1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,002 (female announcer)   Production funding for 2 00:00:02,002 --> 00:00:12,412 "Behind the Headlines" is   made possible in part by.. 3 00:00:12,412 --> 00:00:15,516 The debate over the fairground redevelopment tonight on 4 00:00:15,516 --> 00:00:16,717 "Behind the Headlines." 5 00:00:16,717 --> 00:00:33,400 [theme music] 6 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,102 I'm Eric Barnes, publisher of The Memphis Daily News. 7 00:00:35,102 --> 00:00:36,537 Thanks for joining us. 8 00:00:36,537 --> 00:00:38,505 I'm joined tonight by Kemp Conrad from 9 00:00:38,505 --> 00:00:39,506 the Memphis City Council. 10 00:00:39,506 --> 00:00:40,507 Thanks for being here. 11 00:00:40,507 --> 00:00:41,508 Eric, thanks for having me. 12 00:00:41,508 --> 00:00:45,212 Kevin Kane from the Memphis Convention and Visitors' Bureau. 13 00:00:45,212 --> 00:00:47,180 Thank you. Sorry about that. 14 00:00:47,180 --> 00:00:49,750 Taylor Berger, a small business owner and real estate broker. 15 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:51,618 Thanks for being here. 16 00:00:51,618 --> 00:00:54,655 And Bill Dries, senior reporter with the Memphis Daily News. 17 00:00:54,655 --> 00:00:55,656 We'll talk. 18 00:00:55,656 --> 00:00:57,658 You all have various perspectives on this. 19 00:00:57,658 --> 00:00:59,660 Opponents and proponents, concerns. 20 00:00:59,660 --> 00:01:01,595 And we'll try to walk through all the details. 21 00:01:01,595 --> 00:01:02,596 I'm going to start with Bill. 22 00:01:02,596 --> 00:01:04,598 And maybe, Kevin, you can pipe in, as well. 23 00:01:04,598 --> 00:01:06,600 Just give viewers who haven't read on the most recent 24 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,602 iteration what is the proposal for the fairgrounds 25 00:01:08,602 --> 00:01:10,604 for the fairgrounds redevelopment. 26 00:01:10,604 --> 00:01:12,606 And then we'll continue to break it down. 27 00:01:12,606 --> 00:01:15,742 Well, what you're dealing with is basically a renovation, 28 00:01:15,742 --> 00:01:20,647 a reconfiguration of the fairgrounds as amateur sports, 29 00:01:20,647 --> 00:01:24,885 as places where sports tournaments are played not just 30 00:01:24,885 --> 00:01:29,423 locally but, you know, leagues coming from around the country 31 00:01:29,423 --> 00:01:31,425 to tournaments on the fairgrounds site. 32 00:01:31,425 --> 00:01:36,930 You would also have on there some kind of real estate 33 00:01:36,930 --> 00:01:39,333 component that's not athletic fields, 34 00:01:39,333 --> 00:01:40,968 which would be.. 35 00:01:40,968 --> 00:01:42,536 I think there's been some talk, Kevin, 36 00:01:42,536 --> 00:01:45,539 about retail as well as possibly a hotel, 37 00:01:45,539 --> 00:01:47,074 something like that. 38 00:01:47,074 --> 00:01:50,110 I think the one thing that we came out of the briefing on this 39 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:54,481 past Tuesday at city council with is that it's not going 40 00:01:54,481 --> 00:01:56,350 to be restaurants. 41 00:01:56,350 --> 00:01:57,351 Right. 42 00:01:57,351 --> 00:01:59,353 And then, also, before I get you in here, 43 00:01:59,353 --> 00:02:01,488 Kevin, there's talk of tearing down the Coliseum, 44 00:02:01,488 --> 00:02:03,490 which is always a controversial talk. 45 00:02:03,490 --> 00:02:06,493 Putting up a multi-purpose, um, facility that the schools could 46 00:02:06,493 --> 00:02:08,695 use for graduations and can be used for other things. 47 00:02:08,695 --> 00:02:10,697 There's talk of additions to Fairview, 48 00:02:10,697 --> 00:02:12,699 what used to be called Fairview Middle School and is now the 49 00:02:12,699 --> 00:02:14,601 Maxine Smith STEAM Academy. 50 00:02:14,601 --> 00:02:16,036 There's some money for schools. 51 00:02:16,036 --> 00:02:18,038 And we'll get in to all of those details. 