAA does try to spread out regionally, I'm not sure they'd view Henrico County as a better mid-Atlantic option that DC for what they need.

In 2022, the first 2 rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tourney are scheduled for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Based on your logic, why didn't the NCAA pick a city like Charlotte or Atlanta instead?

 

[Five Two]

In 2022, the first 2 rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tourney are scheduled for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Based on your logic, why didn't the NCAA pick a city like Charlotte or Atlanta instead?

Good point. Maybe Clemson has enough pull to get that done.

 

[Patriot8]

Good point. Maybe Clemson has enough pull to get that done.

I don’t think Clemson has anything to do with it. The arena in Greenville is a fantastic venue that has hosted the NCAA tournament before. It’s downtown, and right beside a huge strip of restaurants, bars, shops, etc. For me, it’s a far more attractive venue than Greensboro which sits in the middle of a parking lot desert.

 

[Pablo]

https://m.richmond.com/news/local/g...cle_2df234e7-ff14-57c0-8f2f-73cb0f7fb0e5.html:

"To help finance the $245 million arena project, GreenCity LLC will ask the county to establish a community development authority, which would issue tax-free bonds. Plans call for the bonds to be issued in 2023 and would be paid over 30 years by using a portion of the additional real estate, sales and personal property taxes generated by the entire GreenCity project."

 

[Bricker]

Going to go ahead and brace for impact here..

If you really think Richmond is a cesspool, you haven't spent any time there in the past 5-7 years. I don't believe the tournament should move there; although it absolutely will, but Richmond is night and day better than it was in the old CAA Tourney days.

I'd rotate between Brooklyn, Philly, and DC.

I agree. Richmond is nice.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Yep. Richmond is a great town.

 

[Falco]

I argued with some illiterate vcu fan about this on Twitter, it would make absolutely no sense to move the tournament to Richmond, let alone Henrico. It's further away for 90% of schools in the A10. If we really want a central location, Philly is probably the best bet. I still don't see anything wrong with Brooklyn, although I do enjoy when they come to DC. Moving to a suburb of that cesspool down south would be a boneheaded decision by the A10 given the geography of the schools in the conference right now.

I agree. It doesn’t make sense geographically. But I wouldn’t put it past the A10. Everyone loves trying out the new shinny toy.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Borderline insanity to build an arena of that capacity there. 10,000 seats maybe. 17,000 without a pro team to anchor it means they'd really be banking on some high-end concerts on a pretty frequent basis, which is a bold bet in a post-COVID world. As some have noted, I doubt this gets built. But it's nuts it's even gotten this far. Maybe they're just trying to capitalize on the Virginia Beach arena never getting off the ground. Richmond really just needs a new 10,000 seater somewhere in city limits.

*insert annual plug for needing a new EBA*

 

[Patriot8]

Borderline insanity to build an arena of that capacity there. 10,000 seats maybe. 17,000 without a pro team to anchor it means they'd really be banking on some high-end concerts on a pretty frequent basis, which is a bold bet in a post-COVID world. As some have noted, I doubt this gets built. But it's nuts it's even gotten this far. Maybe they're just trying to capitalize on the Virginia Beach arena never getting off the ground. Richmond really just needs a new 10,000 seater somewhere in city limits.

*insert annual plug for needing a new EBA*

Replacing the Coliseum with a equal or larger capacity arena is hardly "insane" or "nuts". Greensboro, Greenville, and Kansas City all have 17,000+ seat arenas with no pro sports tenants, unless you want to count an ECHL team in Greenville. A large arena in the Richmond area would absolutely attract frequent, high-end events.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Replacing the Coliseum with a equal or larger capacity arena is hardly "insane" or "nuts". Greensboro, Greenville, and Kansas City all have 17,000+ seat arenas with no pro sports tenants, unless you want to count an ECHL team in Greenville. A large arena in the Richmond area would absolutely attract frequent, high-end events.

Ehhh maybe. VA isn't lacking in options for events though. There's already a 20,000 seat venue down the road in VB, and JPJ arena has pulled in some large acts. An artist isn't going to book all three on a tour. Would some of them go to Richmond? Of course. But would it get enough, particularly in a post-COVID world? I have my doubts about what the events landscape looks like going forward. Maybe you're right, but I wouldn't be plunking money down on an arena right now if I were a developer.