"It should go wherever the free market & private capital dictates"
Lord have mercy, why would we do somethng crazy like that. Our city leaders wouldn't be able to toss a few dollars to companies to do studies. They wouldn't be able to dictate every aspect of the the convention center. Most importantly they wouldn't be able to ensure they got what they wanted where they wanted.
This is Victoria, where things are handled just a little bit differently.
As mentioned, w/o air service how can you have a convention? Meetings, maybe........conventions, not likely.....The Corpus Christi airport does OK, but it's not the greatest. Of course, some people would like to avoid metro areas like Houston.....South Padre! aahhhhhhh...............
My job requires me to be at a few conventions/conferences a year and I have yet to fly to one that requires a change of planes to get there, once I leave Houston or Austin. ( I discount the Victoria to Houston flight as the cost of doing business in Victoria). Most of the attendees are from larger cities with easier air access to most convention hotspots.
The problems I have encountered leaving or returning to Victoria have been plentiful: cancelled flights, flights that do not sync with the Victoria connection; cost of flight from Houston; lost time sitting around Bush due to inconvenient flights from Houston.
What I have found is driving to Houston or Austin is the most convenient way to travel to a convention from Victoria.
Another thing I have found as the economy got worse was many companies putting on these conferences in their home cities rather than traveling somewhere desirable in February.
If I were a convention/conference planner just the logistics of getting to and from Victoria would keep me away. Imagine having to charter buses to get here or trying to pack 35 the connection flights with hundreds of people. If would take 10 flights from Houston to Victoria just to accommodate the size of most of the conventions I attend. I can't imagine any company letting employees fly in 3-4 days early just to attend.
BS Spotter said, "It should go wherever the free market & private capital dictates, . . . " I agree wholeheartedly. But I still think it arter be near downtown.
it was not to long ago that colony creek country club was having membership problems why not sell it off to a company as a location to build this project. It would be a nice addition to a convention center-Hotel complex. Hope it's big enough to hold concerts and other events in as well. Then maybe, just maybe, victoria would have something to do here!! I hate to say it but for a city this size there is NOTHING to do here. Anything that brings in this kind of improvement would be extremely welcome.
It should go wherever the free market & private capital dictates, not where our brain trust and its "independent" study determines. Private funds/risk. Private control. Private profits.
One thing is certain: Many of the posters on this topic are not going to be confused with civic boosters. Why can't you make a helpful suggestion instead of running Victoria into the ground? A rising tide lifts all boats.
The most practical place would seem to be where most of the action is. The north end of town has the mall, but a lot of money has been spent to revitalize downtown. My preference would be to build it near downtown. I can think of a few buildings that nobody would miss if there were razed.
The top three sites for a convention center/hotel would be:
1. Houston. Non-stop United/Continental air service from all over the country make Houston easy to get to. There are all sorts of entertainment choices with NASA (so far), pro and college sports, theater and music, good restaurants and an abundance of strip clubs.
2. San Antonio. Again, good air service makes it accessable. There is much history in San Antonio and the rather unique River Walk. Looks like this is gonna be a bad year for the NBA. Some strip clubs but not like Houston.
3. Corpus Christi. Air service is okay, not great but not bad. The beaches are the best attraction. There are some good places to eat. I don't have a clue as to the quantity or quality of strip clubs.
Why would anyone want to take a company paid vacation and go to a convention in Victoria? I live here and I like it here, but I wouldn't want to visit here if not for relatives. The best places to eat are buffets. Once in a while there is live music or a theater production. There are some red-neck beer joints and thug beer joints, but a cocktail lounge? Nah. Then, there's ... Maximus???
so you could hold a convention in an airport city like Houston or San Antonio or Austin, or maybe have your convention in Corpus and attract Northerners to the beach. or you could have your convention in Victoria. yeah. i'd love to sit in on the sales pitch for that.
What I am hearing and many others are too is that Marriot is already planning such a facility on the land that Paco Buhler offered for UHV. DC Realty has the info.
If true, sounds like the $30,000 was not needed. As I recall, many against the spending felt it should be left to private businesses to determine if Victoria warrants such a facility.
If true, again proof that government involvement is not a necessary part of the business cycle.
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"It should go wherever the free market & private capital dictates"
Lord have mercy, why would we do somethng crazy like that. Our city leaders wouldn't be able to toss a few dollars to companies to do studies. They wouldn't be able to dictate every aspect of the the convention center. Most importantly they wouldn't be able to ensure they got what they wanted where they wanted.
This is Victoria, where things are handled just a little bit differently.