52 00:02:18,038 --> 00:02:21,475 From your point of view, Kevin, is that kind of the shape of the 53 00:02:21,475 --> 00:02:22,509 project as you see it? 54 00:02:22,509 --> 00:02:26,580 Well, I think that the Tourism Development Zone Act was 55 00:02:26,580 --> 00:02:27,914 created in 2004. 56 00:02:27,914 --> 00:02:31,284 And it was basically created across the state as a vehicle to 57 00:02:31,284 --> 00:02:32,486 build convention centers. 58 00:02:32,486 --> 00:02:34,554 And the first few were used that way. 59 00:02:34,554 --> 00:02:41,695 In 2007, the Tourism Development Zone Act or law was amended to 60 00:02:41,695 --> 00:02:44,197 include sports related facilities. 61 00:02:44,197 --> 00:02:46,233 And, you know, our first one was really built around our 62 00:02:46,233 --> 00:02:49,569 convention center even though it was really for construction of 63 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:50,570 the FedEx Forum. 64 00:02:50,570 --> 00:02:54,274 And then it got shifted in the latter years to center around 65 00:02:54,274 --> 00:02:57,177 another sports -- started off to be a sports facility, 66 00:02:57,177 --> 00:02:59,746 the Pyramid, that later would become Bass Pro. 67 00:02:59,746 --> 00:03:02,582 And it's worked quite well. It's generated a lot of money. 68 00:03:02,582 --> 00:03:05,485 It's done everything that we wanted it to do. 69 00:03:05,485 --> 00:03:07,487 There's 12 of these across the state. 70 00:03:07,487 --> 00:03:11,158 When you look at the dollar volume that Nashville and some 71 00:03:11,158 --> 00:03:13,894 areas in East Tennessee have been able to garner off this, 72 00:03:13,894 --> 00:03:16,163 we're really on the short end of the stick. 73 00:03:16,163 --> 00:03:18,665 So, you know, on the simple math, 74 00:03:18,665 --> 00:03:21,068 I would say if we could turn all of Shelby County in to one big 75 00:03:21,068 --> 00:03:23,770 T-D-Z, shame on us for not doing it. 76 00:03:23,770 --> 00:03:26,940 I don't think the state would allow us to do that. 77 00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:28,508 But, you know, T-D-Z's are basically money that would be 78 00:03:28,508 --> 00:03:29,976 going to Nashville that you're able to keep here. 79 00:03:29,976 --> 00:03:31,311 In my really laymen's terms here, 80 00:03:31,311 --> 00:03:36,683 it intercepts that, that sales tax money that normally.. 81 00:03:36,683 --> 00:03:37,818 The growth, not the.. 82 00:03:37,818 --> 00:03:39,152 There's a baseline that's established. 83 00:03:39,152 --> 00:03:41,788 So, that still goes to the state of Tennessee. 84 00:03:41,788 --> 00:03:45,192 We will keep the growth that has generated hopefully by a rising 85 00:03:45,192 --> 00:03:46,359 tide lifting all boats. 86 00:03:46,359 --> 00:03:49,196 People coming to town, people coming to do sports things, 87 00:03:49,196 --> 00:03:51,198 spending money at the retail there, 88 00:03:51,198 --> 00:03:53,200 spending money at other areas within Midtown. 89 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,334 And that's the idea. 90 00:03:54,334 --> 00:03:56,336 That money, instead of going to Nashville, stays. 91 00:03:56,336 --> 00:03:59,206 And the concept around the fairgrounds is because we have 92 00:03:59,206 --> 00:04:01,975 Liberty Bowl Stadium and you have the Children's Museum that 93 00:04:01,975 --> 00:04:04,578 obviously draws, you know, tons of families and youth. 94 00:04:04,578 --> 00:04:06,580 And now we have the Kroc Center. 95 00:04:06,580 --> 00:04:10,283 It's to build on that and to turn that in to something that 96 00:04:10,283 --> 00:04:12,285 would attract the youth sports market. 97 00:04:12,285 --> 00:04:15,889 So, of course, I'm a supporter for an indoor sportsplex more so 98 00:04:15,889 --> 00:04:16,957 than a bunch of ball fields. 99 00:04:16,957 --> 00:04:20,427 And I think, you know, in time, if it happens, 100 00:04:20,427 --> 00:04:22,429 conventional wisdom will prevail. 