Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Build it in Natomas, stupid

The pipe dream that is the Railyards Arena may be the stupidest political folly in recent memory.

With more moving parts than a Rube Goldberg contraption, this longshot plan is a grand slam home run if it somehow comes together.

But the more likely outcome is that it will crumble.  And crumble badly.

Now here's the sad part:  Building a new arena on the site of the current arena would be far cheaper to fund, easier to build, more cost effective as a construction project, and smarter overall.

The infrastructure is there.  The parking is there.  The freeway on-ramps are there.  The footprint is there.

It's a slam dunk at this point simply because the city has probably targeted enough financial sources to fund a new Natomas arena right now.

So what's the upside to building in Natomas?

Well, you keep the Kings, for one.

And you have an arena far sooner.

You don't need to wade through environmental reports, crazy parking schemes, and rely on a plan that may or may not appeal to the Maloofs.

Plus, you don't decimate the economy surrounding the current arena.

I say build in the railyards, but don't build an arena.  Build an entertainment complex -- how about an amphitheatre for first-rate concert acts.

Mayor Johnson, just shelve the downtown arena folly right now.

Save the Kings in Natomas and you still look just as good.  And you still create plenty of construction jobs.

The answer is a no-brainer.

Time for someone with brains to make the right call.

3 comments:

Mr. Gropius said...

This perspective showcases one of the problems with leadership in our CIty. "Why think big when it's so much easier to think small?".

Big challenges are specifically what our community needs to embrace.

Anonymous said...

how about an aquatic center??? I think plenty of people in Sacramento would enjoy a olympic size lap pool and maybe an indoor track. These new things could help attract the Olympics.

Anonymous said...

While I agree Natomas is the best place, it can't happen "far sooner" like you say. For one, there is a moratorium on all new building until Natomas until 2018, at the earliest. FEMA decided the levees need to be repaired, so all building stopped and no new permits can be issued until they say so. It is not a City of Sacramento thing, it is a Federal thing. Unfortunately, no new building in Natomas means new arena in Natomas.