UPDATED: Thanks for all the comments. Several of you mentioned the possibility of building an arena/events center in another part of town, perhaps Mesa del Sol.

That's an issue the City Council has discussed, too, but I don't think it's going to be a serious consideration at this point. The boosters of this project, such as Councilor Isaac Benton, are particularly pleased that the events center would lie near other public assets, such as the Rail Runner, and Downtown bus depot.

Councilor Debbie O'Malley, I think, has described the project as especially important for helping to save the Convention Center. I get the feeling neither O'Malley nor Benton is going to want to move the project elsewhere.

The old state fairgrounds and Uptown have been mentioned as alternate sites.

In this case, the city has been focusing on the Downtown site throughout the process, so I don't think they'd consider another location unless they decide to scrap the current effort altogether. 

A town-hall meeting later this month will put the spotlight on Albuquerque's plans for a Downtown events center and hotel complex.

New Mexico First, a nonprofit group formed formed in the mid-1980s by senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici, is sponsoring the meeting, which will be held July 17 in the Albuquerque Convention Center.

It costs $35 to register, but here at the City Hall Beat we'll take your ideas for free. Click on one of the comment icons, and we'll try to post what you have to say.

The proposed events center -- supporters don't want to call it an "arena" -- is still a long way from reality at this point. Councilors voted 7-2 last month to spend up to $700,000 on a viability assessment of the project.

Going forward ultimately could cost $350 million to $400 million. How to finance the project is undetermined.

Supporters say the project would ensure there are enough hotel rooms to attract more business to the Convention Center. And the arena itself could house sports and concerts and the like, making Downtown a destination that appeals to a broad group of people.

Should the city move forward with the project? Would you support a sales-tax increase to help pay for it? I'm listening. 

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Name: Dan Otter

Comment: Jonathan, I would totally support your notion ["A sports arena needs to be surrounded by acres of ground level parking with easy access to major roads."] if it was 1952, if gas was 23 cents a gallon, if I thought roads would become less crowded, if I thought the price of gas was going to decrease, if I thought mass transit ridership numbers were declining, If I thought pollution wasn't an issue, and if I thought conventioneers and city visitors wanted to travel to cities laid out in a manner requiring them to drive everywhere. Freedom isn't the ability to drive your SUV to an event, it's the ability to either drive or take mass transit. This location offers both.

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Name: Chris

Comment: They should build a center downtown as proposed, but it should be seemlessly integrated with the Convention Center, etc, with moving walkways, otherwise you will make it too difficult for attendees to get around. Getting from the current convention center parking to the Kiva Auditorium, for example is a maze found only at the worst of airports. Pack a lunch, bring the GPS and plan accordingly. I think whatever is built will quickly outshine that dust bowl arena in Rio Rancho. Some will wonder if the region needs yet another arena. Again, the difference between good and bad planning: drive 45 minutes to next-to-nowhere or take a rapid ride downtown and get drinks and a meal after the show. I'd rather spend the $$ on myself, not on my gas tank. So bully for downtown! Now what to do about the state fair...

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Name: Jonathan

Comment: Downtown would be a terrible place for a sports arena. No one wants to be stuck in a parking garage after a game. Remember how long it took to get out of a concert at the Journal Center when there was just one exit? A sports arena needs to be surrounded by acres of ground level parking with easy access to major roads. An ideal location (close to both Albuquerque and Rio Rancho) is the Balloon Fiesta Park by I-25. But this isn't really about a sports arena or what's best for a sports franchise or sports fans. It is about downtown advocates trying to force the citizens downtown, so they can make a buck. But the citizens have consistently voted with their ballots (Isotopes park, performing arts center, etc) and with their bodies not to go downtown. Attendance at New Mexico Slam basketball games plummeted when they moved from Tingley to downtown even though the convention center was a nicer facility. Attendance at New Mexico Scorpions also fell when they moved to the boonies of "downtown" Rio Rancho. It is truly a shame that Rio Rancho and Albuquerque didn't work together to build a first-class sports arena in a location convenient to both cities. Instead we have downtown advocates of both cities putting their own interests ahead of the interests of the sports fans. Too bad.

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Name: Mike

Comment: Build it and they will come. Albuquerque needs to think big when it comes to building an Arena. Why not a Multi-Purpose Domed Stadium that can support events like The New Mexico Bowl? This type of structure could help bring back the Final Four, or other national spot light events to New Mexico. Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico should combine its available revenue and efforts and build something we can all be proud of and benefit from.

