Memorial Stadium's Saga Continues On
Update:
The Seattle Times had yet another story on Memorial Stadium on the heels of the first one. I find that quite odd but this one seems quite the cheerleading article.
The global sports and entertainment company behind the recent development of Seattle Center’s Climate Pledge Arena, Oak View Group, plans to reply to a request for proposals, or RFP, released Monday by Seattle Public Schools and City Hall. Soccer luminaries are paying attention to the project, as well.
To note, that link that looks like it would go to the RFP? It goes to their original story. Here's the link. I would say this looks like a very short timeline for all the work involved. Almost like the City and the district already have a group in mind.
At the same time, school and city leaders say student-related activities would retain scheduling priority at a new Memorial Stadium throughout the school year. They say using a public-private partnership to redevelop and care for Memorial Stadium could yield a better venue for students while helping the cash-strapped school district save money on operations.
Well, it's not like the district has been putting that much money into maintenance of Memorial Stadium. Plus, I have no doubt that street-level parking lot will go and the RFP does say the district should be provided "a financial return."
The RFP does protect Memorial Wall and installation of the wall is a specific item that both the City and SPS would have to okay.
There are 11 "objectives" and the last one is:
outreach process that recognizes the tribal history of the Seattle Center area and seeks public input
on the Project planning and design.
I'd like to think the district can do better with this process if the City is their partner. Because, right now, they stink at engagement.
Yeah, that would need to change but only be applicable to the new stadium.
Proposer may propose arrangements for naming rights for the stadium itself so long as “Memorial” is retained in the naming, and for individual components of the stadium. The field is named for Leon H. Brigham. Proposers should be aware of existence of Board Procedure 6970BP (Exhibit 3), setting forth the process for name changes to SPS buildings. This Board Procedure, like other SPS policies and procedures, can be changed by a majority vote of the SPS Board of Directors, following notice and an opportunity for public comment. The final decision on the name of the stadium rests in the sole discretion of SPS.
Typical annual SPS use in the past has included the following events on the following schedule, and it is anticipated that this represents SPS’s use needs for the foreseeable future. However, over the course of the lease it is possible that these use needs may change as different sports grow in popularity or as other types of events take priority.
High school football and soccer games:
a) September 1 through the first full week of December: Every Friday afternoon/evening; every
Saturday all day and evening; Tuesday and Thursday evenings (3-10 pm).
b) March 1 through June 30: Three days per week, evenings (3-9 pm).
c) Football or soccer playoff games November 15-30: Fridays and Saturdays, all day and evening.
High school graduations: Mid- to late June to accommodate up to 12 graduation ceremonies: afternoons and evenings, Monday through Saturday.
SPS All-City Band: One afternoon/evening performance in summer.
Future Uses: Should WIAA expand the list of sanctioned school sports in the future or other types of
events take priority, any additional SPS priority use dates will remain within the September 1 through June 30 time frame.
end of update
New in the Seattle Times this morning: Seattle Seeks Private Group to Rebuild Memorial Stadium
A new education, sports and entertainment venue will replace Seattle Center’s outdated Memorial Stadium, school and city leaders announced Monday.
But first, they need to find someone to design and build it.
The project, the release said, will focus on expanding the ways the stadium serves students from all backgrounds and will be integrated with the Seattle Center’s arts and cultural life.
Potential private partners will invest in, design, build, operate, maintain and manage the new stadium. The school district will continue to own the property.
I am VERY wary of any one entity doing all that. Because any revenue out of that new and improved stadium sure wouldn't go to SPS.
It appears that the district did find time to work with the City to put out a request for proposals from "a private partner" to rebuild the stadium. (The Times says "upgrades" but I would be surprised if any private partner would want that.)
The nearly 80-year-old facility, where many students attend football games and celebrate graduations, has been unable to adequately accommodate a rapidly growing population in recent years.
Huh? What rapidly growing population? Not at SPS.
The design must have at least 8,000 seats; remove the current stadium’s concrete, view-obstructing walls; complete August Wilson Way with an east-west pedestrian and bike connection across the Center’s campus; create new public space linking the International Fountain with the stadium; and restore the Memorial Wall.
Ah, and whose view is obstructed? Well, you can look to the east and there's the Gates Foundation's headquarters. Hmmm. And I'm not sure about all that other stuff that's thrown in; how is that part of the Stadium?
Once the city and SPS select a proposal in May, a community engagement process with students and parents will begin, the release said.
Hey SPS, we are not buying your "community engagement process" which is nothing but words on paper.
Public funds for the project include $66.5 million approved by Seattle voters from last year’s Seattle schools levy and $21 million from the city. The Seattle City Council also expressed its intent to identify an additional $19 million no later than 2026. And Gov. Jay Inslee proposed $4 million in the state’s capital budget, subject to the Legislature’s approval this session.
That's roughly $110M and I'd venture it will cost double that.
Comments
The criticisms of the facility in its current form are valid. The way the tall plantings and walls work, spectators are cut off from and not integrated into Seattle Center. There are four concrete pillars that obstruct views for people sitting under the roof-covered portion of the bleachers. The bathrooms are ancient and need to be replaced and lack the ADA accessibility of a modern facility and water is not potable from some locations. Given the times, there are also security gaps in the design that are hard to close.
There are some open questions. The much beloved district All-City Band currently uses it as its home base for summer rehearsals, so where would ACB relocate and would they continue to have access to it after the rebuild is done? And some schools, such as Lincoln which lacks any fields, track or stadium of its own, use Memorial Stadium as their home field. What happens to them?
As long as the district isn't actually selling the property and gets a cut, I sincerely don't grasp what the controversy is all about. If on the other hand it's somehow a handout to the city in some way, someone please explain the details.
ACB Fan
Because SPS is NOT good at real estate deals or partnerships. I mean, right now, with a huge budget deficit, it is STILL not asking the City for rent for all the classrooms the City uses for their pre-K program.
The district probably cannot sell the land. It is a gift as long as it has an educational purpose. Selling it is not an educational purpose and would the biggest folly in the history of SPS.
If I thought SPS would genuinely get a good cut, I would have no real problem. But the City covets that land and has their own ideas. Bring in a third party and SPS would be the small person in the room.
And where will all those graduations, soccer games, and football games and All City band performances go? I don't know but whereever it is, it's gonna cost the district money. And, the district will be losing $1M a year that it makes from the Stadium parking lot.
As Melissa points out, Seattle Public Schools will probably get rolled-over by private and city interests.