An arena is a waste without a real tenant. You don’t build an arena to host NCAA tournament games once every 4 years. You don’t build an arena to host UFC/WWE/AEW events once every year.
Sun Bowl renovations
- Thread starter Hot For Keitha
- Start date
A major renovation to the DHC world be to tear it down and rebuild it with loading docks for concert setup/tear down and seating flexibility. It might help attract more shows and special events.
The question now becomes do we invest 100 million into a football stadium to hopefully get 6-8 events a year or do we go all in on an arena to get 60 dates a year?
UTEP should put a dome on the Sun Bowl and it can be scaled down to hold arena events too.
I bet they would have to structurally reinforce the Sun Bowl to handle a roof. If that was ever an option this could be one of those projects that spirals out of control. If that were ever to be a possibility I bet they would look at tearing down the Sun Bowl and building a new stadium all together with modern amenities.
Putting a roof on the sun bowl is unrealistic and would ruin it's appeal.
Rebuilding the Don would probably cost more than the 99 million Wilson is asking for.
I doubt this will make it to a vote, and if it does it will be voted down.
The biggest problem is that what is proposed is not what the fans want. Chair back seats- led lights- updated sound system and Wi-Fi.
Why try to make improvements on the chance of getting a few concerts instead of taking care of those who support Utep year after year.
Rebuilding the Don would probably cost more than the 99 million Wilson is asking for.
I doubt this will make it to a vote, and if it does it will be voted down.
The biggest problem is that what is proposed is not what the fans want. Chair back seats- led lights- updated sound system and Wi-Fi.
Why try to make improvements on the chance of getting a few concerts instead of taking care of those who support Utep year after year.
And what appeal does the Sun Bowl have now???? Surely you’re joking. Nobody is attending a Sun Bowl event because it’s inside a mountain or the “view” some seats have.
I think any major renovation of the Sun Bowl is not practica, especially when we’re talking about UTEP football of all things being the main tenant. It’s one thing if we’re talking an NFL team that players 8-9 games plus preseason and playoffs, and MLS team that plays 20+ games a year. But UTEP football only plays 6 or 7 games a year tops. Then you add our supposed 6-8 events a year plus monster trucks and a Sun Bowl? That’s less than 20 events a year. .
In a perfect world I think a joint venture of some sort with UTEP to build an arena to replace the DHC would something that would be both practical and beneficial to everyone.
The Pit Renovation/remodel was $60 million 13 years ago and was exceptional. I think 100 million is not that far off
Who said build a new Arena!?!?!?!? Where did you read that? I'm pretty sure no one including myself said build a new Arena! I clearly stated that since the Arena project folded, that it'd be better to have money go to improving the DHC to be in the position to get those type of events. Obviously if the miners are playing in it, possible CUSA Tourney, NCAA Tourney and more concerts it's being used.
I’m sure it’s been brought up before but how does the city go about shifting money allocated to the “multipurpose performance art center/not an arena” to another project? Would that not require a vote ?
Yes, I absolutely don't believe it will or even could happen. My original point or question was how is UTEP able to ask for money for the Sun Bowl and not the DHC. However it was explained that the Sun Bowl is owned by the city I believe and the DHC is owned by UTEP. That's how I understood it at least.
Last edited:
UTEP took ownership of the Sun Bowl in 2001. I guess you can ask for county bond money to upgrade a privately owned facility.
Oh ok, well then I guess that leaves hope for the DHC then.
Your initial point was correct Natty. It may have been an easier sell to pursue the DHC improvements first, if the plan was to involve the County. In all likelihood, either approach would be a longshot.
In retrospect, The Sun Bowl should have been upgraded 10-15 years ago after we had a peak in athletics and prior to COVID.
Looking back at UTEP’s decision to take possession of the Sun Bowl in 2001 maybe this would have been an easier sell if the County still owned the stadium. But there is a strong possibility the county wouldn’t have made the improvements UTEP has made up till this point. It could have been The County Coliseum 2.0
Just curious what does everyone think the chance of the bond passing no matter what's on it?
I give it 10%.
I give it 10%.
Im 50/50 on this passing. On one hand people are clueless and they vote yes for anything. Look at how the vast majority of bonds pass, and immediately El Pasoans complain that their taxes went up. That tells me they’re either read up on the issue and they’re too dumb to understand how bonds work or they voted yes blindly. But on the other hand I was shocked that the green initiative passed because people were clamoring loudly for that to pass, but there was an equally loud campaign against it which managed to win out.
But as I’m writing this I’m thinking this may pass because I don’t think there will be this massive campaign against this bond. So people will probably see it, say “Bond to upgrade the Sun Bowl? 🤔🤔Sure….” Not realizing UTEP owns the stadium and not the county.
But as I’m writing this I’m thinking this may pass because I don’t think there will be this massive campaign against this bond. So people will probably see it, say “Bond to upgrade the Sun Bowl? 🤔🤔Sure….” Not realizing UTEP owns the stadium and not the county.
Last edited:
What if Grossman seeks to preserve the original electrical systems because it was manufactured in the back warehouse of the Laundromat from Durangito? If Grossman gets involved, there's no chance at all.
Hold on Miner fans... You know that El Paso will always votes "YES" on the next big new shinning thing.. And this update to the field fills that bucket perfectly...
its about time, we get this done..
its about time, we get this done..
Eff that guy. Our taxes went up and we have nothing to show for it because he wanted to save some stupid laundromat.
Sure, but much of the blame is on the city as well. Why didn’t the city do its due diligence and pick a different site? Downtown is downtown is it not? Even after all the bullshit, Grossman gave them several different downtown sites that his buddies were fine with putting an arena there.
The city decided to lock in on Durangito. Why? Why couldn’t they have just put the arena in another part of Downtown? The city is also guilty of this arena debacle.
They absolutely deserve their share of the blame, especially when they didn’t word the arena correctly on the ballot. But what did we all gain in the end? We’re all years older, Duraguito is still a dump and we still have no arena.
I am not sure of the exact sites now, it’s been years since that interview occurred.
If UTEP had allowed the high schools more accessibility to use the athletic facilities, would people be more open to use public money? Better yet, if athletics had renovated the other facilities out of pocket especially during the Natalicio era the taxpayers may be more willing to open its pockets?
Yes I think so. And if the city hadn't botched the arena and if it didn't take to long to build/complete projects either.
So if the Sun Bowl came up with another 40 million, could the Sun Bowl get a renovation instead of an uplift?
Well at least UTEP tried. Terrible timing for it right now.
IMHO, If Coach Walden can produce 3 winning seasons with 2 Bowl wins I believe that will result in sell-outs at the Sun Bowl which will bring $ to the community and more eyes Nationally, at that point UTEP will be in a better position to ask for $ for the upgrades.
It was a half-hearted effort, in my opinion. They should have been campaigning for this for a year. I think people are taxed-out already too. Also, most of these upgrades are not obvious upgrades that fans would notice. Hopefully they have a better plan next time around.