101 00:04:22,429 --> 00:04:24,431 Okay. Taylor, let me bring you in. 102 00:04:24,431 --> 00:04:27,267 You're known for being a part of Untapped down 103 00:04:27,267 --> 00:04:28,268 at Tennessee Brewery. 104 00:04:28,268 --> 00:04:30,637 You've got restaurants around town. 105 00:04:30,637 --> 00:04:33,306 Real estate broker. A lot of stuff in Midtown. 106 00:04:33,306 --> 00:04:34,307 I don't know. 107 00:04:34,307 --> 00:04:36,309 People have said sort of cutting edge things and so on. 108 00:04:36,309 --> 00:04:38,311 You're real concerned about this proposal. 109 00:04:38,311 --> 00:04:41,715 Is it you don't want a big youth sports facility on the 110 00:04:41,715 --> 00:04:45,385 fairgrounds or is it more about the funding or what? 111 00:04:45,385 --> 00:04:48,922 It's always really exciting to build something new. 112 00:04:48,922 --> 00:04:50,991 I mean, I know I love doing it. 113 00:04:50,991 --> 00:04:54,761 I wonder that in all that excitement we kind of lose 114 00:04:54,761 --> 00:04:57,364 perspective on what we're building and whether 115 00:04:57,364 --> 00:04:58,431 it's really sustainable. 116 00:04:58,431 --> 00:05:01,968 Youth sports is a growing industry. 117 00:05:01,968 --> 00:05:05,839 I think something like $7 billion a year. 118 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,141 Frankly, we're a little bit late to the game. 119 00:05:08,141 --> 00:05:10,143 If we had done this ten years ago, 120 00:05:10,143 --> 00:05:12,145 we would have been ahead of the game. 121 00:05:12,145 --> 00:05:18,518 But since that time, many, many municipalities across the 122 00:05:18,518 --> 00:05:20,520 country have been building these things. 123 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,522 And a lot of them are not doing so well. 124 00:05:22,522 --> 00:05:24,524 You know, Memphis is cool. I love it. 125 00:05:24,524 --> 00:05:26,526 But, you know, we're competing against Nashville and 126 00:05:26,526 --> 00:05:29,162 East Tennessee in our own state as well as Orlando, 127 00:05:29,162 --> 00:05:30,163 Las Vegas. 128 00:05:30,163 --> 00:05:32,165 Everybody has kind of got these things now. 129 00:05:32,165 --> 00:05:35,468 So, I wonder, you know, is the impact going to be 130 00:05:35,468 --> 00:05:38,104 as big as we hope. 131 00:05:38,104 --> 00:05:39,105 I'm sorry. 132 00:05:39,105 --> 00:05:41,107 But do you have concerns from, you know, 133 00:05:41,107 --> 00:05:42,108 you own restaurants. 134 00:05:42,108 --> 00:05:44,144 I guess there's now talk that there wouldn't be a restaurant 135 00:05:44,144 --> 00:05:46,146 on the fairgrounds partly in Cooper-Young. 136 00:05:46,146 --> 00:05:48,782 And all the restaurants are in Overton Square and so on. 137 00:05:48,782 --> 00:05:49,850 But do you worry that it's.. 138 00:05:49,850 --> 00:05:52,219 There might be viewers out there looking to say, 139 00:05:52,219 --> 00:05:55,222 "He's just, you know, he doesn't want anybody to get on his 140 00:05:55,222 --> 00:05:57,224 territory, on the business he owns." 141 00:05:57,224 --> 00:05:58,225 Is that part of your concern? 142 00:05:58,225 --> 00:06:02,395 If this succeeds, then I think I and all the other merchants in 143 00:06:02,395 --> 00:06:03,630 the area do better. 144 00:06:03,630 --> 00:06:05,799 You know, it's just a question of, 145 00:06:05,799 --> 00:06:08,902 you know, just because we build it doesn't necessarily mean 146 00:06:08,902 --> 00:06:09,903 they will come. 147 00:06:09,903 --> 00:06:13,406 And if we do build, you know, youth sports a million square 148 00:06:13,406 --> 00:06:15,408 feet, the cost of maintaining that, 149 00:06:15,408 --> 00:06:19,179 the costs of operating it can be huge. 150 00:06:19,179 --> 00:06:22,616 And I wonder where that cost will ultimately lie. 151 00:06:22,616 --> 00:06:24,618 I mean, will they be coming to the city? 152 00:06:24,618 --> 00:06:26,620 Yeah. Well, let's ask the councilman. 