Classic Salt Lake City. - Page 27

Reachforthesky · #**521** Posted **Apr 6, 2013, 12:00 PM**

It would've been nice if the ESA was built closer to/on the salt palace site! It would've made for a better skyline view and its a great location being a block from Main St.

ajiuO · #**522** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reachforthesky

It would've been nice if the ESA was built closer to/on the salt palace site! It would've made for a better skyline view and its a great location being a block from Main St.

I agree. I think they should have demolished the salt palace, broken up the blocks, built the delta center on the SE most block of the property, redeveloped Japan town, and a new convention center should have been built west of 400 west somewhere.

Comrade · #**523** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 8:09 PM**

ESA would be perfect off Main Street on the old Holding block - or at least some other sporting arena (NHL!).

ajiuO · #**524** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 9:08 PM**

I actually wish we could get the NFL here. I don't really follow football.. But a football stadium would open the door to much larger events that could take place in salt lake. As for the ESA I'm sure it has another 15-20 years before we need something new.. When the time comes I wonder if they will relocate it.. Or just have the jazz play in the Maverick Center for a couple of seasons.

wrendog · #**525** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajiuO

I actually wish we could get the NFL here. I don't really follow football.. But a football stadium would open the door to much larger events that could take place in salt lake. As for the ESA I'm sure it has another 15-20 years before we need something new.. When the time comes I wonder if they will relocate it.. Or just have the jazz play in the Maverick Center for a couple of seasons.

No chance they would play at the Maverick Center. Too small.

ajiuO · #**526** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 9:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrendog

No chance they would play at the Maverick Center. Too small.

They could play there.. They would just have to take a huge hit in attendance for a season or 2... It just depends on if there is a good relocation option at the time... They could always end up relocating outside of down town I guess.. I wouldn't like that option but it wouldn't surprise me.

Comrade · #**527** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 9:44 PM**

The ESA needs to be completely renovated. It's one of the oldest arenas in the NBA, which says something because it still isn't all that old. When Sacramento either builds a new arena for the Kings, or moves to Seattle, and the Warriors open their new arena in San Francisco, it'll be the fifth oldest - and Milwaukee is seriously in jeopardy of losing the Bucks because their arena, which is only three-years older than ours, is considered too outdated.

Sooner or later, we'll either have to radically renovate the arena or plan on constructing a new one to placate the NBA, which loves 'em some luxury boxes (and the ESA only has a solid floor of 'em, nothing near the level of current NBA arenas).

My guess is that we'll renovate before constructing a new one because the ESA is still in fairly good shape. But the renovation should also include bringing part of the arena up to the street. I hate how it sits back in a plaza doesn't interact with the street at all.

In Phoenix, at US Airways Center, which opened the same year as the ESA, they made some heavy renovations that I'd love here:

A nice plaza, but you can see they brought some of the arena up to the street. Imagine the ESA fronting 300 West like that - with a huge enclosed concourse with new restaurants and bars (that could be open at night, even when a game isn't happening).

So, I'd like to see something like this (and ignore the shoddiness, you get the idea):

Granted, you'd have to move the Stockton & Malone statues, though move 'em to the area off North Temple, which could act as a true entrance to the arena. Then build a new jumbotron that is actually at the level of a NBA team.

But I'm not going to lie, I hate the ESA. I love the interior, the way the fans are on top of the court, but the exterior is absolutely ugly. It's always been ugly. It's cold, boxy and doesn't interact at all with the area.

I'm jealous of the arena they built in Orlando (replacing their old arena, which was not much older than the ESA):

But the Miller Family can do renovations that changes much of the boxy shape and allows for it to feel like, you know, a basketball arena and not some suburban office building.

Comrade · #**528** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajiuO

They could play there.. They would just have to take a huge hit in attendance for a season or 2... It just depends on if there is a good relocation option at the time... They could always end up relocating outside of down town I guess.. I wouldn't like that option but it wouldn't surprise me.

If the Jazz relocate out of downtown, we should just go ahead and close up shop as a city because the ESA is the largest driving force of business in the downtown outside Temple Square.

But it won't happen. At least, I don't think it'll happen. What does downtown have to offer without the ESA? I mean, City Creek is great, and I certainly don't want to diminish it, but it's still just a shopping center. The ESA brings in so much foot traffic, not just with the Jazz, but major concerts, that it would be an absolute blow to lose that arena to the suburbs.

ajiuO · #**529** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 12:00 AM**

I agree that it might be time for a renovation.. But I personally thing the Phoenix us airway center is kind of ugly... We could do a lot better then that.

I don't think that the ESA is particularly ugly. It's simple but it's nice and symmetrical looking. It doesn't really have an ugly back side... One side is missing glass but that is an easy fix.

I definitely don't want to see an ugly parking lot attached to the building. If it were up to me the only major change I would make is adding glass to the back (SW) side of the building... I would probably be ok with adding some sort of lobby on the front (NE) side of the building that interacts better with the street.. But I would like to see the (NW) and (SE) side of the building stay symmetrical.

