Optimism Run Amok
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 1/22/09 @ 8:58 am - Filed Under Uncategorized
Mayor Henry recently gave a speech to the rotary club where he made the following statement
He also said the Harrison Square project “is a huge win for the city of Fort Wayne and the region.”
This quote reminds me of a scene from an old Weird Al Yankovic movie called UHF. I watched this and died laughing envisioning the first person to purchase a Harrison Square condo receiving the same treatment.
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16 Responses to “Optimism Run Amok”
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UHF?
SUPPLIES! - you’ve just won the Internets.
In other good news I don’t think the Gym Rats will be leaving town and the Spiece Fieldhouse will continue to generate 10 million and rising for the city. I can’t confirm anything for sure (I’m not going to speak for the Gym Rats, the Fieldhouse, or Spiece himself) but periphery info suggests full speed ahead. Just a heads up…
I love the Gym Rats program and what it brings to the city, but 10 Million? I am not sure I am buying that number? Thats $27,000 a day.
Do you mean 10 Million total since inception as opposed to annually??
According to Anne’s document from the Fieldhouse it was a third party economic study:
http://fortwaynepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/spiece_history_summary_uncensored.pdf
There’s a reference from Todd of the Gym Rats in this link below to 10 mil. as well as a reference to millions in the News-Sentinel article below that.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081213/NEWS/812130345
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070904/NEWS/709040309&SearchID=73292653831202
I will see if I can pin that down. Thanks for the interest Mr. G.J.
According to Anne’s document from the Fieldhouse it was a third party economic study:
http://fortwaynepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/spiece_history_summary_uncensored.pdf
There’s a reference from Todd of the Gym Rats in this link below to 10 mil. as well as a reference to millions in the News-Sentinel article below that.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081213/NEWS/812130345
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070904/NEWS/709040309&SearchID=73292653831202
I will see if I can pin that down. Thanks for the interest Mr. G.J.
Here’s another link with a clue as to the who the source might be of the study. There may be more than one third party source:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/JG/20070908/LOCAL/709080359&SearchID=73292740756018
On the search I’m finding all kinds of other links. Here’s Quad Cities wishing they could get something going in the sports venue akin to Spiece:
http://www.qctimes.com/multimedia/documents/destination_qc.pdf
Given the number of area warehouses that are no longer being utilized, the Bureau should also consider the opportunity to advocate for the adaptation of one or more of the facilities into an indoor sports center. Fort Wayne IN has found a significant level of tournament success through the renovation of an abandoned distribution center. Today, the Spiece Fieldhouse boasts 8 regulation basketball courts, a viewing area, cafe, arcade…and a fitness center and day spa for local residents. During the week, it’s packed with local leagues and residents. On the weekends, it’s all tournaments.
I emailed Anne to see if she has the exact info… but based on the links that ought to be enough to go on for today.
Also, don’t forget what the Plex does as well with their big soccer tourneys.
You missed part of the speech. Other “huge wins” for the City and the region included a new payday loan store on Rudisill, the replacement of a drinking fountain at Lakeside Park, and the filling of a pothole in the alley behind the Acme Bar. Give me a freakin’ break.
Yes Cumtwa, a beautiful state of the art minor league professional ballpark in the heart of our downtown, is comparable to a pothole and drinking fountain. We are all now dumber for having read your post.
I’ve seen UHF no less than 100 times since I was in middle school….drinking from the fire hose gets me every time.
“…..sorry, these books are a little late…heh heh.”
Green Jeans
That Billy Madison quote kind of loses its meaning when you use it for the 1000th time.
Mr. G.J.
I got the info below from Todd of the Gym Rats:
Here is the economic impact study that was done on the Gym Rats. The data from this study was taken from all of Gym Rats events in a 12 month calendar year. This was done by a third party… the Fort Wayne CVB.
http://fairplayvolleyball.blogspot.com/2009/01/spiece-economic-estimate-2008.html
Drinking fountains provide water, the substance most vital to life. Ballparks provide a place to sit and clog one’s arteries while watching 18 other people get exercise. Hence, the drinking fountain has far more practical value than the ballpark.
The problem with the Mayor’s statement is that Fort Wayne has such a poor history of moves it considered, at the time, to be “wins”, like:
1) screwing the Pistons over and pushing them to Detroit;
2) turning down federal money to build an interstate through town;
3) renovating the Coliseum rather than building a downtown expo center;
4) electing Paul Helmke;
5) naming the baseball team the potheads
Etc.
Let’s hear it & kick it up for Fort Wayne Hockey! Let’s go Regional.
Three Sheets’ spokesman Todd Ramsey said the developers anticipate a quick pace on the project. The ice facility ready for the ’09 season. Ramsey said. “This will be the only 3-sheet facility in the entire region and we are thrilled to be bringing it to Fort Wayne.
Three Sheets is working with Canlan Ice Sports out of Canada for management services. McMillen has two sheets of ice, but Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll says one of those is in need of expensive repair and will likely be shut down. “It’s always hard for the City to stop doing something it’s done for a long time, and we’ve been in the ice business for 40 years,” said Moll. We know the community as a whole will still be served by even more ice, with more opportunity and the chance to better schedule four sheets if one management firm is handling the logistics of managing and operating both facilities.”
The City will still own the McMillen building and Moll said he and Mayor will be putting together a blue ribbon committee of citizens to study and suggest alternate programming which might be offered at the site or new uses for the portion of the building with the un-used sheet of ice.