153 00:06:26,620 --> 00:06:29,422 I mean, technically the council voted in support of a 154 00:06:29,422 --> 00:06:32,726 fairgrounds proposal T-D-Z, excuse me, 155 00:06:32,726 --> 00:06:34,895 a couple of years ago if I'm not mistaken. 156 00:06:34,895 --> 00:06:37,297 But you -- We talked a little bit before the show -- and other 157 00:06:37,297 --> 00:06:40,233 who have been on the council recently said, 158 00:06:40,233 --> 00:06:42,235 "Hey, I think they need to come back. 159 00:06:42,235 --> 00:06:44,237 The program has changed. We need some more details." 160 00:06:44,237 --> 00:06:46,239 So, you've got concerns about it? 161 00:06:46,239 --> 00:06:47,240 Well, that was always the plan. 162 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,242 Hey, we approve the overall concept. 163 00:06:49,242 --> 00:06:51,244 But there are a lot of details to be worked out. 164 00:06:51,244 --> 00:06:53,246 That's one of the reasons why I wanted to have it in committee 165 00:06:53,246 --> 00:06:55,248 so we can learn what had happened since we voted on it, 166 00:06:55,248 --> 00:06:56,650 get the latest kind of updates. 167 00:06:56,650 --> 00:06:58,285 And a lot has changed. 168 00:06:58,285 --> 00:07:00,587 And I would call it overall kind of half-baked right now. 169 00:07:00,587 --> 00:07:03,423 We need to fully bake this cake if we want to get it passed 170 00:07:03,423 --> 00:07:04,424 in Nashville. 171 00:07:04,424 --> 00:07:07,627 Mister Berger raises some great questions about operations. 172 00:07:07,627 --> 00:07:09,996 One of the things I think would help get this passed and get all 173 00:07:09,996 --> 00:07:12,599 the stake holders aligned is to go ahead and lock in now the 174 00:07:12,599 --> 00:07:13,600 governance structure. 175 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,935 You know, we have a Sports Authority board that was focused 176 00:07:15,935 --> 00:07:17,937 on new sports many years ago I believe. 177 00:07:17,937 --> 00:07:20,440 They went to then focus on building the FedEx Forum. 178 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,442 And I think it's pretty much lying dormant now. 179 00:07:22,442 --> 00:07:24,811 That might be a good collaborative structure that we 180 00:07:24,811 --> 00:07:27,180 can bring back and go ahead and put the governance in place. 181 00:07:27,180 --> 00:07:29,416 So, we have someone from the city, 182 00:07:29,416 --> 00:07:32,052 someone from the county, someone from the C-V-B, 183 00:07:32,052 --> 00:07:34,287 someone from Game Day Baseball, someone from Mike Rose. 184 00:07:34,287 --> 00:07:37,590 One thing, too, you know, the key to success in any business 185 00:07:37,590 --> 00:07:40,293 or any government or any city is you've got to figure out what 186 00:07:40,293 --> 00:07:42,295 are your competitive advantages? 187 00:07:42,295 --> 00:07:44,331 What are the things that you have that are very unique that 188 00:07:44,331 --> 00:07:45,365 are hard to replicate? 189 00:07:45,365 --> 00:07:46,599 And you leverage those. 190 00:07:46,599 --> 00:07:48,835 You focus on two or three things and you do those well. 191 00:07:48,835 --> 00:07:50,970 You don't try to be all things to all people. 192 00:07:50,970 --> 00:07:52,972 And I would disagree a little bit with Mister Berger because 193 00:07:52,972 --> 00:07:54,975 we're not starting from scratch here. 194 00:07:54,975 --> 00:07:56,976 It's not like we're saying, "You know what? 195 00:07:56,976 --> 00:07:57,977 "We're going to use sports. 196 00:07:57,977 --> 00:07:59,980 You know, let's go chase this new dream." 197 00:07:59,980 --> 00:08:00,914 We do chase a lot of dreams. 