DISCUSSION: TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

psl25201 · Post by **psl25201** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:13 pm

3-D, Animated view of the new stadium.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10302064

DTmatt · Post by **DTmatt** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:16 pm

There is a video posted on Omaha.com of a flyby of the new stadium. Looks fancy!!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10302064

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:19 pm

um...jinx?

DTmatt · Post by **DTmatt** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:20 pm

psl25201 beat me to it!

ShawJ · Post by **ShawJ** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:37 pm

Wow! It looks amazing!

It'll be so awesome to have two top facilities right next to each other.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:13 am

that's really nice, and pretty impressive...they've got a lot of work to do to be ready by 2011.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:46 am

Very Cool.

I really like the modern "top-level" of the stadium, and all the open concourses and "grand staircases" if you will, look really great and will be a showcase for the Downtown skyline and riverfront. I'm a little unimpressed with the entry at 13th and Cuming, but that's not a huge deal.

I ALSO like how the part of the stadium at 13th and Webster is almost like its own building there on the corner. I really hope there are some active uses at street level that would function year round (restaurants, shops, etc.)

Also notice at 13th and Webster, they included a building where the Blue Lofts will be...interesting that they knew about that!

Bryan1117 · Post by **Bryan1117** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:31 am

Wow that animated rendering of the stadium is very impressive. The stadium kind of reminds me of a small "Coors Field"-type stadium, except without all the gimmicks of the actual major league park. The brick walls around the front "curve" of the ballpark is what brings that to mind. This will look great with the Qwest Center and the North Downtown development around it. Very impressed! Go Omaha!

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:16 pm

Is it possible for someone to put this on youtube? For whatever reason the video format from the World Herald site won't work on my computer.

Post by **Admin** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:21 pm

It is in windows movie format.

[wmp]http://content.omaha.com/media/maps/vid ... -mar28.wmv[/wmp]

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:22 pm

Admin wrote:It is in windows movie format.

Well, that explains why it doesn't work. There's a reason why most organizations have switched to Flash for online video. Heck, they might as well used Real player!

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:10 pm

Very, very nice! I hope, I hope, I hope!

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:49 pm

which type of computer isn't it working on? It takes awhile to download but it is working on my Mac.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:53 pm

i can't help but notice in the fly by that there are some buildings in front of first national that i can't remember being there. I can make out what looks like the UP cube, and I'm assuming that the building that is slightly taller and in front is wall street, but what is the other one? Did they add another in the skyline to represent a possible hotel? Or is it that the proportions are distorted? I think I'm reading too much into this. I do love the way the stadium looks though, i like that it is a good size and has some more seating around the infield with the upper deck.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:58 pm

It looks to me like the only buildings they replicated were the FNC, Woodmen, Hilton and Qwest. I wouldn't read much into it.

ShawJ · Post by **ShawJ** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:02 pm

thenewguy wrote:i can't help but notice in the fly by that there are some buildings in front of first national that i can't remember being there. I can make out what looks like the UP cube, and I'm assuming that the building that is slightly taller and in front is wall street, but what is the other one? Did they add another in the skyline to represent a possible hotel? Or is it that the proportions are distorted? I think I'm reading too much into this. I do love the way the stadium looks though, i like that it is a good size and has some more seating around the infield with the upper deck.

Pretty sure it was just an example to show where downtown would be located, and what it would look like from different angles.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:52 am

i see what you guys are saying, i am just making a reference to the 2 buildings east of first national that are approximately 2/3 its height; not as tall as woodmen but taller than UP. You'd have to look at it. I know one of them may represent wall street, and one may represent the world herald building (formerly at&t) but even at that, they are not proportioned correctly. Oh well, no biggie.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:04 am

Save Rosenblatt freaks are distorting the national opinion on the stadium trying to convince them that a majority of Omahans are against it. Register and help me out a bit!

http://collegebaseball.rivals.com/showm ... 69&style=2

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:38 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote:Save Rosenblatt freaks are distorting the national opinion on the stadium trying to convince them that a majority of Omahans are against it. Register and help me out a bit!

