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With all due respect to the Tennis Stadium and the Civic Auditorium, it is long overdue for Hilo to build a better venue. I was at the UH graduation this past weekend. Beautiful event. But the tennis stadium is way too small for 700+ graduates and their family members. I think a new arena that can hold 7-10k people is just what the doctor ordered. I think former councilman Ikeda floated some bill regarding an arena. Don't know what came of that.
But Hilo will need to think big. This proposed venue could host graduations and athletic events as well as the yearly merrie monarch festival. Going even further, this new arena could possibly host rodeos, major MMA events, concerts, stockshows and maybe even some preseason pro sports. Gotta think big.
Time for a new venue. The seating in the civic and the tennis stadium is horrible to say the least.
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How many events each year would fill a 10,000 person stadium to offset the construction cost? Then there's the maintenance costs with salt, rain, quakes...
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
IMO ... Skate / BMX park first.
aloha,
pog
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Don't we already have a challenge properly maintaining current facilities??
Only if 100% non taxpayer self sufficient.
David
Ninole Resident
Please visit vacation.ninolehawaii.com
Ninole Resident
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I'm with David M. So many other fires to put out. Not to mention our taxes are going up anyway.
Besides, there's something to be said about living with Spartan facilities: it builds character!
Tim
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions--Confucius
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I met a long-timer here and he said that Hilo today reminded him of Honolulu 50 years ago. We, the residents, should ask ourselves...."Do we want to stay the way we are or do we want to go the way of development like Honolulu. If the answer is development...sure there are a lot of upfront costs like a new stadium, a new hotel district, a better cruise ship friendly port, and Hilo sandy beaches to name a few. But managed correctly these amenities would bring new business and tourism to our side of East Hawaii!
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quote:
Originally posted by davidr
Hilo today reminded him of Honolulu 50 years ago. ... stadium, hotel district, port...managed correctly these amenities would bring new business and tourism to our side of East Hawaii!
Or we could promote Hilo as a Time Machine to the past - Welcome to Hilo, where it's 1963 again! Think Knott's Berry Farm in California, or Colonial Williamsburg on the east coast. And since everything is already like Honolulu 50 years ago, all it would cost is the price of 3 road signs at each entryway to town. Maybe a forth at the airport. In a few years, 2017, we could hold The Summer of Love Festival.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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I know you're joking about that big concert....but really, that's a brilliant idea...what better place to have the Woodstock 50th anniversary festival but here in the remaining hippie capital of the USA!
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An arena sounds nice, but when UHH can't even fund a facility for the pharmacy school, I don't think they need to be comtemplating an entertainment venue. The county doesn't have the money either.
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UH could follow the lead of larger universities and split up their graduating class. For instance, at UC Berkeley, each college holds its own graduation ceremony--on different days, and at various locations. If UH isn't split into colleges, related departments could be grouped together.
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