198 00:08:00,914 --> 00:08:02,916 We do build too many things and have kind of project envy when 199 00:08:02,916 --> 00:08:05,418 we should focus on the basics of city government and focus more 200 00:08:05,418 --> 00:08:10,123 on kind of children and families and issues like that. 201 00:08:10,123 --> 00:08:13,626 But we already have huge community assets here. 202 00:08:13,626 --> 00:08:15,362 We're doing youth sports now. 203 00:08:15,362 --> 00:08:16,696 Game Day Baseball, I think, creates 204 00:08:16,696 --> 00:08:18,898 30,000 room nights a year. 205 00:08:18,898 --> 00:08:22,435 Over 30,000 room nights and they want to expand. 206 00:08:22,435 --> 00:08:25,672 So, my thing is this can't just be 207 00:08:25,672 --> 00:08:27,941 a Memphis city fairgrounds project. 208 00:08:27,941 --> 00:08:29,209 We've got to collaborate. 209 00:08:29,209 --> 00:08:31,878 A lot of times, the city is not very good at collaborating. 210 00:08:31,878 --> 00:08:34,314 You've got Game Day Baseball. You've got Mike Rose. 211 00:08:34,314 --> 00:08:35,915 You've got Snowden Grove. 212 00:08:35,915 --> 00:08:38,685 I bet there's over 100,000 hotel room nights a year. 213 00:08:38,685 --> 00:08:39,753 I don't know. 214 00:08:39,753 --> 00:08:41,221 If we got 30,000 and multiplied it by three. 215 00:08:41,221 --> 00:08:43,623 Maybe it's a little bit less. Those are hotel room nights. 216 00:08:43,623 --> 00:08:46,026 Those are people buying restaurant meals. 217 00:08:46,026 --> 00:08:48,228 You've got a nephew who's very good at athletics. 218 00:08:48,228 --> 00:08:49,729 I've coached him before. 219 00:08:49,729 --> 00:08:52,031 I guarantee you he's going to be on the road soon with his mom, 220 00:08:52,031 --> 00:08:55,235 his dad, his brother, his sister and they're going to be out for 221 00:08:55,235 --> 00:08:56,169 a whole weekend. 222 00:08:56,169 --> 00:08:57,470 They're going to be staying in hotel rooms. 223 00:08:57,470 --> 00:08:59,406 They're going to be buying meals. 224 00:08:59,406 --> 00:09:01,941 Youth sports done right is a very, 225 00:09:01,941 --> 00:09:05,745 very economical way to do economic development. 226 00:09:05,745 --> 00:09:07,647 We've got a huge opportunity but we got to do it right. 227 00:09:07,647 --> 00:09:09,115 We got to do it right now. 228 00:09:09,115 --> 00:09:10,517 We got to get the stakeholders on board. 229 00:09:10,517 --> 00:09:12,252 Then we can get it passed and make this a success. 230 00:09:12,252 --> 00:09:14,154 One more question and I'll get Bill in here. 231 00:09:14,154 --> 00:09:16,756 So, you just made a great case to vote yes. 232 00:09:16,756 --> 00:09:17,791 But you still have some concerns. 233 00:09:17,791 --> 00:09:19,859 Is it the funding? 234 00:09:19,859 --> 00:09:22,929 A big question always comes up with these deals is, does.. 235 00:09:22,929 --> 00:09:25,098 Ultimately if it fails for whatever reason, 236 00:09:25,098 --> 00:09:28,435 we go in to a recession, are the taxpayers of Memphis on the hook 237 00:09:28,435 --> 00:09:30,336 to continue to pay for this for the next 20 years? 238 00:09:30,336 --> 00:09:32,172 First of all, the Devil is in the details. 239 00:09:32,172 --> 00:09:34,040 I agree. The concept is good. 240 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:35,909 But now the details need to be worked out. 241 00:09:35,909 --> 00:09:37,644 Mister Berger has done a great job of raising 242 00:09:37,644 --> 00:09:39,279 some of these questions. 243 00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:41,548 Operations, operating expenses. 244 00:09:41,548 --> 00:09:44,818 So, exactly what's going to be programmed there? 245 00:09:44,818 --> 00:09:45,985 We don't even know. 246 00:09:45,985 --> 00:09:48,822 There was a report back in 2013, the Charlie Johnson report, 247 00:09:48,822 --> 00:09:51,024 that laid out where the opportunity was, 248 00:09:51,024 --> 00:09:53,093 the multi-purpose stadium and things like this. 249 00:09:53,093 --> 00:09:55,094 I would not support it as it is now until.. 