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Comments
Hooligan_016 7 months ago
"The ground level also will include a 22,000 square foot indoor soccer field that will be designed to be used as either one full-size adult soccer field or three youth fields."
Loving this. Hope they develop an indoor league.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 7 months ago
"That may be so, but if the center doesn’t meet projections for attracting lots of events, there will be residents who will contend the city could have met is local recreational needs with a smaller, less expensive center. The 181,000 square foot center will be larger than all of the city’s other recreation centers combined."
And since all available parks and rec funding over the next 20 years will be tied up in this project, any additional facilities or improvements to existing facilities elsewhere in town will be impossible.
Catalano 7 months ago
See, that's what I'm thinking too. But has that been verified, or are we just doing math the same way?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 7 months ago
As near as I can tell, this project will take up 100% of future taxes generated by the sales tax approved in 1994. So unless retail sales increase dramatically, or sales taxes are raised, there is no money left over for anything to do with other parks and rec projects.
KRichards 7 months ago
Doesn't the Parks and Rec department have their own budget separate from this 1 cent sales tax that will be used to fund the new rec center?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 7 months ago
For new facilities, I believe the sales tax that will be used for this facility is all that's available. So building this center will mean that well over 50% of the city's rec facilities will be on the far western edge of the city, with no funding available to build anything elsewhere, for the next 20 years.
somebodynew 7 months ago
Chad - A question I have heard posed here, but never heard an official answer to:
What is the expected NCAA rulings about any of these tournaments? There was some discussion early on about not being able for KU itself to use it's own ground because of NCAA rules. How does this shake out since it is the Endowment Center behind it, but KU building their official areans/stadiums on it along with a City Rec Center ??
It seems, just on the outside looking in, that this entire thing is designed to 'skirt' the NCAA rules. Has anyone actually confirmed with the NCAA rules people that we will be able to have those tournaments without breaking some obscure regulation??
This seems like it should have been checked out before we spend any money, but stranger things have happened around here. Thanks.
clawhorn 7 months ago
We did the original article related to how NCAA rules could impact the ability of the city to host basketball tournaments at the event. That article is here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/sep... The article stated that Bill Self nor any other KU athletic official could not promote the facility for youth tournaments and such. That is still the case. The article also explains how the NCAA prohibits many types of youth basketball tournaments from being held on a university campus or at a facility regularly used by the university. KU officials said they had thoroughly researched that issue and were "confident" that would not be an issue here because the recreation facility would not be considered a university facility under the NCAA rules. And KU does not plan to use the recreation center at all. This article was written when the proposals was for the city to operate the center under a lease purchase agreement with a private group led by Thomas Fritzel. The proposal now is for the city to own outright the recreation center and the 20 acres of property that the center and its parking lot will sit upon. So, it seems unlikely that NCAA regulation will come into play here. But I don't have a letter or an official statement from the NCAA stating that. Thanks, Chad
somedude20 7 months ago
If they must build this crapbox, at least have Rod Anderson run it......so that it can be burned down and use the insurance money for better things, like fix the water pipes under the ground that are dying or maybe the roads, which are junk...maybe...and out on a limb here.....upgrade your public safety system (police dept, fire dept) because DEAD PEOPLE CANNOT PLAY IN A *&^&^%&^% SPORTS PARK!!!!!!
bevy 7 months ago
If Lawrence adds another .01 in sales taxes, I will be taking my money to Topeka to spend it. Taxes are already beyond ridiculous.
Liberal 7 months ago
thats smart at 3 bucks plus a gallon.
LarryNative 7 months ago
Chad,
Is there some bond that is paying off this year and those funds are going to be used for this project? I was told by a commish something about a bond coming off the books but I cant remember the details.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 7 months ago
I'm not sure, but I think it's for the swimming complex at FSHS.
oneeye_wilbur 7 months ago
If the city is going to own it, why isn't the selling bonds to finance from the get go? Why is KUEA. Building and the the city pays!
What is Bliss Sports? Chad?
oneeye_wilbur 7 months ago
Who decides about the concessions. ?
kusteveh 7 months ago
If I remember correctly there was suppose to be a small arena planned for the site, did that turn out to be the indoor soccer field? If so there goes the hockey rink
beatnik 7 months ago
are the same people involved in bliss sports that were behind culture farms
oneeye_wilbur 7 months ago
How come Chad doesn't tell us about Bliss Sports? And why is Bliss Sports operating and maintaining the place if the City is Paying for the disaster.
grandma Bliss never thought her good name would be associated
oneeye_wilbur 7 months ago
Don't you just love the part where Chad says the city will start crafting something. Surely he meant grafting something.
This thing stinks from the get go and is no more economic development which the county took taayers mone to buy the land and then some kind of hush hush development group, which to date not even Chad has revealed the details and who has profited at the taxpayers of the county no less
So what is Bliss Sports?
jp9219 7 months ago
From what I gathered, Bliss Sports is a management company that Fritzel runs that will manage the KU facilities, not necessarily the rec center.
oneeye_wilbur 7 months ago
Fritzel has a company called Bliss Sports? What is with the Bliss?how long has Fritzel been running a sports management company? Just curious.
WilburM 7 months ago
In more than 30 years in Lawrence, I have never seen a project grow and morph so much, with so many different and at least partially hidden agendas, as this one. It's gigantic and WAY on one corner of the city. Now maybe a concert venue? Certainly a huge drain on future taxes. But the Commission and the KU Endowment (with their big money donor and son-in-law builder) are completely over the top. So here we go. Honestly, almost no serious discussion of whehter this is a good thing for the community. Usually I'm not a fan of public votes on specific projects, but the scope of this one makes sucha vote pretty attractive.
In the end, I'm not against it, but I don't have near enough informaoitn to be for it. Especially when in morphs from day to day.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 7 months ago
If this were a $12 million facility built on land the city already owns next to FSHS (that Amyx has repeatedly pointed out,) going forward without a referendum would be a questionable choice. But at double that amount, with a no-bid contract for a contractor who's thumbed his nose at the city repeatedly over the last couple of years, it really boggles the mind what these commissioners are thinking.
Surely, any who are up for re-election don't intend to run again.
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