Birdbrain

So I don't have to drive to Charlotte any more for Two Buck Chuck? (And chocolate-covered everything!) Woo-hoo!

Ok, I just HAVE to... So this is where we advocate "Drink and Drive?"

Sorry that my differing opinion bothers you, gman. I said the team was wonderful but the name isn't. And the stadium is one of - if not THE - best in the US. You quite obviously missed all that when you began assuming I "hate everything about the Drive." OK, I'll chill out on the name. As it was pointed out, it's been 4 years now. Time to move on. Apologies to all the people offended by "my problem." GO DRIVE!!!

Smith is a good hockey mind; well known for the Rangers run in the 90's. Glad to see him bringing the team to Greenville! Anyone know what the team name will be yet? How about a Schedule? ... can't wait, is it obvious?

Yes, the name is an obvious suck-up to the automotive industries in the area, we all get that. Funny how none of them stepped up for the naming rights to what is now Fluor Field. Of course, it could be worse. With Fluor (Daniel Construction) being around longer than any of the auto companies, it's a lucky thing the marketing geniuses didn't name the team... The Greenville Screw.

Back to the subject - 2010 Opening Night last night. The rain held off and the field was in excellent shape. Absolutely fantastic stadium, as always. Greenville held on despite a 9th inning rally by the Delmarva Shorebirds (Salisbury, MD farm club for the Orioles). All that being said - Is there a petition anywhere that I can sign to get rid of the ridiculous and embarassing Greenville team name?

Interesting plan. That "traffic circle" in front of Stax Grill gives me shivers; I hope that's just architectual "fluffing." In a town where PF Chang's revolving door befuddles more than a few persons, I'd hate to imagine what Christmas congestion at a traffic circle right next to Haywood Mall would do.

Wow, good find, citiylife! ...And since when has the intersection of Highway 14 and I-85 had the zip code of 29607? (Yeah, there's always one in the bunch.)

Trader Joe's, rumored to be going in behind Rooms To Go, would be the only reason I'd go anywhere near that stretch of Woodruff. (Yes, Trader Joe's may even be worth the Woodruff Road traffic!)

Good sports trivia SouthernYankee. I have no problem with the Highlanders/Yankees reference, especially since they were ORIGINALLY the (once powerful) Baltimore Orioles. Ahh, the good old days of the 1890's...

Highlanders? Very cool, very interesting name. And it meets all the real-sports-name requirements - it is PLURAL, it's NOT A VERB (leave that to the WNBA, please), it's locally relevant, and you can ultimately have a mascot wielding some sort of ancient, brutal weapon. Love the Scottish ideas, but I may have to draw the line at "Half-Price Haggis Night."

In keeping with embarassing names like "Drive," "Groove," and "Grrrrrrrrowl," I think the team should be called the "Greenville Puck." Singular, of course, never plural. That would be too "sports-like." Hey, just think of the chants we could hurl at opposing teams with a name like that.

Is the new hockey team going to keep the name "Chiefs" or are they going to be renamed?

I caught a quick blurb on WYFF this morning about "Superplay" going ahead with plans to transform the old Montgomery Wards, but missed most of the story. For anyone who may have seen it - is Superplay going ahead with the above plans, or have they changed at all over the past six months?

Thanks gsupstate - it's nice to hear Charlotte's is not full sized. It eases my inferiority complex a bit! Sort of on topic - As we know Greenville is a "Test Market." Wouldn't it be great to have them test the new "glasses-free" 3D theatres here? Don't know about you nice folks, but the glasses during AVATAR gave me a wicked headache! (No, this is not a movie critique.)

You are right, Greenville, I/we should be thankful. I gave the wrong impression, I'll definitely be in the Great Escape line when a worthy movie comes around. It's just the inferiority complex bubbling to the surface - how come Mom likes Charlotte and Atlanta better and we don't get all the cool things too?

Good clarification, Citylife! ....Still... I can't wrap my pea-sized brain around the reasoning that a "lesser" IMAX would be good enough for the Upstate. (Yep, I'm being "Johnny Raincloud" on this; sorry for the negativity. I've seen quite a few full-sized IMAX films and they are all astounding. I just don't want to be dissapointed!)

IMAX? No, more like an IMIN. Once Hollywood Cinemas cancelled their IMAX plans, Great Escape announced they would put in a tiny, stunted version of IMAX, not the full-sized screen that makes IMAX so wonderful. Want to know what industry insiders call the runt-sized IMAX display like we are getting? YAMS. It stands for "Your Average Movie Screen." Did anyone detect a hint of bitterness?

Despite getting near-desperate to see something/ANYTHING in place of the BIG VOID, I have to agree that rinky-dink office buildings do not constitute a "Gateway." Really - if GVille is the downtown showplace for all other cities to emulate (see "How outside views Greenville" threads) then how can the city allow anything other than a SIGNATURE LANDMARK? (Yes, I know, the city is not a single entity that decides what goes in there. I occasionally grasp reality...) Whatever goes in there, I hope someone visits Buckhead first for some ideas. Amazing architecture there, both sublime and grotesque, but always interesting.