BFG

I think we agree more than not. The point I'm making is that - like you said - it takes a while for things like this to come to fruition (see Atlantic Park), so why write an article making it seem like it's in trouble after only three weeks? If we're still at this point this time next year, then yeah ask questions.

I might be reading too much into it, but considering the Mayor just announced this last month isn't it a little premature for The Pilot to make it seem like its in jeopardy? I know they love to downplay any major development in this area, but it hasn't even been a month.

Coliseum, yes. They hosted a hockey team back in the 70s. I think Chartway is basketball-only. I keep going back to the 2017 proposal but the city really needs to put that plan back on the table. Yes, digging into the ground is going to cost you (back then it was about 200M, so with inflation let’s say 250), but a new arena will be twice as expensive. Do what you have to do to get to 15K, and revisit this plan. I think naming rights, a hospitality tax, and now tax credits offsets the cost quite a bit. If you can figure out a revenue-sharing plan, get other cities to contribute to a regional hospitality tax and explain this new Scope benefits everyone. A 1% hospitality tax for five years, a 10-year deal with Dollar Tree, and tax credits should provide at least half of the cost.

I will add, the one thing I feel ORF needs is more fast dining within the actual terminals. Dunno if Burger King is still there, but that’s in the main area. Might be moot because I don’t believe this airport has layovers, but they should consider putting a BK, or something like a Pizza Hut/Taco Bell on each terminal like in other major airports.

The first thing that caught my eye about their site is they claim to have 20 teams, with the possibility of expanding to 22 (North/South Dakota?!). That is very ambitious for a startup, considering how expensive the payroll would be as you mentioned. Players, coaches, trainers, front office, announcers, etc., etc., etc. plus stadium expenses. Listening to the league's podcast, some of these teams will play in high school venues because I'm sure renting out a stadium the size of Dick Price or Kornblau is also pricey. You gotta start somewhere, but that doesn't give me a lotta confidence. I know the AFL did the same thing in the 60s, but pro sports were a much different beast back then and the NFL wasn't what it was now. I want this to succeed and grow to the level of a UFL, but I think starting off with 8-12 teams is much more feasible. Even the USFL and XFL (pre-merger) started with only 8.

From Facebook. Can’t wait to hear the international options. transformORF.com

It's from a couple weeks ago, but another (semi-)pro football league is coming to Norfolk, the Virginia Aces of Major League Football. They planning to use Dick Price Stadium at NSU as the home venue and their commish is supposedly working on getting broadcast deals with CBS and ESPN. You all probably know my ambitions on sports coming to Hampton Roads, but I'd really like to see the UFL come to town. We'll see; I'm cautiously optimistic given how many times we've been burned. Personally I think ODU or the Sportsplex would've been a better location, but I'll probably check out a game. https://www.wtkr.com/sports/pro-football-coming-to-hampton-roads-as-virginia-aces-launch

My grandfather tells me about how he worked for Barr Bros. Jewelry back in the 40s or 50s. I might have to get that picture for him.

The last update was a month ago. I drove through the area last week and it looks about the same.

Hence the asterisk and footnote haha

I love March Madness and have been hoping for years to get a game in HR. Getting this to 12-13K could at least make that a reality. Deep down I’m still hoping we could get a pro team that maybe calls Scope its temporary home, but in the meantime developers believe this could get us major events, and I’m hoping March Madness is at least one of them. What really needs to happen is Norfolk, VB, and Chesapeake’s mayors need to come together and get serious about a regional arena that can be funded with a hotel tax. Location doesn’t matter, and I think some sort of revenue split could be agreed upon*. *Fully aware two of those cities couldn’t even agree on where to place an outlet mall.

Yes. There’s at least one brewery over there, Afterglow, and I believe another one opened in the old Bold Mariner space. There’s also Chicken Salad Chick, Sanctuary tacos, and Biscuit Belly, although I’m not sure if the latter is open yet. All three are really good.

If I ever find myself agreeing with anything Karen, umm…Kerry has to say, please take me to the nearest doctor. Fortunately I don’t have to change my thoughts on her, most of which aren’t suitable for this forum.

This is the updated rendering. Looks like they added about five rows to the upper deck (under the window). I counted about 700 in that section alone, and with the lower level addition, that appears to be another 700. I think 13,000-14,000 minimum is doable. Wish they could add luxury boxes and some LED ribbon lights but I’m a little more optimistic here.

Hence the reason why Tidewater Garden residents have (valid) reservations about SPQ. At least the city is doing a lot better handling that one.

I'm in Greenbrier. If they could get this to go to the airport, NSU/ODU, and downtown, it would be a vast improvement and I'd use it in a heartbeat. Bonus points if they could get it to Town Center and the Beach without the NIMBYs complaining.

This is the approach that should be taken moving forward for every city, esp. when it comes to infrastructure, major jobs, or things like an arena or entertainment complex. Atlantic Park isn't going to only be used by VB residents; same for whatever arena Norfolk builds or for what goes in Summit Pointe. If we got an Amazon or Apple in Suffolk, people from all over the 757/948 would work there. We've been saying this for years. Let's see if it actually comes to fruition this time. I love that VB now has a manager who worked in other cities as an economic developer.

I stumbled upon a Washington Post article from 1985 that basically hypes the area’s progress during the first half of the 80s. Makes me wish I had been a little older when Norfolk underwent the revitalization in the early-80s. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/05/24/norfolk-and-the-beach/9bdb7197-5fb9-4d28-9479-2697483369d2/

OKC's arena is about 580K square footage. T-Mobile in Vegas is 650K; Golden 1 Center in Sacramento is 780K. IIRC, the mall takes up about 900K SF so I think you'd have to tear down a lot more than what's being proposed here. As much as I like the proposal, I wouldn't be against mixed-use that allows for a 15-17K seat arena, hotel, and apartments. If I have a time machine, I'm going back in time 30 years and telling Mayor Fraim to make an arena part of MacArthur, and make the rest open-air shopping with a hotel. Think Short Pump or Ovation Hollywood (formerly Hollywood and Highland) in L.A. EDIT: I know the developers at the time (Taubman?) insisted on a suburban-style mall but THAT would've been the new millennium game changer for downtown back in '99! Council wanted mixed-use and should've dug in their heels IMO, even if meant finding another developer.

From this angle you can see the base, which appears to be at least the shell from the Greyhound station. Plenty of space there for retail shops.

I’m begging the city not to change a single thing from those renderings. That’s an awesome design, and it looks like they’re incorporating some of the original Greyhound station too.

Norfolk. I’m begging you to make this one happen, preferably in the next five years. I’ve gotten my hopes up way too many times.

The Virginia Film Office also mentions portions will be filmed here. I’d be willing to take their word for it, although Blaine Stewart (the “goofball” in that IG video) is an anchor for WTKR. I’d be willing to take his word for it as well.

Looks like the show is back on at Scope, June 23. The band also offers its defense over what happened last week. https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/04/11/ajr-announces-new-norfolk-scope-date-after-last-minute-cancellation/

^^^For the life of me I don't understand why Norfolk stopped embracing the Mermaid City moniker. You might hear it every so often but for whatever reason it never really took off, at least compared to 15 years ago. The mermaids and NFK should be the city's identity and they shouldn't be afraid to make it a thing.