250 00:09:55,094 --> 00:09:57,697 It's never going to pass until we get these things worked out. 251 00:09:57,697 --> 00:09:59,399 What was your second question? 252 00:09:59,399 --> 00:10:01,434 That's good. Let me get Kevin in. 253 00:10:01,434 --> 00:10:05,738 First of all -- and I've got a great deal of respect 254 00:10:05,738 --> 00:10:06,739 for Taylor. 255 00:10:06,739 --> 00:10:07,740 I'm a big fan of his. 256 00:10:07,740 --> 00:10:09,742 He's done some great things throughout the community. 257 00:10:09,742 --> 00:10:14,314 He's been great for tourism. But I vehemently disagree. 258 00:10:14,314 --> 00:10:15,648 We're not late to the game. 259 00:10:15,648 --> 00:10:18,418 Memphis is a great youth sports market. 260 00:10:18,418 --> 00:10:22,222 Mike Rose Soccer Complex, go out there any weekend. 261 00:10:22,222 --> 00:10:24,224 You look at what's going on, taking place there. 262 00:10:24,224 --> 00:10:25,658 They're looking to expand. 263 00:10:25,658 --> 00:10:28,194 They want to get bigger because they are busting at the seams 264 00:10:28,194 --> 00:10:29,963 with opportunities for events. 265 00:10:29,963 --> 00:10:31,097 Game Day Baseball. 266 00:10:31,097 --> 00:10:33,099 Even though they lost their title sponsor, 267 00:10:33,099 --> 00:10:35,468 Game Day Baseball, which is privately owned by the way, 268 00:10:35,468 --> 00:10:38,805 which is kind of rare for these type of multi-purpose facilities 269 00:10:38,805 --> 00:10:41,341 or multi-sportsplex with lots of ball fields, 270 00:10:41,341 --> 00:10:43,676 or courts, or whatever it might be. 271 00:10:43,676 --> 00:10:46,980 They're busting at the seams. They want to expand. 272 00:10:46,980 --> 00:10:49,182 They don't have any available weekends. 273 00:10:49,182 --> 00:10:52,452 We're bringing tournaments in from all over the country. 274 00:10:52,452 --> 00:10:53,453 Volleyball. 275 00:10:53,453 --> 00:10:55,455 This weekend at the Cook Convention Center, 276 00:10:55,455 --> 00:10:58,324 the next two weekends, we'll have 7,000 people 277 00:10:58,324 --> 00:11:00,660 in town for youth volleyball, 278 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,729 the Martin Luther King Volleyball Tournament. 279 00:11:02,729 --> 00:11:05,465 We had a big gymnastics tournament at 280 00:11:05,465 --> 00:11:08,001 the Convention Center two weekends ago. 281 00:11:08,001 --> 00:11:11,804 We have A-A-U basketball that's here in the summer for four or 282 00:11:11,804 --> 00:11:14,140 five weeks in the summer, 13's and 14's we've had for many, 283 00:11:14,140 --> 00:11:16,776 many years that we have to spread out in four or five high 284 00:11:16,776 --> 00:11:18,778 school gyms in the eastern part of the county. 285 00:11:18,778 --> 00:11:21,781 We are great youth sports market and we can get better. 286 00:11:21,781 --> 00:11:23,183 So, we're not late to the game. 287 00:11:23,183 --> 00:11:26,152 I think we're trying to build on that opportunity. 288 00:11:26,152 --> 00:11:27,153 It's amazing to see. 289 00:11:27,153 --> 00:11:30,156 I mean, our daughters played on the same competitive volleyball 290 00:11:30,156 --> 00:11:31,157 team years ago. 291 00:11:31,157 --> 00:11:33,159 And I remember going to a tournament in Saint Louis. 292 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:35,361 And I spent ungodly sums of money in that weekend. 293 00:11:35,361 --> 00:11:37,964 So, people think it is sort of church league basketball 294 00:11:37,964 --> 00:11:38,965 or church.. 295 00:11:38,965 --> 00:11:40,166 It's a whole different deal. 296 00:11:40,166 --> 00:11:42,168 Nothing wrong with church league basketball. 297 00:11:42,168 --> 00:11:44,437 This is a whole different deal when you get in to these 298 00:11:44,437 --> 00:11:45,438 competitive sports. 