March 1, 2012 at 4:38 p.m.As mentioned, w/o air service how can you have a convention? Meetings, maybe........conventions, not likely.....The Corpus Christi airport does OK, but it's not the greatest. Of course, some people would like to avoid metro areas like Houston.....South Padre! aahhhhhhh...............
March 1, 2012 at 4:05 p.m.My job requires me to be at a few conventions/conferences a year and I have yet to fly to one that requires a change of planes to get there, once I leave Houston or Austin. ( I discount the Victoria to Houston flight as the cost of doing business in Victoria). Most of the attendees are from larger cities with easier air access to most convention hotspots.
The problems I have encountered leaving or returning to Victoria have been plentiful: cancelled flights, flights that do not sync with the Victoria connection; cost of flight from Houston; lost time sitting around Bush due to inconvenient flights from Houston.
What I have found is driving to Houston or Austin is the most convenient way to travel to a convention from Victoria.
Another thing I have found as the economy got worse was many companies putting on these conferences in their home cities rather than traveling somewhere desirable in February.
If I were a convention/conference planner just the logistics of getting to and from Victoria would keep me away. Imagine having to charter buses to get here or trying to pack 35 the connection flights with hundreds of people. If would take 10 flights from Houston to Victoria just to accommodate the size of most of the conventions I attend. I can't imagine any company letting employees fly in 3-4 days early just to attend.
January 4, 2012 at 4:05 p.m.BS Spotter said, "It should go wherever the free market & private capital dictates, . . . " I agree wholeheartedly. But I still think it arter be near downtown.
December 14, 2011 at 12:30 a.m.it was not to long ago that colony creek country club was having membership problems why not sell it off to a company as a location to build this project. It would be a nice addition to a convention center-Hotel complex. Hope it's big enough to hold concerts and other events in as well. Then maybe, just maybe, victoria would have something to do here!! I hate to say it but for a city this size there is NOTHING to do here. Anything that brings in this kind of improvement would be extremely welcome.
December 13, 2011 at 6:58 a.m.It should go wherever the free market & private capital dictates, not where our brain trust and its "independent" study determines. Private funds/risk. Private control. Private profits.
December 12, 2011 at 10:10 p.m.One thing is certain: Many of the posters on this topic are not going to be confused with civic boosters. Why can't you make a helpful suggestion instead of running Victoria into the ground? A rising tide lifts all boats.
The most practical place would seem to be where most of the action is. The north end of town has the mall, but a lot of money has been spent to revitalize downtown. My preference would be to build it near downtown. I can think of a few buildings that nobody would miss if there were razed.
December 12, 2011 at 4:29 p.m.tefner
November 29, 2011 at 8:18 a.m.RIP Victoria Community Center
November 15, 2011 at 7:15 p.m.The top three sites for a convention center/hotel would be:
1. Houston. Non-stop United/Continental air service from all over the country make Houston easy to get to. There are all sorts of entertainment choices with NASA (so far), pro and college sports, theater and music, good restaurants and an abundance of strip clubs.
2. San Antonio. Again, good air service makes it accessable. There is much history in San Antonio and the rather unique River Walk. Looks like this is gonna be a bad year for the NBA. Some strip clubs but not like Houston.
3. Corpus Christi. Air service is okay, not great but not bad. The beaches are the best attraction. There are some good places to eat. I don't have a clue as to the quantity or quality of strip clubs.
Why would anyone want to take a company paid vacation and go to a convention in Victoria? I live here and I like it here, but I wouldn't want to visit here if not for relatives. The best places to eat are buffets. Once in a while there is live music or a theater production. There are some red-neck beer joints and thug beer joints, but a cocktail lounge? Nah. Then, there's ... Maximus???
November 15, 2011 at 6:21 p.m.so you could hold a convention in an airport city like Houston or San Antonio or Austin, or maybe have your convention in Corpus and attract Northerners to the beach. or you could have your convention in Victoria. yeah. i'd love to sit in on the sales pitch for that.
November 15, 2011 at 5:26 p.m.anywhere but on the South side of town ! The Northside would be much better and conveniet for alot of people and less likely to get trashed.
November 15, 2011 at 3:28 p.m.How about Sugarland? Isn't that a suburb of Victoria?
August 5, 2011 at 11:52 p.m.It need to be off loop 463 on the north side, close to all the newer hotels.
August 5, 2011 at 10:34 p.m.What I am hearing and many others are too is that Marriot is already planning such a facility on the land that Paco Buhler offered for UHV. DC Realty has the info.
If true, sounds like the $30,000 was not needed. As I recall, many against the spending felt it should be left to private businesses to determine if Victoria warrants such a facility.
If true, again proof that government involvement is not a necessary part of the business cycle.
August 5, 2011 at 3:54 p.m.