http://collegebaseball.rivals.com/showm ... 69&style=2

I went ahead and registered, but the thread is locked (said it was getting out of hand

). You made some good points, my friend--when it opens back up, i'll chip in where i can. I cannot BELIEVE the |expletive| that some of those people are puking out of their mouths. Saying there will be less parking downtown? The environment won't be as good or fun? Are you |expletive| kidding me? "I would rather spend $10 to park in someone's yard and split a case before the game..." That's just plain |expletive| dumb. It will never cease to amaze me that we have people like that living around here. I got a flat 2 years in a row from having to park in some |expletive|-hole's yard who didn't take the time to clean up. Why did i park there anyway? Well because i didn't feel like walking from Council Bluffs, and parking (as we all know) is frickin terrible at Rosenblatt.
The people on collegebaseball.rivals.com (and all the 'save rosenblatt' people) remind me of that phrase, "There is nothing more dangerous than an fool with a cause."

On a positive note, the time that it takes to get into the new stadium will be cut down dramatically (i assume) because everything is going to be wider, it looks like they will have more than 2 places to get in (3, if i remember the fly-by correctly) and it's going to be all around better. Park anywhere in the old market and walk to the stadium. Park anywhere downtown and go to the stadium. |expletive|, i'd be able to walk from my house, across the bridge, and go to the game. End rant.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:16 pm

Holy |expletive|, I actually sound like I know what I am talking about, which I do....but I was hammered as $hit when I posed that...lol

Post by **Brad** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 4:46 pm

Wow.... That video is AMAZING!!!!

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 4:49 pm

This video has got me wondering, why aren't the concourses in the upper bowl open? I understand that the suites prevent it from being open in the middle, but why are they not open in the other 3 sections on the end? If open concourses are on the top of the NCAA's wishlist, why not open them up?

Post by **Brad** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:07 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote:This video has got me wondering, why aren't the concourses in the upper bowl open? I understand that the suites prevent it from being open in the middle, but why are they not open in the other 3 sections on the end? If open concourses are on the top of the NCAA's wishlist, why not open them up?

Is that physically possible?

The concourse for the lower bowl is at the top of the sections. If you did the same for the upper seats that would be hanging over 13th street and you probably could not see the field.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:55 pm

Brad wrote:
OmahaJaysCU wrote:This video has got me wondering, why aren't the concourses in the upper bowl open? I understand that the suites prevent it from being open in the middle, but why are they not open in the other 3 sections on the end? If open concourses are on the top of the NCAA's wishlist, why not open them up?
Is that physically possible?

The concourse for the lower bowl is at the top of the sections. If you did the same for the upper seats that would be hanging over 13th street and you probably could not see the field.

It looks to me like the concourses are behind the suites. Each section feeds into an entry way between each suite which takes them to a concourse behind the suites. The 3 outer sections have an aisle dividing them that feeds them into a gap, the size of a normal section that takes them to the concourse.

It would make sense to me to have the suites hanging above the upper deck, allowing the concourses to be open.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:18 pm

it's probably possible, but i suspect that would tack on a hefty amount of change to do. i think they made some concessions to get the budget in line with the Rosenblatt renovation in regards to public funding so it would be an easier sell.

joeglow · Post by **joeglow** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:01 pm

I am surprised nobody has mentioned this. Did anyone hear the interview with one of the owners of the Royals on KFAB Friday morning. He said just about everything except the Royals would be leaving town. I was surprised at how pessimistic he was about the new stadium. I don't know if is trying to broker a better deal with the city. However, it sounded like there could be a bit of a challenge getting them on board. He also said they had something like 5 years left on their contract at Rosenblatt and they expect to have that contract honored.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:30 pm

I can't get the video to work either.

I just heard about that interview in conversation today. Pretty much anytime Alan Stein talks it's all pessimistic but I heard he was meeting with the Mayor and MECA sometime this week. Does anyone know anything?

Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:00 am

They royals will never get a deal like they have now in a new stadium.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:24 am

i wonder if they (MECA) would cut them any kind of short term deal to get them to go in there for a few years at a discounted amount? After that, they'd end up paying a higher price. I wonder if that would be a viable alternative...and the increased attendance from moving downtown would surely help them offset the difference (although not all of it).

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:45 am

I was surprised at how pessimistic he was about the new stadium.

I'm not. Although I've lost my Werner Field at Southport Park photo.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:23 am

Stargazer wrote:
I was surprised at how pessimistic he was about the new stadium.
I'm not. Although I've lost my Werner Field at Southport Park photo.

Werner is all about the royals. They are sponsoring everything this year. They even had to big rigs parked out in front of the stadium on display yesterday.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:30 am

Yeah... my point all along ... I don't think it's unrealistic to see Werner contributing towards a new Sarpy County ball park entirely.

I sure hope the city of Omaha hasn't totally dissed the Royals.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:51 am

I still think it would be great to try to get a Twins-Royals series or Rockies/Cubs/White Sox-somebody series in there once a year. Could be great barnstorming for the big league, and let's face it... outside of the Cubs, there's not that many teams that are pulling 20K+ for home games (especially a KC-MN game). They might appreciate the ticket revenue.

Is there anything in the contracts with MLB that would completely rule that out? I'm thinking TV markets might be the only issue.

-Big E

OmahaBen · Post by **OmahaBen** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:39 pm

Big E wrote:outside of the Cubs, there's not that many teams that are pulling 20K+ for home games (especially a KC-MN game).

Actually, only 6 teams drew fewer than 25,000/gm last year. The MLB average is around 33k. One of those, the Nationals, is sure of drawing better now that they're out of RFK and into their own ballpark. Kansas City will draw better if they continue their first week success. And Pittsburgh should be better this year, and PNC Park is as nice a stadium as there is in the majors.

Only Florida and Tampa are pretty much assured of being below 20,000/gm in attendance.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:48 pm

OmahaBen wrote:
Big E wrote:outside of the Cubs, there's not that many teams that are pulling 20K+ for home games (especially a KC-MN game).
Actually, only 6 teams drew fewer than 25,000/gm last year...etc...

Let me restate that closer to what I actually meant.

There have to be some pretty dismal drawing series out there that could do some barnstorming. Let's assume that there are 10-12 clubs that wouldn't average 20K if the Yankees or Barry Bonds or some other draws didn't come to town on a regular basis. Honestly, what is the average attendance for the KC-MN series?

Heck, I'd think that even some of the players would get a kick out of the Road to Omaha.

-Big E

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:49 pm

The negative talk could also be a negotiating tactic on the part of the Royals. I just don't see anybody putting up $25 million for a 2nd ballpark in the metro. (Can anybody say "Mid America Center :shock: )

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:21 pm

All it takes is the exploding Papillion+La Vista tax base ... plus those Werner dollars. It's not like the Royals even want HALF of a $140 million stadium.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:55 pm

Stargazer wrote:All it takes is the exploding Papillion+La Vista tax base ... plus those Werner dollars. It's not like the Royals even want HALF of a $140 million stadium.

Quite frankly, if the Royals have a problem with it, then they can just go and fix it themselves, cause to be honest with you, nobody is ever going to be freakin happy with anything! If people can't leave their smelly mark on something then they cry like a baby and run to somebody else.

I don't want to be a part of something that will require 3 large new stadiums with subtle little differences just to please somebody, and if the Royals aren't happy with this new stadium, then heck let CB or Papillion build one for them..

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:04 pm

While I realized that the new stadium still won't be idea for a AAA club, it will be lightyears better than their current digs. I'm hoping that this talk is mostly bargaining chips. I will say that if they do end up in a Sarpy Co ballpark, it will be the end of me going to Royals games.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:09 pm

Ditto.

I remember from talking with HOK and they said that the Royals would have the option to add the amenities they want "a la carte" and that they could shrink the stadium down to between 14,000-18,000.