Developer offers plan for amusement park in Silverdome

The Silverdome is not retractable. Thanks for the explanation Jeff. I think the main reason that Ford Field was placed downtaown was to be close to Comerica Park. Detroit is trying to revitalize. Evidence this are the arenas, the COmpuware bldg, and the casino.

Volleyguy, what the heck are you talking about?

Sounds like a lot of fun. It sure would beat going to see that sorry excuse for a football team. They could theme a Himalaya type ride to the Detroit Lions. It's does the same thing as the team: Goes round and round doing the same old thing and doesn't really go anywhere.

Volleyguy,

It is never a good idea to question the guy who owns the site. Furthermore, none of his comments were off topic. Putting any kind of entertainment facility whether a ballpark or amusement park in downtown Detroit is certainly worthy of discussion on this board.

It is a heck of a lot more interesting than whether or not #16 has a tent in front of it.

Typically the reason stadiums and other large venues that attract many people are put close to CBDs (central business districts) is to attract people to the CBD itself, in hopes of making them more economically propserous.

Unfortunately in most cases it never works. People come, but they don't stay, and the CBD nor surrounding neighborhoods see any gain. In fact, they usually see a decline in their standard of living from increased traffic among other factors.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Completely agree with Chitown re Old Chicago. An indoor amusement park is a very tricky prospect to pull off. Anyone considering the idea would be wise to study the history of my first home park, OC. The key to a succeessful venture of this type is the retail part and securing the anchor tenants. As was mentioned earlier, the Silverdome itself would provide significant space and engineering challenges if the goal is to build a big, self-sustaining park. Also, an indoor park suffers in the summer, especially in a climate where folks wait 8 months to spend time outside in the fresh air and sunshine. And travel to Detroit in the winter? The park would be a local attraction at best, hardly the regional destination described in the article.

That said, it would be wonderful to see another major park in the Great Lakes region, especially in the Detroit metro area.

As for the recent trend of sports teams relocating to the central cities they abandoned a couple of decades ago, it's all about the tax breaks, subsidies and sweet financing deals the cities offer to the owners and developers to lure them back in.

IBsteve said:

As for the recent trend of sports teams relocating to the central cities they abandoned a couple of decades ago, it's all about the tax breaks, subsidies and sweet financing deals the cities offer to the owners and developers to lure them back in.

You got it. But typcially cities "give away the store" when they do this. It ends up being a losing proposition moneywise--but a pro sports team is considered a "sexy" asset for the city, and that's why cities floundering in red ink will still do whatever they can to keep their teams (build new stadiums, etc.).

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Well, Volleyguy, you are being rude. Not only is it relative to the topic, but it deals with the bigger areas of urban revitalization and place that amusement venues have in it. If that's all you've had to contribute out of four posts to your credit, you apparently don't have anything to offer yourself.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
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I live about 10 minutes from the Silverdome, and what's very interesting is the fact that the land is worth MORE with the Silverdome not on it.

As for the Palace, Jeff, you are 100% correct. The Palace is one of the nicest arena I have been to in the country. I don't think it will get run down, but only time will tell.

As far as traffic for a park, that would be a zoo. Parking for the Lions games used to be terrible. Now that they are down at Ford Field, it's even worse. ;)

-Mikey

The whole stadium situation nationwide is a real statement of how freaking wasteful the american society is. To not use, tear down these multi million dollar structures that are still architechturally sound and rebuild another one in the same metro area, unbelievable that funds that could be put to good use are used for that.

Its not all public funs that go into the new stadiums. If I remeber, Detroit didn't want to put up ANY of the money.

Now... the article claims it will not just be an amusement park.. but a theme park: ".. be patterned after popular theme parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando."

I'm sure anything built there would require changes to the roads.

And lastly... anyone near Detroit that has been hearing about the Riverwalk project. Wouldn't a TGG coaster be nice right there on the river?

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Why can't we all talk about hte great possiblities of having a true theme park open 365 days a year?? That's what it is all about IMO. Anyone who lives in the north would love to have a local park open year round I am sure.

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Okay Mister Persecution Complex--I will.

As a matter of fact, I do live 20 minutes from a year-round, indoor amusement park and I hardly go. Unlike most of the other indoor amusement park endeavours, this one is successful and profitable. But the ugly truth remains...

