Why is the ice arena always the public whipping post and nobody says boo about Dwyer Stadium?!
Why is it OK for the city to be in the baseball stadium business and not OK to be in the ice arena business.
This double standard makes me sick!
For everyone's information, the ice arena was built in the early 70's as the result of a federal community funds grant secured by our very fine (and probably the best ever) congressman Barber Conable. To be fair, there have been issues resulting from the construction techniques that one gets when one accepts the lowest bid, but all in all, I believe that the ice arena has been a positive for the city. If you consider the number of users at the ice arena vs. the number of users at Dwyer, it's not even close! This facility us used YEAR ROUND. Dwyer is used for 3 months - four at the most.
The economic impact of the ice arena is huge. For the uninitiated, people actually do travel to Batavia to play hockey (actually watch their children play) but when they're here, they stay at hotels, go to local restaurants, buy gasoline, and shop at local stores.
Compare that to the economic benefit of Dwyer. Not even close, and yet it seems to be OK for the city to own and operate a baseball stadium where an average of 150 fans attend a game each night.
Frankly, I don't get it.
As I posted the other thread about the rink, the only reason I want it sold is to have more ice time for pickup games and to keep the ice in the summer.
David,
You have valid points.
I know that there are facilities that are owned by communities and that they are successful.
My issue, and it is only my opinion, is with structures that are tax exempt when they could be put back on the tax rolls by selling them to the private sector.
I would include Dwyer Stadium in that same group.
Why is the ice arena always
Why is the ice arena always the public whipping post and nobody says boo about Dwyer Stadium?!
Why is it OK for the city to be in the baseball stadium business and not OK to be in the ice arena business.
This double standard makes me sick!
For everyone's information, the ice arena was built in the early 70's as the result of a federal community funds grant secured by our very fine (and probably the best ever) congressman Barber Conable. To be fair, there have been issues resulting from the construction techniques that one gets when one accepts the lowest bid, but all in all, I believe that the ice arena has been a positive for the city. If you consider the number of users at the ice arena vs. the number of users at Dwyer, it's not even close! This facility us used YEAR ROUND. Dwyer is used for 3 months - four at the most.
The economic impact of the ice arena is huge. For the uninitiated, people actually do travel to Batavia to play hockey (actually watch their children play) but when they're here, they stay at hotels, go to local restaurants, buy gasoline, and shop at local stores.
Compare that to the economic benefit of Dwyer. Not even close, and yet it seems to be OK for the city to own and operate a baseball stadium where an average of 150 fans attend a game each night.
Frankly, I don't get it.
As I posted the other thread
As I posted the other thread about the rink, the only reason I want it sold is to have more ice time for pickup games and to keep the ice in the summer.
David, You have valid
David,
You have valid points.
I know that there are facilities that are owned by communities and that they are successful.
My issue, and it is only my opinion, is with structures that are tax exempt when they could be put back on the tax rolls by selling them to the private sector.
I would include Dwyer Stadium in that same group.