I like what we have better then the one in Arizona... That thing reminds me of Circus Circus in Las Vegas and the 1970's for some reason.

One renovation that I am definitely looking forward to is the ESA signg coming down in 2016 when their contract expiers.... Hopefully it's not renewed... Optimally I would love to see the Delta Center signs go back up.. But anything would be better then ESA

scottharding · #**530** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 2:53 AM**

Comrade, I agree with everything you said about ESA. I've had pretty much exactly the same opinions on it for a while now.

Comrade · #**531** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajiuO

I agree that it might be time for a renovation.. But I personally thing the Phoenix us airway center is kind of ugly... We could do a lot better then that.

I don't think that the ESA is particularly ugly. It's simple but it's nice and symmetrical looking. It doesn't really have an ugly back side... One side is missing glass but that is an easy fix.

I definitely don't want to see an ugly parking lot attached to the building. If it were up to me the only major change I would make is adding glass to the back (SW) side of the building... I would probably be ok with adding some sort of lobby on the front (NE) side of the building that interacts better with the street.. But I would like to see the (NW) and (SE) side of the building stay symmetrical.

I like what we have better then the one in Arizona... That thing reminds me of Circus Circus in Las Vegas and the 1970's for some reason.

One renovation that I am definitely looking forward to is the ESA signg coming down in 2016 when their contract expiers.... Hopefully it's not renewed... Optimally I would love to see the Delta Center signs go back up.. But anything would be better then ESA

I'm only talking about the glass atrium. I don't see the need to add huge parking structures to it - but it would be nice to have a glass wall and plaza like Phoenix's.

ajiuO · #**532** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 4:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

I'm only talking about the glass atrium. I don't see the need to add huge parking structures to it - but it would be nice to have a glass wall and plaza like Phoenix's.

And hopefully such a project would eliminate the 12,000,000,000,000 lumens LED digital billboard that shines in my window all night

Future Mayor · #**533** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 3:31 PM**

ESA was designed to add additional Luxury Suite Capacity, when needed. LHM had the entire arena designed for not only adding more luxury suites but for expanding outward as needed, for things such as a larger lobby area, and more restaurants. I don't expect ESA to be replaced any time in the next 15 years, simply due to the fact that it has options to expand and grow. Another reason I don't see it happening is exactly the point that was mentioned, the crowd is right on top of the floor, it truly does give the Jazz a huge home court advantage, and that is a big reason the Jazz consistently have the loudest fans in the NBA.

I went to the new Mavericks Arena in Dallas last year and that place screams luxury, and honestly I didn't like it. The hallways in the upper bowl were enclosed, carpeted with fancy light fixtures. I felt like I was walking through a Vegas Casino Hallway rather than a sports arena. I like the openness the ESA has, you hear the crowd noise from other levels, you have great views of the city from all levels.

So I agree that they need to expand towards 300 W, add another level of luxury suites, and install a new score board/jumbotron, but other than that I love ESA just the way it is.

SLC Projects · #**534** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 6:54 PM**

I think I remember hearing once that ESA plans to add-on here within the next few years. Can anyone give more info to if that's true?

billbillbillbill · #**535** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 7:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

I think I remember hearing once that ESA plans to add-on here within the next few years. Can anyone give more info to if that's true?

I have heard Randy Rigby, president of the Jazz, mention a few times in radio interviews that they believer there is a lot of life left in ESA, and that they do have modification plans for the next few years. I'm hoping the jumbotron gets an update soon.

ajiuO · #**536** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 2:44 AM**

Hopefully one of the changes involves a name change in 2016

Orlando · #**537** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 3:11 AM**

...

delts145 · #**538** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 10:56 AM**

I've always thought that the ESA was one of the more attractive arenas in the league. I like the modifications mentioned by Comrade for better street engagement. I don't think that the relative elegance of the ESA design would be compromised by improving it's 300 West engagement. Glad to hear Future Mayor's points indicating the built in ease with which the ESA will be able to accomodate future growth.

Few things would make me happier than to see an NHL arena in Downtown Salt Lake City. I think the Wasatch Front is past due for an NHL team.

DCRes · #**539** Posted **Apr 17, 2013, 4:15 PM**

Random question but I thought someone on here might be able to help. What was Chuck E Cheese's called here in Utah before it was Chuck E Cheese's? Everything I can find online says Showbiz Pizza but I swear I remember it being something else. Maybe it was just another place that was similar. I'm thinking of late 80's or early 90's. Any ideas? It's driving me crazy

ajiuO · #**540** Posted **Apr 17, 2013, 4:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCRes

Random question but I thought someone on here might be able to help. What was Chuck E Cheese's called here in Utah before it was Chuck E Cheese's? Everything I can find online says Showbiz Pizza but I swear I remember it being something else. Maybe it was just another place that was similar. I'm thinking of late 80's or early 90's. Any ideas? It's driving me crazy

Billy Bob's... There were chuk e cheeze and billy bob showbiz pizzas here

Im pretty sure there was one on 3300 south and 1300 east.. The same strip mall is still there but its all dollar / discount shops now