- People don't go for the park as much as for the great big mall that surrounds it

- People are more attracted to the eye-appealing theming than the rides

- It's hardly a thrill-seeker's paradise; it's geared for Dad and the kids while Mommy shops

If you were thinking you were gonna get an indoor Raptor, think again. An indoor Boomerang? Nope. Getting your butt kicked while waiting in line? Now you're talking.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

'Playa'. Its very possible to have an indoor coaster that has some thrill to it.

The Canobie Lake Corkscrew's original home was at 'Old Chicago'. Back in 1975 the Arrow loopers were the highlight of thrill.

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""To be the man, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!, You got to beat the man""!!!

Coasta Playa, what park do you live near?

Also, will there be ANY coasters? The place is pretty tall, a good 250 ft (maybe I'm way off) and they COULD fit some good coasters in there.

As for parking, I had been there three times for Lion's games, two of them on Thanksgiving. I parked about 1 mile away in a parking garage that shuttled to the stadium. The third time I was there was for their last day there, and parking wasn't HORRIBLE, but wasn't a "drive" in the park.

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Skiing: The only sport that gives you the thrill of a roller coaster during the offseason.

For those visiting SFA from 95South next year, don't expect to see the US Air Arena. It was just leveled after a couple of options to redevelop it never came through (indoor mall, entertainment complex).
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2003-Gotham City @ SFA presenting Bathroom the Ride-Please remain seated at all times

$20 mil is a steal.. I really hope they do somethign with it. It would be a shame to see it just sit there..

One of the ptoblems wiht the Silverdome is the way it was funded originally. The local tax-payers are STILL paying for it.

Neat building to work in too.. worked several shows there including the 2000 Metallica/Kid Rock/Nugent show.. Insane 36 hours.. hehe

P.S. I worked that show at the Palace Jeff, hehehe actually.. I know of 2 others on this site who did also.. like you said.. nice arena..

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services - 2002
Frightzone Screamster - 2002

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'Playa'. Its very possible to have an indoor coaster that has some thrill to it.

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Possible? Sure. In an indoor setting at a park that succeeds? That's the ugly question.

CedarPointNut: It's the other local CF park: KCS-MOA. Great log flume, three decent spin-and-spues, a motion simulator and nothing else that would really set your hair on end. If if were standing alone, I sorely doubt it would draw enough people to justify itself. For a mall, it's just great.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

Its not really the dome people are bidding for. Its the land, its pretty much the most valued piece of land in Michigan. I-75 and M-59 are major commuting roads, and the cross right near the Silverdome. A lot of the big auto corporate offices are down near that stretch of land, the states biggest shopping center (Great Lakes Crossing) is not too far off from that strip of road. The Silverdome was right there at the central of it all. Every other month or so you hear about a new plan for that piece of land.

The Palace is a great place for a concert. It was pretty much designed with that in mind. Anyone who ever saw a show at the Dome knew how awful it was. As for the situation in Detroit, I will admit its cleaned up its act a little bit. That little area where you have Comerica Park, Ford Field, Fox Theater and Detroit Music Theater is really turning out pretty nice. But I do miss some of the "street preformers" who would bang away on a guitar and talk for money. :) Or the flag guy who tried to sell of a little flag on a tooth picks for 5 bucks :) Oh how I miss games at Tiger Stadium.

Why don't they put a park in Tiger Stadium? It's downtown, near the border (for all those - blech - Canadian - end blech - enthuiasts), and it's close (but not in) the center of attention down there? It doesn't matter that much to me, cuz I live about half way between the two, but I like going down town then going to Auburn Hills.

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Skiing: The only sport that gives you the thrill of a roller coaster during the offseason.

Touching Tiger Stadium would be difficult... I think it's a State historical landmark, so doing anything to it would cause an uprising, I believe.

And unlike the Silverdome, Tiger Stadium has a smaller footprint in that it's surrounded by buildings that have been around it for years. Silverdome is still relatively "out there" with a bit of room to expand.

I'm not saying that it's impossible to build some type of park in the middle of a city, just unlikely...

Example: Six Flags Elitch Gardens. Oh, wait, that park sucks.

Anyway, I heard that they were thinking about demolishing it (I even started a petition against it), so I was thinking that maybe an amusement park would be a better solution.

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Skiing: The only sport that gives you the thrill of a roller coaster during the offseason.