ZestyEd

Im assuming some of you are not able to read the WSJ article so I attached the Methodology for their analysis. The one thing this is not taking into consideration is Site and Time to Operations. Which can change the rankings. Again where is there 100 acres available and ready to build now in Boston? This is where I believe a southern State will win out. *Newark includes all of Northern New Jersey COLLEGE POPULATION: Percentage of population that is college educated. TECH LABOR FORCE: Total labor force in a tech occupation. Includes tech jobs not in the tech industry. FISCAL HEALTH: Cities are scored on metrics including ratio of general fund balance to expenditures; ratio of pension contributions to total government-wide revenues; change in unemployment rate in 2015; and change in property values in 2015. COST OF LIVING: Estimated cost of living for mid-management households by weighting different consumer expenditure categories. CULTURAL FIT: Sites that reflect "Cultural Community Fit" and "Community/Quality of Life" as outlined in the Amazon request-for-proposals. Strong universities, diverse population, recreational opportunities, and an overall high quality of life. Excludes government incentive packages. STATE TAX RANK: Rank of tax rates (including corporate, income and property-tax ranks). One is lowest tax state, 50 is highest tax state. Site/Building - A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready. Capital and Operating Costs - A stable and business-friendly environment and tax structure will be high-priority. Incentives - land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions Labor Force - Strong University system. Logistics – Travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. is also an important consideration. Time to Operations – To begin Construction as soon as possible Cultural Community Fit – a diverse population, strong higher-education system, and local government that is eager and willing to work with the company. Community/quality of life - The new headquarters should be in a place where people want to live.

After reading this article I feel Nashville has lot going for them, ie better fit than the bigger Northern cities. Also I feel when people hear infrastructure they assume roads but that also includes connectivity (fiber network) and if you look at the actual RFP it mentions connectivity. Nashville has been mentioned in PC Mag as having a pretty good Broadband network. Key Preference and Decision Driver Site/Building - A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready. (What northern city have this readily available? ) Capital and Operating Costs - A stable and business-friendly environment and tax structure will be high-priority. Incentives - land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions Labor Force - Strong University system. Logistics – Travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. is also an important consideration. (BNA is getting there) Time to Operations – To begin Construction as soon as possible (What northern city have this can do this? ) Cultural Community Fit – a diverse population, strong higher-education system, and local government that is eager and willing to work with the company. Community/quality of life - The new headquarters should be in a place where people want to live. (It city!) Additional Information Connectivity - Ensuring optimal fiber connectivity is paramount at our HQ2 location

I think River North would be a great place for Amazon HQ2 https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2017/09/07/amazon-solicits-bids-from-north-american-cities.html

Taken by a friend. Thought they were worth posting here.

Still trying to find final numbers in Cleveland. But this was mentioned a few days ago.

NHL on NBC took this pic

Game watch Game 4

Took this around 4:45 while flying back from Denver today. Mayor Barry happen to be on this flight.

Don't know if this is the right forum but what is up with the white building? It looks like its falling apart.

Oh man this reminds me of the American Dream mall in NJ! Great way to showcase Nashville river front.

More info on the AIG relocation and what they are looking for. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2017/02/01/insurance-giant-aig-eyes-dallas-area-office-atlanta-favored-deal

Well, I guess there is some validity to AIG interests as the previous CEO stated "He's warned employees against buying New York-area homes as he mulls shifting jobs to less expensive locations". http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130802/REAL_ESTATE/130809972/aig-to-move-headquarters-to-water-street

That's not far fetched. Nashville did host the 15th annual Grammy awards in 1973 at the Tennessee theater!

Nashville’s challenge: How to be a mythical place that moonlights as an ordinary city https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2017/02/07/nashvilles-challenge-how-to-be-a-mythical-place-that-moonlights-as-an-ordinary-city/?postshare=4981486489518172&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.6fab7e34759f

This is very similar to what Boston is currently doing with their Seaport District. It was a dingy industrial area in South Boston which has transformed into a vibrant Live, Work and Play development on Boston Harbor. Boston has a master plan very much like this project and has taken them years to get to where they are now with more to develop. So I don't feel this will be ambitious for Nashville has long as we understand this will be a 20+ year project. Not many major cities in the South have a river that runs through it with prime undeveloped land! ttp://www.bostonmagazine.com/2012/07/rise-seaport-district-boston/

Can always convert that garage to something like this! https://www.citylab.com/amp/article/366357

Taken December 14th

Is it a possibility to still build NCCII? Looks like a parking garage is located where it would be.

Nipper Stadium where University Of Cincinnati and USL FC Cincinnati play was just renovated from 35,000 to 40,000. The only problem I see MSL having is that most stadiums are around 20,000 or less. But if Vandy can pull it off they can have something nicer than Nipper that can meet MLS requirements.

Taken earlier today

Past Superbowl host capacity. Tampa Bay : 65,890 Miami : 65,326 Houston : 71,700 Indianapolis : 70,000 Arizona 63,400 (expandable to 72,200) Up coming Superbowl locations Minnesota : 66,655 Atlanta : 71,000 (expandable for SB to 75,000)

So increasing from 18% to 24% in 6 weeks is roughly renting 4 units a week. If they maintain this pace it will be fully rented out in about 1 year and a half from now.

I was told that Bridgestone forgot about 400 employees when consolidating their Indian offices and I think St Louis office to Nashville. So now they have to rent office space out in Antioch for their IT department.

FYI. Populous (formerly HOK Sports Venue Event) was the Architect company for Nissan Stadium. I have listed below the other football stadiums they have designed and I have been to Gillette and it is a spitting replica of Nissan Stadium minus the Light house/bridge Gillette has. Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida – Miami Dolphins; University of Miami football; Orange Bowl; Super Bowl XXIII, XXIX, XXXVI, XLI and XLIV (1987) EverBank Field – Jacksonville Jaguars; Gator Bowl; Georgia vs. Florida football game; Super Bowl XXXIX (1995) Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina – Carolina Panthers; Meineke Car Care Bowl (1996) Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida – Tampa Bay Buccaneers; University of South Florida football; Outback Bowl; Super Bowl XXXV and XLIII (1996) FedExField, Landover, Maryland – Washington Redskins (1997) M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland – Baltimore Ravens (1998) Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee – Tennessee Titans; Music City Bowl (1999) FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio – Cleveland Browns (1999) Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Steelers; University of Pittsburgh football (2001) Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts – New England Patriots (2002)[23] NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas – Houston Texans; Texas Bowl; Super Bowl XXXVIII (2002) University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona – Arizona Cardinals; Fiesta Bowl; Super Bowl XLII (2006) TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota – University of Minnesota Football (2009) McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas – Baylor University Football (2012) Kyle Field (redevelopment plan), College Station, Texas – Texas A&M Aggies football (2012)[24] Ralph Wilson Stadium (renovation), Orchard Park, New York – Buffalo Bills (2014)