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Name: tom smith	Comment: i think the arena needs to be bigger than a 11000 seat arena. albuquerque is to big for a small arena. if the city wants to attract big name concerts and possibly pro teams in the future than you have to think about the future. albuquerque is growing not shrinking,think big.
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Name: Tim	Comment: This project is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Just check out these drawings. Why would anyone not want this in downtown? Downtown needs an addition to the skyline anyway.
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Name: Terry

Comment: Downtown is where it needs to be. Parking is going to be tight and the availability of public transportation(Railrunner, Rapid Ride) is definitely a plus for people who live in surrounding areas.(Rio Rancho, Placitas, Santa Fe, Belen, Las Lunas) Having it near the convention center would allow visitor's to easily access the events at the "Events Center". I'm sure a major sponsor is being wooed for naming rights. Another hotel is needed downtown to handle the size of larger, money-generating conventions.As far as a tax-increase, my thought is that it should be shared by the surrounding areas as well, just like the proposed transportation tax. The center will benefit everyone in the area. And, yes, I would support it.One question I do have is, with Sandia, Isleta, Santa Ana, Journal Center entertainment venues, does the Albuquerque area population have the funds to support another venue? Can we afford the tickets to attend the events? Also, wouldn't the hotel construction costs would be the responsibility of the hotel corporation? Or is Albuquerque going into the lodging business, as well?

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Name: Dan Otter

Comment: It's all about ancillary benefits to city businesses and transportation options. A downtown location achieves both. Yes, Isotopes Park is nice (once you are inside after driving and parking) but it provides zero benefit to other local business, save perhaps UNM baseball. Plus it offers zero eating and after game options beyond the stadium, and only one transportation option. I encourage all of those who advocate for an arena at the Fairgrounds or Uptown to frequent the Rio Ranch Events Center (especially since no one else is) at $4+ a gallon while the rest of us drive, walk or take mass transit to this new downtown arena. We'll have a dinner before, walk to the event, and then probably doing something after that doesn't involve sitting in traffic.

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Name: Frank Gallegos

Comment: I would strongly support a project like this. Albuquerque needs to catch up culturally with its' own growth. People here (City Council) seem so hesitant to move forward, to add attractions that will be great business or cultural investments. Downtown ABQ has a lot of very unique features (Rt 66) that deserve to be showcased. ABQ is turning into a large city, no way to stop it. It's critical invest in cultural and business infrastructure before it's too late. Nothing worse than being big and utterly common.

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Name: James Gonzales

Comment: I feel strongly that Albuquerque would benefit from a downtown arena/hotel project. Downtown ABQ has been rapidly evolving over the past years and it is in desperate need of a large push that would make dt and all of abq more appealing and exciting. It would bring in jobs and money to dt and the city and would spur growth elsewhere dt. The city also needs a large venue that can house events all year round instead of just in the summer. This is a very important project, hopefully it does not get shot down by anti-growth voters

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Name: Ron

Comment: This idea ten plus years ago was great for Albuquerque. Like the current energy and oil crisis the bureaucrats have debated it until the local casinos and Rio Rancho have sucked the life out it due to the competition. I agree with R.R. ... Think BIG ... go for a venue that will rival the pit and Popejoy hall for both indoor entertainment and sporting events. I vote for the area being vacated by Tingley and the race track. It could be connected by the ever so haunting trolley system via Central and the railrunner station.

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Name: Chris	Comment: This is something Albuquerque needs if it wants to conider itself a destination spot or a premier city. Albuquerque is one of the last cities it's size to have a multi purpose Arena.
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Name: Pete

Comment: This is a must for Albuquerque and downtown in particular. Albuquerque will fall behind other competing cities in the region and the economic impact is huge. This is also the catalyst for downtown revitalization and one of the basic components of a future light rail system. The city will suffer big economic consequences if they do not move forward and I will be the first to say "I told you so." We are always procrastinating and scaling things back around here. Well, it's time to be bold, assertive and progressive. The future of Albuquerque depends on this project. 18,000 seats and 600 rooms would be and even better plan; a plan with a vision for the future, instead of always being obsolete off the drawing board.

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Name: Tim Trujillo	Comment: Downtown just makes sense. The other options are outdated options based on old ways of thinking... http://urbanabq.blogspot.com/2008/06/traffic-congestion.html
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Name: donald corbin	Comment: whatever it takes get it done! for the obvious reasons the entire community will benefit far greater than the investment.
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Name: k.k.

Comment: Thats great that Albuquerque is looking into something like this. Its about time! But at the same time, i am very disappointed. while the rest of the plan looks great, the plans for the arena are lacking in granduer. only 11,000 seat arena?! Albuquerque need something grand that will rival the pit, and will greatly enhance albq's image and attract big name events, and even an NBA team! Think big, do big, get big results. if you go small the results will be small or non existant. We need NBA!!