299 00:11:45,438 --> 00:11:47,440 But, Bill, let's get you in here. 300 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,842 Let's talk about the Mid-South Coliseum because it seems to me 301 00:11:49,842 --> 00:11:53,646 as if some of the discussion about whether the Coliseum stays 302 00:11:53,646 --> 00:12:00,153 or goes is fueling almost a separate discussion from the one 303 00:12:00,153 --> 00:12:03,289 about amateur sports. 304 00:12:03,289 --> 00:12:07,327 Taylor, how much of your concern is based on the Coliseum 305 00:12:07,327 --> 00:12:11,230 going in this? 306 00:12:11,230 --> 00:12:13,233 Personally, not a whole lot. 307 00:12:13,233 --> 00:12:15,234 I mean, if this goes forward, I want, 308 00:12:15,234 --> 00:12:17,503 you know, if we can use an existing facility, 309 00:12:17,503 --> 00:12:18,605 I think that's smart. 310 00:12:18,605 --> 00:12:20,673 If it doesn't work for what we're going to do, 311 00:12:20,673 --> 00:12:21,674 then it doesn't work. 312 00:12:21,674 --> 00:12:23,743 I don't think we can hold on to something just for nostalgia. 313 00:12:23,743 --> 00:12:27,580 But there is a massive contingency of people in the 314 00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:33,219 community who have a large problem with getting rid 315 00:12:33,219 --> 00:12:34,220 of the Coliseum. 316 00:12:34,220 --> 00:12:35,221 I'd love to respond to that. 317 00:12:35,221 --> 00:12:38,191 Yeah, we'll get to you. Hang on. 318 00:12:38,191 --> 00:12:40,193 Hold that thought. So, that's interesting. 319 00:12:40,193 --> 00:12:43,129 Because you did, you know, you were involved with the Tennessee 320 00:12:43,129 --> 00:12:45,798 Brewery and that was partly about keeping that thing alive. 321 00:12:45,798 --> 00:12:48,468 But you're a little less nostalgic on the Coliseum. 322 00:12:48,468 --> 00:12:49,602 I am. 323 00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:53,439 I mean, I think, you know, this is.. 324 00:12:53,439 --> 00:12:56,309 If we do youth sports, it has to operate well first. 325 00:12:56,309 --> 00:12:58,945 I mean, we can't let this fail if it does go forward. 326 00:12:58,945 --> 00:13:01,781 And if the Coliseum is an impediment to that, 327 00:13:01,781 --> 00:13:03,983 then it has to go. 328 00:13:03,983 --> 00:13:07,186 I mean, we can't let something large fail because of nostalgia. 329 00:13:07,186 --> 00:13:12,191 Kemp, you were at the council discussion obviously. 330 00:13:12,191 --> 00:13:15,862 When the Coliseum came up not as a main component of the 331 00:13:15,862 --> 00:13:17,964 council's discussion but certainly there was some back 332 00:13:17,964 --> 00:13:20,466 and forth about how much does it cost to renovate. 333 00:13:20,466 --> 00:13:22,468 Where are you in terms of considering that? 334 00:13:22,468 --> 00:13:24,470 I think the data should drive the decision, 335 00:13:24,470 --> 00:13:25,471 pure and simple. 336 00:13:25,471 --> 00:13:27,473 If we're going to be great at youth sports, we need.. 337 00:13:27,473 --> 00:13:29,475 That was one of my frustrations in the meeting was 338 00:13:29,475 --> 00:13:30,476 that there wasn't.. 339 00:13:30,476 --> 00:13:32,478 The program really wasn't together. 340 00:13:32,478 --> 00:13:34,480 So, if we're going to be great at youth sports and if this is 341 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,482 going to be successful after 20 years, 342 00:13:36,482 --> 00:13:38,484 we've got to put the right programming in here. 343 00:13:38,484 --> 00:13:41,521 Now the data that I've seen that I've really started kind of dig 344 00:13:41,521 --> 00:13:42,555 back in to now.. 345 00:13:42,555 --> 00:13:45,124 The data really points to needing kind of this multiplex 346 00:13:45,124 --> 00:13:46,159 to do the basketball. 347 00:13:46,159 --> 00:13:48,161 I think that's our one weakness. 348 00:13:48,161 --> 00:13:50,396 And then I think you asked about tax payer funds. 