Goodby Downtown Arena

[Sports Opinion]

This is why I voted for Dee Margo but most people in El Paso still want to live in a ranch.

Se compromete alcalde a no construir la arena

Leeser fue claro al reafirmar su postura sobre la polémica arena, que sería construida en la zona del vecindario Union Square

diario.mx

 

[FeralFelidae]

“Creo que no necesitamos construir una arena en esa área. Necesitamos tomar el dinero y darle a los votantes lo que pidieron, que es un centro de artes escénicas”, afirmó el alcalde Leeser."

Good grief, didn't the voters vote to fund the arena? You have the gall to talk about what the voters want instead of the arena?

 

[FeralFelidae]

He wants to turn Duranguito into the San Antonio River Walk without the river.

Hey, you ignorant jackass, aside from the delusion of it all, do you know what's within walking distance of the River Walk? The freaking Alamodome. A big arena brings the type of commerce to the area that is conducive to a project like the River Walk.

What's your plan to bring people to the "tourist attraction" of Duranguito without an arena?

 

[TxRdKiller]

He wants to turn Duranguito into the San Antonio River Walk without the river.

Hey, you ignorant jackass, aside from the delusion of it all, do you know what's within walking distance of the River Walk? The freaking Alamodome. A big arena brings the type of commerce to the area that is conducive to a project like the River Walk.

What's your plan to bring people to the "tourist attraction" of Duranguito without an arena?

You know what is even closer to the River Walk and was there loooong before the Alamodome?

The Alamo.

 

[FeralFelidae]

You know what is even closer to the River Walk and was there loooong before the Alamodome?

The Alamo.

Absolutely right.

The Chinese laundry at Duranguito is a poor excuse for a "tourist attraction" when compared to the Alamo.

The River Walk works for a variety of reasons that El Paso or any number of cities do not have. Yes, we can say, "Boy, it would be nice to transform Duranguito into El Paso's version of the River Walk without the river," snap our fingers, and hope it happens. Throw out the arena to instead chase some delusion of turning Duranguito into the River Walk. If every city could have the River Walk, then they would.

I'd rather have the damned arena and let El Paso build its own thing around it. The arena will attract businesses.

 

[UTEPDefense]

1.) Oscar Leeser ran for Mayor by taking as little stance as possible on any of the big issues . An El Paso Times reporter was being interviewed around the Mayoral Debates and he had the perfect line which was something like "It's hard to say if most people will either agree of disagree with Oscar Leeser's positions because he has gone out of his way to not take any(positions)". Vote for someone like that and you get what you vote for.

2.) I support the arena and more than anything would just like to see that poor excuse for a "historical neighborhood" torn down. But with all of this being, at this point in order to get the type/size arena that would make people happy I think we would have to go back to the voters and get more money. So maybe we should just let this go and when the time is right, we can place a specific arena vote on the ballot with a proper budget, specific location, etc. and if it passes then you won't have the legal issue and you can can get the quality arena that most people would want.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

1.) Oscar Leeser ran for Mayor by taking as little stance as possible on any of the big issues . An El Paso Times reporter was being interviewed around the Mayoral Debates and he had the perfect line which was something like "It's hard to say if most people will either agree of disagree with Oscar Leeser's positions because he has gone out of his way to not take any(positions)". Vote for someone like that and you get what you vote for.

2.) I support the arena and more than anything would just like to see that poor excuse for a "historical neighborhood" torn down. But with all of this being, at this point in order to get the type/size arena that would make people happy I think we would have to go back to the voters and get more money. So maybe we should just let this go and when the time is right, we can place a specific arena vote on the ballot with a proper budget, specific location, etc. and if it passes then you won't have the legal issue and you can can get the quality arena that most people would want.

I no longer support the arena, but would like to see the “historical neighborhood” torn down as well.

El Paso needs to go put the arena back up for vote and let us decide again. It’s been almost a decade and whatever money was “good enough” back then, no longer is.

I am against the arena because I don’t believe there is a suitable full time “tenant” to occupy the arena.

 

[TxRdKiller]

I no longer support the arena, but would like to see the “historical neighborhood” torn down as well.

El Paso needs to go put the arena back up for vote and let us decide again. It’s been almost a decade and whatever money was “good enough” back then, no longer is.

I am against the arena because I don’t believe there is a suitable full time “tenant” to occupy the arena.

