Most Kansas City reporters won't remember it because they were living somewhere else at the time but a big part of the plan behind the Power & Light District is the gamble that Electric Avenue will provide tourists, residents and other visitors a place to congregate before and after events at The Sprint Center and this is the same strategy that failed when KC first built Kemper Arena.
Not only is this assumption completely wrong but it also represents a step backward by using the same tactics that didn't pan out previously.
Again, you might not remember this but when Kemper Arena was first constructed there were restaurants, clubs, bars and other "attractions" which developers (mistakenly) believed would cater to the convention and/or sports crowd housed in the arena. Turns out that concept was a complete failure because folks going to see any event at an arena (for the most part) only want to go home afterwards.
Already, the delay in construction of the P&L District has brought so many doubts to the surface but a proven fact of this kind of close relationship between an entertainment district and a large stadium is that the "spillover" won't sustain any neighboring property. In this instance, The P&L District will have to survive on its own merits which includes very little connection to KC proper.
And while Kansas City has bet so much on Electric Avenue it's a shame that the opening of the place is going to coincide with what many people believe will be an economic downturn during which shopping, eating out (he-he) and luxury living space might not be in such high demand.
The KC mentality has always been that you drive into the city for your entertainment and then get the hell back to the suburbs afterwards. A Chucky Cheese downtown isn't going to change that.
ReplyDeleteI think comparing an arena in the west bottoms and one downtown isn't really relevant. But keep fighting the power that tries to oppress us with new stuff.
ReplyDeleteI remember being a kid, riding in the car down to Comets games or the circus and such. The stretch down Genessee was jumping! I can't remember the names of any of the places (except for the Golden Ox, of course), but I just remember looking out the car window at the bright city lights.
ReplyDeleteOf course, mom and dad never stopped (at least when I was going along).
Methinks you are dead on with this prediction, T.
As always, Tony misses the realities of how people live and what keeps businesses afloat.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the West Bottoms was that there were no people who lived or worked down there to keep businesses going during non-event days. THere are enough people that work for H&R block right next door to the P&L to keep the restaurants and businsess afloat.
And the reason people in KC go to an event and then leave instantly is because KC continues to put event destinations where that is the only option (Sandstone, Trumans Sports Complex, Kemper).
The Sprint Center may be the first event venue we've actually placed in a good location in the history of this city.
What? You think people move here from other cities? No so much.
ReplyDeleteDo some research. The Power and Light district was planned waayyyyyyyyy before the Sprint Center came along so to say that the P&L is being built dependent on the SC is false.
ReplyDelete2:37 anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI moved to KC from another state. I've been pretty shocked at how rude people are to each other. Rude in the car, rude in stores, rude at businesses, rude just walking in the street.
People here are just so fucking mean to each other. It's horrible. By far the most unfriendly place I've ever lived.
I hate it here. KC is a nice city, but the people just hate each other and treat each other like shit.
I watch people just fucking yell at each other about stupid shit.
So, yes, people move here from other places, but they leave when they see the true colors.
Brent,
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's the first good location....and no team to go in it.
True enough, you have H&R Block for lunch....but what about dinner? People from surrounding cities aren't going to drive into DT KC to eat at a place when there are comparable places in their cities. Downtown folks might go while it's warm, but it's cold in KC 5 months out the year, and the though of walking more than 2-3 blocks in cold ass weather and up hilly, icy sidewalks.
On top of all that, with all the blogs and things out nowadays, if the FOOD, service and atmosphere at the businesses in P&L are nothing short of top-notch, word will get out quickly and it's doomed. Hell, I just moved to KC and everyone told me I just had to go to Arthur Bryant's on 17th and Brooklyn; well, I did. The ribs were lousy and the building was sort of grimey.....and the place was packed, because it's a unique KC tradition. I'd guess half the diners were tourist and out of towners. P&L has NOTHING like that.
I'm with T, I don't think this is going to work. Nice try though.
You people act as if there are no conventions or business travelers. Guess where they eat and drink right now? Their hotel's bar. My girlfriend worked in one this summer and it was pretty steadily packed. Why would anyone drink or eat in a hotel bar when they got 30 decent choices around the corner? And that's just one segment of the people that are going to frequent this place.
ReplyDeleteDescribe Village West before it opened...A bunch of generic places that pretty much everyone in the city has closer to them and it's in the middle of nowhere. It seems pretty successful now.
Describe Zona Rosa before it opened...A bunch of generic places that pretty much everyone in the city has closer to them and it's in the middle of nowhere. It seems pretty successful now.
Now describe P&L before it opens...A bunch of generic places in the middle of the city with 100,000 workers within walking distance, the hub of public transportation, a residential population of 16,000 within walking distance, a bunch of hotels within walking distance, the convention center within walking distance, and an arena right next door with at least 150 events going on each year.
Anonymous 9:06
ReplyDeleteBut other than that, it has no chance of success.
Tony and some of his minions that post here are in the naysaying group that are convince absolutely nothing will ever work here in spite of all the evidence not being in their favor.
Fuck it. Tony, you're correct. Let's bulldoze all of downtown, turn it into a gigantic parking lot for you people that love parking so much. It'll be overflow parking for Branson.
ReplyDeleteProblem solved.
Your turn.
The challenge: Have ONE post on TKC that is free from pissant whining (good luck...) free of hateful comments about gays and white people and asians, and actually suggests a solution to some of the issues so often posted about.
Didn't the Sprint Arena became a reality after a radio program years ago talking about how St. Louis has a arena in the middle of their city?
ReplyDeleteDallas has lightrail why not Kansas City?
New Orleans have a gay parade why not Kansas City?
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