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Name: Chris

Comment: The idea of a multi-purpose event center with new hotel and convention center upgrades makes sense for Albuquerque. It is about time this city spent money on building infrastructure for the future, not simply fixing the problems of today. When will this city show some self esteem and believe the accolades it is receiving in national press. If others see our potential, why can't we? Look around the country at revitalization trends. Cities like Wichita, Kansas City, Tulsa and even El Paso are committing millions of dollars more in one year of redevelopment efforts than we have in 20 years. Arenas, hotels, ballparks, housing, transportation projects, performing arts centers, and arts & entertainment districts. These cities all have lower average household income, less personal wealth, and fewer assets that we do, yet they see the value in smart growth, leveraging potential, and investing in their future. Albuquerque, and New Mexico for that matter, needs to make an investment that resonates beyond our city limits and state border. This project, located near the Big I, has the potential to take advantage of our location on two major highways and its proximity to the Rail Runner. Rio Rancho built an arena in the middle of nowhere! Is it a surprise no one wants to go there? Build this in Mesa del Sol, where it will take 15 years to fill in, and you can wait 15 years for the event center to become successful. Or build it downtown where some 35,000 employees see it every day, not to mention drive traffic, and people will show up. Go for it Albuquerque, you deserve a bold initiative.

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Name: James	Comment: I'm glad that this project is being considered for downtown. People are kidding themselves if they think that Albuquerque can improve or maintain its standard of living without a viable central urban core. With the pricetag of this project, I would hope that plans include additional commercial and residential development.
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Name: Darin Davis

Comment: Dan, ABSOLUTELY something this metro area needs. Albuquerque is a great city that is moving up in this region. We need something that will showcase it. And it supports many, many people, such as: the convenstion, tourism and visitors trade, families with a varity of other shows for kids or concerts, and it can help with the sports area here. And downtown makes sense because of the proximity to other transportation venues. A must for Albuquerque and I would support sales tax if that what it takes to finance. Everyone will get to benefit from this.

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Name: Will Schmidt	Comment: A little late... As a convention planner I would rather have the same convention-arena venue with an attached casino and world class golf course. How does the city expect to compete with what has already been built by the Sandia and Isleta Casinos?
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Name: John

Comment: This whole thing just strikes me as a bad idea. And I generally support downtown development and want to see more infill and investment there. But a sports arena? I've seen cities take the same path and it's a financial disaster - San Diego took years to build their new ballpark and underwent cost overruns, court cases, etc. And they're a much larger city with a significantly higher population base and lots more money. And as a supporter of downtown development, I just don't think an arena is the right way to go. They're huge, massive structures which sit empty most of the time, then fill with people once in a while and fill the surrounding streets with traffic. And on the issue of the traffic, I keep hearing arena supporters say that people will just take mass transit. Well look, I support and ride mass transit with all my heart, but even I know that's not going to happen. People will not take the bus because our bus system sucks. There, I said it. I'll say it again. Our bus system sucks. How are we supposed to expect people will use alternative transit to get to a downtown arena if it's difficult to use that alternative transit? Of course, on the other hand, we might not have to worry about traffic very much. I have my doubts that whatever team plays there (if we can even get a team) will be able to compete in this market. When it comes to sports, we're a college town. We root for the Lobos. So when the new team at the downtown arena folds after 5 years of financial ruin what are we supposed to do with the downtown arena then?

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Name: David

Comment: The idea of a downtown arena is a good idea, It'll help in bringing in the additional conventions that roy speaks of but the problem is that the proposed site is just too SMALL. The simple fact of the matter, is that any arena needs a pro sports team to be the anchor. In this day and age, it would be a poor use of tax payer money to build a $50M+ arena facility that can't attract a long term tennat or title sponsor. It's unfortunante that a similar community to our north was convinced that spending their money on a hockey arena was a wise move, but as most people can see, the semi-pro/minor league team can't put 6,000 butts in the seats routinely, yet alone fill the place half way. It's not big enough to get big concert tours in, and its way to far away from civiliation to be a sellable venue for promoters trying to target the precious NM concert goer's money. Maybe in 25 years when they finally have a downtown that surrounds it but it will never host Major concerts tours like Sting, the Rolling stones, or the Foo Fighters. I think for the reality of this arena idea to work, we need a multi-purpose facility that can host the future's large convention floorspace, and obtain a major NBA/NHL sports team. These arena football/minor league sports just are not able to pack 12,000+ seats night after night, which intern means less money recuped from facility usage charges assesed on individual tickets. Ideally the solution sits in pheonix, at the jobing.com arena as something to copy. 18,000+ seats, hosts hockey, world class concerts and any other specialty work needed. Excellent facilities for renters, plenty of backstage areas, the problem though, is the proposed site just aint big enough to put something like this on. What complexifies this moreso, is that the largest concert promoter in the world, Live Nation already has a ampatheatre they control in the market place that can host almost all the concert tours out on the road except for maybe 5% of the shows, that utilize "in the round" configurations need strucutal capabilities exceeding those of the Journal Pavilion, so really how often do we think this place could do concerts? I really think the idea of doing a multi-purpose sporting facility might be a better suited concept for redevelopment of the winrock mall property as it affords lots of space and excellent traffic flow onto I-40W with its own onramp, a urban living and shopping center, and could actually help redevelop this area much better than if it was somehow located downtown. Everybody has been on a "let's do something downtown" bandwagon lately, and to some extent, its a great idea but unless something is seriously sorted, putting an arena downtown aint gonna fix it.

