How Will You Get to the New Arena?

Author

Chris Metzker

American River College, Geog 350: Data Acquisition in GIS

Spring 2011

Abstract

                Where to locate the new Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento has been a daunting question for many years now. People want a new arena and would gladly support it based on the right location and plan. This presentation looks at the seven proposed locations and compares the top three determined by the Sacramento First Task Force in order to determine the best location based on public transit infrastructure and parking accommodations. This argument is determined by comparing other cities with NBA teams that have a similar population to Sacramento. This will help aid us in making a deciding factor as to where the new arena should be located.

Introduction

 Current Power Balance Pavilion

The current Power Balance Pavilion, built in 1988, is the oldest facility that does not currently have a plan for replacement or a replacement arena under construction (Turnkey Sports, LLC). The arena itself was primarily designed as a basketball arena with little else in mind at the time. It is the NBA’s fourth smallest arena when it comes to seating with a capacity of 17,317 (ESPN). The design of the current Power Balance Pavilion has hindered its success to host other major events due to its outdated floor plan and equipment. The arena also has a roof that is eleven years past its estimated five year life span, leading to expensive maintenance and repair costs (Turnkey Sports, LLC). The configuration of the arena’s floor plan limits the number and type of events that can be held there. According to the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento had the opportunity to house an indoor soccer franchise, however due to Arco Arena’s inadequate floor plan this opportunity was lost, along with the extra revenue it would have generated for the city.

For any city to take full advantage of everything a professional sports stadium has to offer, location is key. Alexander Garvin in the book: The American City: What Works, What Doesn’t Work says that a sports stadium must be conveniently located in a part of the city where spectators can patronize local businesses before and after games. For many modern cities this means a downtown location and, with a downtown location, comes the ease of public transportation. Power Balance Pavilion is currently located in the suburbs of Sacramento where there is limited transit capability. A new stadium must be able to accommodate a large number of people. According to Entrepreneur Magazine synergy is the driving force behind development. This can be achieved by teamwork and the cooperation throughout the whole planning and building process. If it is achieved there is an increase in patronage, rent levels, and sales within the surrounding area. Finding a location for Sacramento’s new arena must try and achieve synergy within the community and add value to the city since it will serve as one of our prime recreation buildings. A mixed use project can have a larger impact on the community than if the developments were made in separate locations such as being located in different suburbs of Sacramento (Rabinaski). This is a main reason the top three locations picked by the Sacramento Task Force are located near future or current mixed use projects. There are seven proposed locations for the Sacramento King’s new arena. Some are in already developed mixed-use locations others are in future developments. There is a plan for a location on the river and others in more rural suburban areas. The top three proposed locations are within the downtown area of Sacramento (Proposals Chart).

Many people in Sacramento work in our centralized downtown close to public transportation and within walking distance from our growing night life. Other successful NBA teams similar to Sacramento have their basketball stadiums within close proximity to transit hubs and in the midst of a downtown environment. One of the most frustrating parts to hosting a Kings game is the amount of traffic going through our freeways. With an arena close to a major transportation hub it would allow more people to find alternative ways to get to the games. Many are also close to other sports complexes in the city. With an arena in downtown it would be close to the current Sacramento Rivercat’s stadium and could help bring other types of sports to the area. As of 2008 Sacramento has a population of 463,794 (Population Estimates.). Other cities with NBA teams with similar populations are Cleveland with 433,748 residing within the city. Miami’s population is 413,201 and Atlanta has 537,958 people living in their city (Population Estimates.). These cities are similar to Sacramento in population and house professional sports teams. Atlanta has the Hawk, Falcons, Braves and Thrashers (ESPN). Cleveland has the Cavaliers, Browns, Indians and Lumberjacks and Miami has the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins (ESPN). Each of these cities have thriving sports teams, a community to back them and easy to use public transportation that takes patrons within walking distance to the arenas.

Background

 Proposals Chart

 East End of Downtown Plaza

 Lightrail 7th & K Street

Methods

                I took into account public transit stops currently located near the seven proposed arena sites and determined which three arenas have the closest stops. I also looked at parking spaces within currently built parking structures, proposed parking structures, street parking and surface parking within a 15 minute walk to the proposed arena locations. (Parking Chart) I also looked at three cities with an NBA team who have roughly the same city population as Sacramento and looked at their public transit and parking system. This helped me to determine if a successful transit system leads to a successful arena location.

Results

 Propsed Locations

                In comparing the different sites with the convenience of light rail stations I found that The Convergence, The Railyards, and The C.O.R.E. are the closest to existing stations. The C.O.R.E. is the best choice in terms of how many lightrail stations are within a 15 minute walking distance with six different stations. The Convergence and The Railyards locations are second best with three different lightrail stations within a 15 minute walking distance. These three sites also have many bus options within a 15 minute walking distance making them very easy for public access.

In terms of parking spaces within currently built parking structures, proposed parking structures, street parking and surface parking within a 15 minute walk to the proposed arena locations the most available parking is going to be The C.O.R.E. with 29,618 parking spaces because it has the use of the Downtown Plaza parking plus many city and privately owned structures. The Convergence proposal will have 26,897 parking spaces and The Railyards proposal will have 25,097 parking spaces. They will have this much parking due to building a structure next to the arena and they have many parking facilities within a 15 minute walking distance as well.

Analysis

 Parking Chart

 

Conclusion                

 The C.O.R.E.

The arena with the best possible location in terms of public transit related access and parking is going to be The C.O.R.E. (Community Organized Redevelopment Effort). This site has the most public transit access and parking within the 15 minute walking distance. If other teams with roughly the same city population can make a downtown entertainment and sports complex with multiples way to arrive work; our great city of Sacramento will have no problem.

References

"Arena Transportation Figures 1-6." Map. Sacramento: Fehr & Peers. PDF file.

ESPN. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2010. http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/stadium/index?venue=nba_23.

Garvin, Alexander. The American city: what works, what doesn't. 2nd ed. N.p.: McGraw-Hill ,2002. Print.

Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 June 2009. Web. 8 May 2010. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2008.html.

Rabinaski, Joseph S, et al. "Mixed-use development and financial feasibility: part I- economic and financial factors." Entrepreneur. Entrepreneur Magazine, 2010. Web. 9 May 2010 http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/199628080_2.html.

Sacramento First A New Entertainment and Sports Complex. N.p., 11 Mar. 2010. Web. 10 May 2010. http://www.sacramentofirst.org/.

Turnkey Sports, LLC. Sacramento Metro Chamber Arena Business Task Force Findings & Recommendations. Sacramento: Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 2004. nba.com. Web. 10 May 2010. http://www.nba.com/media/kings/Business%20Task%20Force%20Report.pdf