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http://www.knoe.com/story/24842096/m...000-seat-arena
Being in this city every day, I personally see a deteriorating road infrastructure, a declining population, an increase in urban blight, underpaid first responders, and garbage everywhere. But hey, the new terminal at MLU is very nice.
Why would you think a new arena (proposed to be constructed in a dangerous part of town) tops a list of "needs" in this city, and more importantly, where will the $83.5 million come from?
Investment.... If it is used, it will bring in money for the other infrastructure problems. Plus, it creates jobs. I wish Ruston would build a full service hotel as an investment, so we could hold conference tournaments here.
Be patient.Originally Posted by champion110
I'd rather have an airport strip long enough to handle team charters. Then the visitors can come and stay in that full-service hotel.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
Arena envy no doubt.
Would need at least two if not three full-service hotels to be able to host a C-USA Tournament...you are talking 26 visiting teams for a combined men's and women's tournament. For team travel parties, conference officials, and media you would be looking in the neighborhood of 500 quality rooms at a bare minimum.
Building one or more hotels from the ground up to accommodate that kind of demand would be a huge risk for the private real estate market.
If only there were a public sector entity with some large-scale existing buildings. The public agency could do interior demo, and then partner with a private developer to finish out the interior for high-end suite-style accommodations. An arrangement like this could significantly reduce the up-front costs (and by extension, risk) for any investors with the vision to make something like this happen. And having a major public sector partner showing that kind of commitment to such a project would also make it much more attractive to a larger pool of potential investors, thereby further reducing the risk to each individual shareholder, and increasing the possibility of actually pulling something like this off ... even in lil' ol' Ruston.
But it all starts with a public sector partner, with some large surplus buildings. (And a location near the athletic complex would be ideal.). Suggestions anyone?
Anyone?
Like I said let's start with the airport so teams can fly in and out of Ruston with ease. AND, one full-service hotel.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
THIS. I have always thought the lack of a "real" airport hurt us whenever the conference expansion game of musical chairs cranked up. Opposing teams have always complained about having to fly AND bus in the same trip. If the city of Ruston is going to focus on something, let it be the airport.
Let an entrepreneur work with the school to open a hotel as Champ967 suggested.
I recall that the City of Monroe wanted to borrow money (long-term loan with a low interest rate, around 2%) from the Louisiana DHH Revolving Loan Fund to make some needed infrastructure improvements to the water system a few years ago. I don't remember how much money the city wanted, but it was in the millions. Anyway, the Revolving Loan Fund program in Baton Rouge turned down the request, because the city had too much debt already.
Here's a relevant article on Monroe's debt in the News Star last month.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/2...ill-come-from-
hahaha
Isn't the airport thing kind of moot? Just because a university is "in" a big city doesn't necessarily make it any easier than driving wide open on I-20.
Monroe Airport to Tech = 40 minutes
DFW to North Texas = 32 minutes
George Bush to Rice = 28 minutes
Not moot to Davison airlines. . . . . thank you very much.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
Yes, the airport deal never kept us out of C-USA. We kept us out of C-USA.
Is Davison having to use an MLU runway?
I think it is a gulf stream that glides out of MLU with ease.
Try landing in Atlanta and getting to Georgia Tech. Miami to orange bowl, etc. makes the drive to Ruston seem real nice
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