Has the MTS Center (True North properties) reached its full potential in the development side of things?
THe reason I ask thiis is because if you look at when Columbus Ohio built arena district around the Nationwide Arena
http://www.arena-district.com/
they rebuilt and rejuvenated a whole area with new and renovated buildings (in which I believe the district is like our exchange at what the types of buildings are in that area). This mega-project turned out to be a huge success with all the condos and apartement that tied in with the retail
Also look at Toronto they are currently building one huge building called Maple leaf square, with a state of the art bar, retail, condos and hotels all into one.
http://mapleleafsquare.com/flash/main.htm.
please make to watch there video and listen how they market it.
Could we have built more than just CanadInns bar at the powerhouse along with the arena. Did we really dream big? Could we have built apartement and condos at the powerhouse building. Heck if I were True North I would of bought out that building which has the crappy tenant Bargain store which resides by the Radisson and turn it into a sports mainly hockey familly restaurant with offices and build atop with some highrise condos and hotel hockey and music themed suites. Or how about redeveloping City (Eatons) Place mall. And build a practice rink on the empty parking beside it with some retail to it That would obviously be in smaller scale than what Torontos maple leaf square has going on
Perhaps these sort of things could of happened if it were marketed properly. Heck if hell froze over and the Jets came back these of developments might happen by the arena.