Sounds like Max Grossman got what he wanted in the end.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

Sounds like Max Grossman got what he wanted in the end.

I believe Grossman actually thinks the laundromat and whorehouse are historic places and that tourists will come and see them.

I don’t believe those “attractions” will be bring any tourism, except from the most niche of historian.

I am thankful that Grossman has “saved” the city from building this arena that would only bring in a few extra events and would have been a burden during the pandemic. That doesn’t mean I hope he is successful or that I agree with his tactics.

 

[Dmanminer]

Level the dam area, sell it off to private industry cheap. I voted for the area but it would be a joke with the money allocated.

 

[UTEPDefense]

Another issue with Leeser is that the arena passed in 2012 and Leeser was the Mayor from 2013 to 2017. Under Leeser's leadership, essentially no progress was made towards the arena and he wasted half-a-decade worth of inflation and rising costs to the point where the following administration had to try and play catch-up.

The delaying lawsuits, which eventually lost and are in the process of losing their appeals, would have also ran their course earlier, had Leeser gotten the project started earlier.

 

[unihorn]

It’s not Leeser’s decision.

 

[FeralFelidae]

It’s not Leeser’s decision.

Right; it's Grossman's.

 

[UTEPMiners8106]

I believe Grossman actually thinks the laundromat and whorehouse are historic places and that tourists will come and see them.

I don’t believe those “attractions” will be bring any tourism, except from the most niche of historian.

I am thankful that Grossman has “saved” the city from building this arena that would only bring in a few extra events and would have been a burden during the pandemic. That doesn’t mean I hope he is successful or that I agree with his tactics.

The irony of this was the fact that he has no problem displacing Duranguito homeowners for his own selfish reasons.

 

[unihorn]

I say build it in Duranguito as the voters decided.

 

[MinerMambo]

Leeser is a do nothing mayor and not very bright. He had four years of no accomplishment and look for another four of the same. He is the 21st century Jonathan Rogers (although Rogers was bright). Expect nothing to happen in his term, expect him to speak in platitudes, and expect him to take credit for the work of others.

If the arena gets built, it will be in spite of him and not because of him. There is a reason JP Bryan gave him a campaign donation of $5,000.

 

[JCorona]

I'll never understand why a used car sales man was voted as mayor.

 

[UTEPMiners8106]

I'll never understand why a used car sales man was voted as mayor.

I’m curious to know how many people in this city follow local politics? The majority of people vote along party lines and if you align yourself with that party you have a very good chance of getting elected regardless of what your plans/policies are.

 

[techsloth]

I’m curious to know how many people in this city follow local politics? The majority of people vote along party lines and if you align yourself with that party you have a very good chance of getting elected regardless of what your plans/policies are.

There is no party affiliation listed with EP mayoral candidates on the ballot as it's supposed to be a non-partisan position. Margo is a republican.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

I'll never understand why a used car sales man was voted as mayor.

Because El Paso has a very high moron population - as seen on this board. Oscar is a “celebrity” and that is what really matters here lol. If Aaron Jones or Khalid ran for mayor, they would win in a landslide.

 

[JCorona]

Because El Paso has a very high moron population - as seen on this board. Oscar is a “celebrity” and that is what really matters here lol. If Aaron Jones or Khalid ran for mayor, they would win in a landslide.

Either one of them would do a better job than Mr Hyundai.

 

[unihorn]

I'll never understand why a used car sales man was voted as mayor.

Because he’s such a good boy.

 

[Voice of the Mosquito]

This would have been a no-brainer for most cities, but not so in EP. We can't advance past our own mentality. Don't know why we want to build a faux-Mexico two blocks from the real one. Private investment are you kidding?? No body is going to invest in that area, period. Time to dump Mr Oscar.

 

[Rot]

Grossman‘s tactics paid off against a guy like Leeser, who chose the path of least resistance. It’s a shame that a few people decided the outcome and not the thousands who voted in favor of the arena. I thought Margo did more for EP during his term compared to Leeser. The best way to draw people downtown is to build an entertainment venue that will bring people there. Oh well, another lost opportunity for El Paso.