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Name: Mauro Montoya

Comment: This events center could be the crowning glory of the great Downtown renaissance. It will attract a year-round crowd other than the bar crowd to Downtown, give Albuquerque a crown jewel showcase and bring in more events to the Convention Center. And eventually someone will buy or move an NBA team to ABQ as it grows - they will need a good home and this could be the place for it! Albuquerque is making the top of all kinds of lists these days - having a beautiful events center could simply add one more list the city could top! Those who are against this are thinking very provincially and not in the long term - Albuquerque is GROWING UP, we need WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES! Our ABQ Sunport was just listed at Number 5 in the country for On-time performance by Forbes Magazine, which a couple of years ago named the City the BEST for Business. But right now there are simply not enough hotel rooms Downtown to attract truly large conventions which would put our city even more on the map. I urge everyone involved to think this through and reach the conclusion that ABQ NEEDS this events center! I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS EVENTS CENTER PROPOSAL!!!

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Name: JP	Comment: divert the taxes to other projects we dont need an arena with skyroceting prices.
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Name: Anon

Comment: I think they should be spending the money on providing jobs to the city residents instead of almost a million dollars for a STUDY to see how the arena would impact the area. The mayor, in his infinite wisdom, has drastically cut city jobs but wants to build up this city as something hip. He needs to give back the jobs he removed from this year's budget before looking into how to spend more taxpayer money.

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Name: Roy Johnson

Comment: The proposed event center is much more than a concert hall or sports complex. It will also make it possible for Albuquerque to participate again, like most major cities in this country, with the multi-million dollar convention industry. No we do not have enough hotel rooms downtown to host a major convention anymore. The new event center/host hotel will allow a conventioneer to walk to their convention sight and have enough room for a general assembly just like what every other competitive, metropolitan city in this country offers. We are currently losing millions of dollars as we can no longer attract this size of convention. This lost revenue not only heavily affects our city's tax base but everyone associated with the hospitality industry. And that's you my neighbors. Almost everyone in this city is affected by the hospitality industry, as its one of the major industries in our city and state. Major conventions want to come to Albuquerque because we offer so much more than other cities; great weather year round, sports and recreation year round, including some of the country's best golf courses plus skiing in the same day; unparalleled historical and cultural venues; arts and entertainment abound; world famous cuisine; and gorgeous scenery! And now, with the Rail Runner, we are just a train ride to one of the number one tourist destinations in the world, Santa Fe. It would be a major blow to this city's economical future if we do not start fully competing again in the enormous evergrowing convention market. I am honored and proud that our mayor and city council have the vision to bring Albuquerque into the 21st century.

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Name: Al	Comment: I think your ridiculously bad schools could use the money a little more.
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Name: David Nidel

