So, fellow Nashvillians, apparently the task force has spoken. What do you think? What do you want to have downtown on the riverfront?

As a baseball fan, I LOVE the idea of a new ballpark downtown. As a taxpayer, I'm not so sure about the deal the Sounds are offering. Either way, I'm glad to see so much focus on revitalizing our downtown.

What would happen to the other stadium?

I'm sure it would be leveled to make way for...you know, whatever kind of shady industrial development they might want to put in there. I would hope that they would move the guitar-shaped scoreboard to the new park, though. I love that thing.

That thing is pretty great. I need to go to a Sounds game.

As for the actual topic at hand, I know nothing about real estate. I can't think of a better thing to do with the land other than a new stadium...a new shopping district would probably be lame, and housing would be too expensive for me. So yeah, baseball is good! Plus, there's always the potential for a home run in the river.

how about a really big nordstrom. and ikea.

thats my fucking vote. i cant believe nashvilles best department store is fucking parisian.

I'm with you there. Nashville is seriously lacking in shopping variety.

Have you heard many details about the deal? I've heard the guy from the Sounds on Sports Night several times. He always talks as if the taxpayers won't have to pay for it. I'm sure part of that is spin, but he makes it sound like a pretty good deal.

I'm also fairly certain that it's not just a stadium. At one point, there was talk of adding a residential component as well. Does anyone know anything about that?

i am biased as hell, being a huge baseball fan, so obviously i think a stadium on the river is an excellent idea. it would be an even better idea if a major league team was going to play there. however, if the stadium is nice, with all mod cons and with some semblance of fan-friendliness in mind, i'm all for it. i don't go to greer now, but let's face it--greer sucks. it's old, it's in a shady little area, and the novelty of it passed me by a long time ago. i don't think they even had ice cream in the little hats last time i was there. anyhow, i can see myself going to some games if the atmosphere is right. the margin for error is a concern to me, as i could see myself avoiding the baseball games for the same reasons i avoid the godforsaken downtown area--idiot tourists, rednecks, and drunken fratboy types. they should definitely move that scoreboard though. it's a classic.

The city will have to issue bonds to pay for the stadium. The Sounds would theoretically pay back every dime to the city over a period of years, as the operating revenue from the park rolls in. The concern is: as it stands now, if the operating revenue from the park does not meet the projected level, the Sounds are under no obligation to pull cash from other sources to pay back the city. So the bottom line is: if the park is successful, everybody wins; if the park is a flop, the city loses, but the Sounds don't.

By the way, yes, some residential and retail are also part of the deal. The Sounds GM is a Chicago native and a Cubs fan, and wants to create a neighborhood around the park like Wrigleyville.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 10:36 am on Jul. 28, 2004)

Next time ya'll are in the Gulch, check out that constuction that's happening over on the other side of 11th Ave across from BarTwenty3 et al. Supposedly, it's a going to be a sizable shopping complex with several higher-end stores that Nashville does not currently have. It won't be open for a couple of years, though.

Hey hey hey now- you're bashing my old 'hood! Sure, I got three bikes (and a microwave) stolen while I lived there, but I loved it! I was only a stone's throw from the 1203 on 8th Ave- anyone remember that place before the anti-brothel crack down?

Of course! You never forget your first time.

Luigi?

As someone who's job it was to know downtown intimately well, I can say, as i have all along, that the city needs to put a baseball stadium on the thermal plant site. Its a no-brainer. I would like to see a shopping district in conjunction, but that may be pushing our luck.

baseball! season tickets!