 

[UTEPMiners8106]

Grossman‘s tactics paid off against a guy like Leeser, who chose the path of least resistance. It’s a shame that a few people decided the outcome and not the thousands who voted in favor of the arena. I thought Margo did more for EP during his term compared to Leeser. The best way to draw people downtown is to build an entertainment venue that will bring people there. Oh well, another lost opportunity for El Paso.

If that “faux downtown” comes to fruition I will refuse to spend a dime out of spite.

 

[FiliUTEP]

Has El Paso been paying taxes for the arena?? Or for the bond that passed for the arena. Weren't Taxes being raised?? So I wondered if El Paso citizens are still paying for it??

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

Has El Paso been paying taxes for the arena?? Or for the bond that passed for the arena. Weren't Taxes being raised?? So I wondered if El Paso citizens are still paying for it??

Who the f cares? El Paso needs to find a way to divert all that arena money to helping EP Water to fix parts of the city that can’t handle 3 inches of water.

The arena is dead. The money they wanted for it, won’t build shit now. Voters will not approve any more money to it. Like a stadium for the Locomotive only, it will never be built.

 

[UTEPMiners8106]

Who the f cares? El Paso needs to find a way to divert all that arena money to helping EP Water to fix parts of the city that can’t handle 3 inches of water.

The arena is dead. The money they wanted for it, won’t build shit now. Voters will not approve any more money to it. Like a stadium for the Locomotive only, it will never be built.

The sad thing is that the city raised rates after the flood in 2006 and every year they raise rates. And now we’ve seen that in 15 years we’re still not able to handle these events.

 

[unihorn]

Who the f cares? El Paso needs to find a way to divert all that arena money to helping EP Water to fix parts of the city that can’t handle 3 inches of water.

The arena is dead. The money they wanted for it, won’t build shit now. Voters will not approve any more money to it. Like a stadium for the Locomotive only, it will never be built.

Not the way voter approved bonds work.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

Not the way voter approved bonds work.

Yeah, a wish, but as I said, that arena is never getting built.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

The sad thing is that the city raised rates after the flood in 2006 and every year they raise rates. And now we’ve seen that in 15 years we’re still not able to handle these events.

Well if you listen to EP Water, they needed $650m back then and decided only on $150m or whatever. So it’s our fault and not theirs lol

 

[unihorn]

Well if you listen to EP Water, they needed $650m back then and decided only on $150m or whatever. So it’s our fault and not theirs lol

I mean they’ve built a lot. EPW is one of our better run govt. entities.

 

[FiliUTEP]

Who the f cares? El Paso needs to find a way to divert all that arena money to helping EP Water to fix parts of the city that can’t handle 3 inches of water.

The arena is dead. The money they wanted for it, won’t build shit now. Voters will not approve any more money to it. Like a stadium for the Locomotive only, it will never be built.

That money was for the arena not for other things. Like raises for local officials. I wouldn't be shocked if city officials hired this guy to fight against the arena. That way they can use the money for themselves .

 

[Randaddy Miner]

Did anyone watch the cornfield game?!?!? We need a cornfield in downtown.... Honestly, though, why aren't we trying to capitalize on these two space ports around us?

 

[Randaddy Miner]

Weeeeeee Neeeeed an Astroooooooo World. A casino, too..... teach them aggies not to mess with our little suburbs and take our money

 

[Randaddy Miner]

Then we purchase the Cowboys, Raiders, 49ers and some dumb team like the patriots..... AND BOOM!!!! we get our arena!!! Soccer sized, though. Not like that Las Vegas studio sized apartment/stadium..... That is how we get our arena!

 

[MinerFan79]

Because El Paso has a very high moron population - as seen on this board. Oscar is a “celebrity” and that is what really matters here lol. If Aaron Jones or Khalid ran for mayor, they would win in a landslide.

Sad but true

 

[axingfools1]

The arena money needs to be accounted for now. The city needs to come up with re-appropriation options, then the public needs to vote on the options.

 

[Cube Jack]

Weeeeeee Neeeeed an Astroooooooo World. A casino, too..... teach them aggies not to mess with our little suburbs and take our money

Didn't the real Astro World close down like 15 years ago?

 

[FeralFelidae]

Didn't the real Astro World close down like 15 years ago?

Yeah. I guess if the largest city in Texas couldn't sustain a major theme park, there are definitely questions of viability in El Paso.

But I still believe El Paso could do better than Western Playland.

And I'd still love to see somebody build a mountain coaster in El Paso.