Comment: Dear Albuquerque Journal, I don't have an issue with trying to get another major hotel, 300 to 500 rooms for example, downtown. The city should have worked harder to accomplish this when the Convention Center expansion was voted on. When the city moved to expand the Convention Center its proponents were on a mission to revitalize downtown. That has been every mayor's legacy objective from the day they took office. At a number of meetings I advocated that building a new state-of-the-art Convention Center in the Uptown area like Winrock Center was much more cost/effective, fiscally responsible, and more marketable than expanding the one downtown. Most of the powers that be thought I was crazy and didn't know what I was talking about. The main incentives for Hyatt moving into the Beta West building complex was the HUD funding and that they were able to secure the catering contract for the Convention Center. The city failed to lure another hotel to the downtown area, making Albuquerque unable to compete with other like cities - some smaller than Albuquerque - with more hotel rooms in vicinity to their respective downtown convention centers. When Hyatt opened here they met the requirements of HUD in initial hiring of rank and file employees within the required distance radius from downtown. However, more than 90% of their managerial positions were filled by their employees from other properties. Locals here, including myself with college degrees, could only qualify for $4.00 an hour front desk clerk positions, clearly an insult to the intelligence of myself and other residents. When the Convention Center expansion was completed corners were cut like no second kitchen and no padding under the carpet. Worse off, there is no reasonable way to expand it to meet any future business demands should downtown be "re-invented." We don't need an Events Center downtown. The money it would take doesn't justify the lack of return of investment in my lifetime. In the past 40 years Albuquerque "missed the boats" of opportunity on construction of a Performing Arts Center, AAA Baseball Stadium, Arena, or Events Center downtown edifice in an effort of greater importance to appease the egos of city officials than showing a return on investment. Each time these projects were considered they were voted down or feasibility studies didn't merit moving forward (or backward) or financial deals fell through the cracks. In this window of time Rio Rancho has built an Arena, the Indian Gaming enterprises have built Arenas and/or showrooms, Journal Center has been opened, etc.; all too much competition for anything the city would erect. Regardless as to how many studies are funded and conducted, the idea is an overall fund-loser. Additionally, a "deal" brokered for constructing a large full-service hotel should not be contingent on burdening the taxpayers with construction of an Events Center. Why we have to spend up to $700,000.00 for a feasibility study that is answered by conventional wisdom is beyond my comprehension. Nonetheless, since the City Council voted in favor of allocating the funding for such research I have no shame in bidding for it. David Nidel, B.S. Hotel Administration Albuquerque, NM 87110

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Name: Adam Fletcher

Comment: The idea sounds great and certainly downtown could use something else besides more bars, but really, it all seems unnecessary. How often would that arena/event center actually be used? And is there really such a shortage of hotel rooms downtown? I work at the Convention Center and we often host very large events. It'd be great to have a place to host concerts since the Kiva really isn't made for that sort of thing, but again it seems like the space and certainly the money could be better used.

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Name: John

Comment: No more taxes. There isn't any teams that would be able to play in it now. The Isotopes have their stadium and the hockey team is in Rio Rancho. It's too late to build a downtown arena. I'm tired of hearing that they will just use taxes that were approved to pay for other projects. With all the extra expenses for everything from gas to food, it's time to roll back a few taxes and lighten the load on the working families.

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Name: Ed	Comment: I am hoping this goes through. Downtown needs a little bit more to do than get a urine sample done once and a while.
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Name: Steve Taylor

Comment: I have known Albuquerque all of my life, and in 48 years I have never seen such an ill-considered boondoggle. It will not bring the land of milk and honey to Downtown, instead urban crime will skyrocket. And, parking? Forget it. It cannot happen as promised. Finally, can we just fix the completely neglected streets in our neighborhoods before we try to raise the billion dollars that this will eventually cost? Please, people, we know better! Why not Mesa Del Sol?

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Name: Brian Morris

Comment: An event center project of this size would benefit the entire region, providing family entertainment for the whole state. It would attract concerts, circuses and other events which are currently just driving through on the interstate from El Paso to Denver. We must support minor tax increases for projects which enhance our quality of life and help attract good companies with good jobs which give options to keep our kids here in the state rather than having to leave. This whole feasibility study the Council approved is intended to make sure any tax increase is based on sound and solid planning to ensure the facilities are built at maximum potential with a maximum return. In addition, if you study any major city, they are placing these types of facilities in their Downtown cores next to transit facilities such as the Rail Runner. I hope citizens of the entire state will participate in the many forums available over the next 6 months - it will analyze everything from financial feasibility to parking and traffic management. We have a real opportunity to take a bold step forward! Brian Morris Downtown Action Team

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Name: Anif Auqa	Comment: Put the arena at Mesa del Sol!!!
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Name: Thomas Green	Comment: I am all for this proposed project. Albuquerque is fast growing and needs this to compete with larger and more state of the art cities. This is a project that should have occurred a decade ago and I am all for a sales tax increase.
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Name: David	Comment: A hotel room and car rental tax helped build several spring training stadiums, the Cardinals stadium, and the Coyotes arena in Maricopa County(Phoenix area). This is a way to raise taxes without taxing the local population.
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Name: Chris	Comment: Some of the funding could from from red light/speeding cameras. I know those are bringing in the alot of revenue. Not enough to cover the whole 350 to 400 million and I know that money goes somewhere else for now. They could install more cameras because we all know those things pay for themselves in less than two days!
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