OPINION: NBA-level stadium at fairgrounds could transform ABQ's 'war zone'

It’s not too often that I get excited about New Mexico’s future. Big ideas never seem to come to pass, and when they do, we’re left with boondoggles like the Rail Runner commuter train or Spaceport America, which have little impact on the quality of life of New Mexicans.

In short, we’re stuck in a rut. But when I heard a local TV station’s scoop about an otherwise mundane contract, my ears began to point.

Late last month, the state General Services Department announced a $844,000 contract to create a master plan to repurpose the State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque. The eight-month contract itself with Stantec Consulting Services Inc., headquartered in Canada, is nothing to get excited about, just another contract with another consulting firm to put together yet another master plan that will likely sit on a shelf and gather dust — unless someone thinks big.

But it appears our governor is.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took a big step in December when she announced plans to convert the fairgrounds into a mixed-use housing development, which would mean relocating the New Mexico State Fair from the heart of Albuquerque. The State Fair has been hosted in the International District since 1938, an area formerly known as the “war zone” that has become synonymous with rampant drug use and homelessness and is becoming a food and medicine desert as grocery and drugstores in the area close. But the State Fair could be located anywhere in central New Mexico, including Los Lunas, where officials are proposing a site off of Interstate 25.

It was a bold suggestion by our governor, one I agree with, but one that’s certain to draw considerable entrenched opposition from those who want to keep the 236-acre fairgrounds property as it is — with its historic buildings; year-round outdoor flea markets; a two-month horse racing season at The Downs Racetrack & Casino; occasional rodeos and monster truck shows at the undersized, 11,571-seat Tingley Coliseum; and the annual State Fair in September.

The master plan with Stantec will include an economic impact study, development plans and a proposal presentation. But that’s not worth getting excited about.

What got my ears pointed was KOB’s reporting of the master plan. In an interview with the TV station, former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez, who is spearheading the effort for the governor, said one possibility being explored is building a $400 million arena to host concerts, events and potentially professional sports.

“As the governor says, it’s time to think big. Let’s dream,” Chavez said. “Maybe it’s a sports team we attract.”

It’s time to think big indeed, and nothing speaks louder than a major league sports stadium and franchise. We should double the $400 million arena idea, and add a hundred million dollars, to build something impressive like Oklahoma City is doing.

The naysayers will say Albuquerque isn’t big enough for a major league stadium. However, if you look at a U.S. map showing where major league sports franchises play their home games, New Mexico is a huge geographical hole.

Every state in the American Southwest except New Mexico hosts either a Major League Baseball, National Football League, Major League Soccer or National Basketball Association franchise. New Mexico’s five adjoining states each have at least one NBA franchise, including Utah and Oklahoma, whose Thunder just won the NBA Finals playing in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma officials are in the process of building a new, $900 million arena for the Thunder. The stadium, which will have to be at least 750,000 square feet to meet NBA standards, is being funded by a 72-month, 1-cent sales tax statewide, $70 million from the OKC metropolitan area, and $50 million from Thunder ownership.

The Thunder has committed to remaining in Oklahoma City for 25 years after the new Paycom Center is completed in 2028, according to local news reports.

While MLB, NFL and MLS franchises are likely out of reach for Albuquerque, an NBA franchise is not. The Doubting Thomases would keep us in the minor leagues forever.

In terms of U.S. city populations, Albuquerque’s population of 560,000 ranks 32nd, right behind Baltimore and Milwaukee, which both host MLB and other major league teams. Major sports leagues consist of 30 to 32 teams, so we’re right on the bubble.

In terms of metropolitan statistical areas, the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Los Alamos population of 926,000 ranks 62nd in the United States, which isn’t good in terms of landing a major sports franchise. However, we’re not far behind New Orleans (966,230), Memphis (1,339,345), Salt Lake City (1,300,762), or Oklahoma City (1,497,821), all of which have NBA franchises.

Besides, sports franchises look for elbow space from other teams in their leagues, and we’ve got plenty of it. For example, the folks in Roswell, where I lived for four years, aren’t going to drive three hours one-way to attend an Isotopes game or New Mexico United match. But they would come here if the Lakers or Celtics or Knicks were in town for a game. I can sell a 1-cent, six-year GRT increase to Roswellites for an NBA stadium in Albuquerque.

The major league sports gap in New Mexico will eventually be filled: It’s just a matter of whether it will take 20 years or 200. We should shoot for 10. An NBA-level arena would be a tremendous boost to Albuquerque and the Metro, and an amenity that could attract major companies and investment.

A billion-dollar arena, offset by a billion-dollar cut to state income and property taxes, would open up so many other opportunities, such as Albuquerque again hosting NCAA Tournament games. The Pit can’t host another NCAA regionals or Final Four because it’s hopelessly outdated at 59 years old.

Landing an NBA, or WNBA, franchise would take a sustained effort, bold leadership and vision. It wouldn’t hurt if our next governor has experience in professional sports ownership and an understanding of what it takes to make the big leagues.

It’s time we moved on up to the big leagues and take our shot.