Wayward Memphian

Paris is a bit of a surprise considering the amount of tourism from the UK would otherwise suggest London being a better option for more passengers. In case you all don't know, the NL Gov't is really clamping down on AMS flights as they have gone climate crisis crazy. Fed Ex promising full bellies to a cargo hub certainly subsidizes the passenger end. Of Course, AF has Delta as a partner and a share of ownership. Delta's marketshare in Memphis has eroded quite a bit since the de hub. I assumed BA might have been interestrd n LHR/MEM with the A321XLR but they are underperforming on promised range and the B787s are too much plane American has pulled the plug on making AUS a bit of a connecting hub. That meant the AUS/MEM flight bit the dust. That was losing money on all kinds of fronts. The worse performing hub for a major airline now is Delta in Seattle.

Well, the Musicfest is kaput. Congrats to the River Park filk that wanted it gone for years(decades). One of the reasons I wanted a downtown stadium adjacent to Beale, the Music Fest, a larger venue that was needed to bolster the attendance needed for profitability. MiM is a shell of it's former self with the crime (smash and grabs of cars) and self sabotage by supposed community leaders. Meanwhile I'm going to Sting tonight in Northwest Arkansas. Never thought I'd see the day that NWA was a better concert scene than Memphis. But, alas.

Now for Delta, decent 1st Class bookings Put those two flights together and you have a really solid flight on 1 RJ for the doldrum season at 70 total. Those together in peak season would make a decent Delta A221 (108 seats in 2x3 configuration ) flight with a RON in Memphis. Delta needs to win this fight IMO.

Time for a little 2023 to 2019 comparison for July July 2019 94 flights, 212,094 enplanements July 2023 85 flights, 224,211 enplanements. That's a (ballparkin') 12k or 5% passenger enplanement gain. Less flights which means some upgauging of equipment. Who's winning on Boston? That's tricky. I do not believe that both carriers will continue to offer it. Someone will fold. Sept is the dog days of air travel right up there with the winter doldrums of late Jan and Feb. Lets peak in to MEM to BOS on this upcoming Monday. First the current situation on AA's flight. Crappy 1st Class bookings.

I could give two squirts in a Delta jet if it is a Holiday Inn Express or a Tapestry or whatever. It isn't some bland, off the shelf stucco suburban exit look. If they keep the rooms clean, treat you nice, and feed you a bland but decent breakfast it'll do for most.

Without getting into the political muck, the term mass shooting has been high jacked by one political party and their friends in the media in the shaping of the gun debate. Kinda like.how every thunderboomer and front is a product of climate change.

I found out about the "mass shooting" in Memphis via a Facebook post by KFSM TV 5, the local Tenga owned CBS station in NWA. They did not post about Nashville. That is a sister station to WREG. What that did was take the highest viewed local station's social media platform and inform potentially 1 million people about 4 to 5 hours away of that incident. I see the stupidity every time I come home on I- 240, there's never not a car going well over a 100 mph and at least half the time I experience at least two cars racing. That's fact, not my opinion. I have said for years (here and Skyscraper City) that Memphis should have built a new Convention Center/Hotel near Beale St. with a closed or retractable fabric roof stadium in the 50 to 55k range . Much like BC Place in Vancouver BC Canada.

One of the reasons I've implored for a LB replacement or at least a soccer stadium at the the old CA property was to incorporate the Music Fest with it. West Stage at Mud Island Amp or the southern tip(I remember the Horde Tour being there) and East Stage at new stadium. Have simultaneous headliners from different genres at close, control the crowd by offering a ticket for various closing stages. But unless Memphis gets control of what is happening in front of the Hampton Inn, this is all mute as the reputation of Memphis as a lawless crime cess pool grows outside if it's borders. Memohis needs to reinvent it's streets with major traffic calming methods to get rid the racing and donut fests.

Anyone going address the "damage" bill handed to Memphis in May l, particularly to the BBQ fest? They seem to be trying to kill off Memphis in May at Tom Lee. Why would any other festival want to come if they are going to get a bill like that. Memphis should talking about adding a second weekend to the music fest and a land bridge from the Landing to Mud Island to expand the BBQ Competition but not Memphis.......?

The Ellis Auditorium /North Hall (now The New Cannon Center) once hosted concerts. I saw the Jayhawks/Black Crowes there. The concerts have shifted to the Orpheum. I love concerts at the Orpheum, I go to the Midland in KC as well.

If you look at the Top 25 current unserved markets, MEM and Breeze would seem like a no brainer especially if you look at their east coast cities, their A223s and the needs of MEM on the west coast. JAX-MEM- (SEA, PDX, others) are screaming "Breeze Thru" at 2 and 3 times a week. ORF-MEM-SAN does as well.

The route is doomed as Avelo will suspend it with no plans to restart it. Consider it "inside baseball" for the reasons why. If it shows promise, maybe Breeze will finally inter the market and put an E190 on it with a nice coastal tag on the back end. The top 25 markets not served is littered with places Breeze has set up shop.

NHL is pushing for Hockey first arenas. Baseball is expensive with the farm team payrolls to support and Memphis would need a very small stadium of no more than 28 to 29 K. Damn Shame our sports leagues aren't ran like the EPL and other Euro Soccer leagues. Give me a 45 to 50 team NFL with two divisions and a system of relegation and promotions SLC, MEM, San Antonio, AUS, Orlando, StL, Louisville, OKC/Tulsa, Columbus, San Diego, others. Ditto for the NBA, STL, Kansas City, Louisville/Cincy, Omaha, Seattle, others.

A HoB with Sunday Gospel Brunch is ready made foe the river Cruiser set. And, yea, the New Daisy and the Police station should be it.

They need to add a decent music venue like the HardEock in Tulsa has. Bit first, they need to buy up the crap that is around that exit like that boat shop in an old service station and that seedy motel.