[210 Trade | EpiCentre]

Thank god this did not happen.  Has anyone actually been to the Riverwalk in SA?  It is HORRIBLE!  One of the most desperate attempts to get people downtown, and, probably, one of the worst executed of all time.  The water is disgusting, brown and it wreaks.  Trust me, they pump new and colored water in before events like the Final Four but the rest of the time its like walking next to a drainage ditch.  The shops and restaurants are all your standard tourist crap, Senor Frogs, Patty O's, etc.

 

I hate the concept of competition/comparison between Charlotte and Austin.  The fundamentals of each city are so different it's hard to really make a true comparison.  As to competition, Austin will always have a more unique and "cool" feel, but Charlotte will always be more "important" on a national level.  The two cities are on similar trajectories but for nearly entirely different reasons.  Austin is driven by the state gov't and UT and the tech industry that has spun off of and feeds off of UT.  Its geography on the edge of hill country and next to the river is incredible, and something we will NEVER be able to compete with. CLT on the other hand is driven by the financial industry, with behind the scenes but significant help from the power and logistics industries. We get little help in terms of growth (compared to Austin) from our local educational institutions (while I have a lot of respect for UNCC it is not UT).  While our local geography is attractive, without water we cannot "compete" with Austin.  However, relative to other attractions we have them handily "beat".  Driving distance from ATL, Charleston, the mountains and the coast (Texas beaches aren't even in the conversation with NC/SC beaches) and a short flight to everything on the east coast.  Our airport is significantly better in terms of destinations and number of flights.

 

If you like one of these categories more than any other, then you will prefer that city.  

 

Indeed.

 

Charlotte's economy is also much larger. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._metropolitan_areas_by_GDP

 

Austin has a cool vibe, and a better PR company.