349 00:13:50,396 --> 00:13:53,733 What they told us Tuesday was that these would be revenue 350 00:13:53,733 --> 00:13:54,734 bonds not backed by the city. 351 00:13:54,734 --> 00:13:56,936 So, there would not be any city commitment to it. 352 00:13:56,936 --> 00:13:59,372 Now if the thing, you know, were to default, 353 00:13:59,372 --> 00:14:02,608 there's still issues that come up. 354 00:14:02,608 --> 00:14:04,610 The taxpayers are the ultimate backstop. 355 00:14:04,610 --> 00:14:05,778 No, not with revenue bonds. 356 00:14:05,778 --> 00:14:08,715 Now someone is going to have to come in. 357 00:14:08,715 --> 00:14:11,617 There might be a, you know.. It causes challenges. 358 00:14:11,617 --> 00:14:14,787 So, we've got to really make sure that we buy in to the 359 00:14:14,787 --> 00:14:16,789 underwriting, you know, through that due diligence process. 360 00:14:16,789 --> 00:14:17,990 So, it doesn't impact.. 361 00:14:17,990 --> 00:14:20,893 The taxpayers would not be on the hook. 362 00:14:20,893 --> 00:14:22,895 But a credit rating or, you know, 363 00:14:22,895 --> 00:14:24,897 if the city wants to go do other things, 364 00:14:24,897 --> 00:14:25,898 this is totally off the books. 365 00:14:25,898 --> 00:14:26,966 Yeah, they're revenue bonds. 366 00:14:26,966 --> 00:14:28,401 Kevin, your point about this. 367 00:14:28,401 --> 00:14:31,971 There's some nostalgia factor for you with the Coliseum. 368 00:14:31,971 --> 00:14:35,875 You know, I played for the Tigers J-V basketball team in 369 00:14:35,875 --> 00:14:38,010 the '70s in the Mid-South Coliseum. 370 00:14:38,010 --> 00:14:40,847 You know, I saw all my first concerts. 371 00:14:40,847 --> 00:14:44,751 I got a lot of great memories of the Mid-South Coliseum. 372 00:14:44,751 --> 00:14:48,321 The reality of it is is the Mid-South Coliseum was 373 00:14:48,321 --> 00:14:50,389 functionally obsolete for a couple of reasons. 374 00:14:50,389 --> 00:14:52,725 Number one, A-D-A requirements. 375 00:14:52,725 --> 00:14:56,129 It would cost millions to bring that up to code. 376 00:14:56,129 --> 00:14:57,864 The lighting in the building. 377 00:14:57,864 --> 00:14:59,866 They don't even manufacture those lights anymore. 378 00:14:59,866 --> 00:15:01,801 You'd have to do a whole new lighting grid. 379 00:15:01,801 --> 00:15:03,803 That's hundreds of thousands of dollars. 380 00:15:03,803 --> 00:15:09,342 I think to get the Coliseum up to code and to get it modernized 381 00:15:09,342 --> 00:15:13,813 would cost as much as 28- $30 million is what I've heard, 382 00:15:13,813 --> 00:15:18,017 which is about what one of these modern indoor multicourt 383 00:15:18,017 --> 00:15:21,654 sportsplex that could have six or seven basketball courts with 384 00:15:21,654 --> 00:15:23,856 a championship court that, you know, 385 00:15:23,856 --> 00:15:26,659 for championship events, graduations, 386 00:15:26,659 --> 00:15:30,496 Lady Tigers basketball, whatever you want to do in there. 387 00:15:30,496 --> 00:15:33,166 It could also be used for volleyball, 388 00:15:33,166 --> 00:15:35,935 gymnastics, cheerleading and other types of activities. 389 00:15:35,935 --> 00:15:40,273 The problem with the Coliseum with 11,200 seats and the way 390 00:15:40,273 --> 00:15:43,309 the building is built, you can't make a lot 391 00:15:43,309 --> 00:15:44,377 of those seats disappear. 392 00:15:44,377 --> 00:15:46,379 They're built in to the structure of the building. 393 00:15:46,379 --> 00:15:48,848 You'd almost have to tear the walls of the whole side of the 394 00:15:48,848 --> 00:15:51,417 building around the building to make that work. 395 00:15:51,417 --> 00:15:54,587 So, the footprint that you have to work with does not even lend 396 00:15:54,587 --> 00:15:57,156 itself to have two basketball courts in there, 397 00:15:57,156 --> 00:15:58,324 much less five or six. 398 00:15:58,324 --> 00:16:00,259 So, you know, it just doesn't work. 399 00:16:00,259 --> 00:16:02,295 And it's unfortunate but, you know, 400 00:16:02,295 --> 00:16:04,797 we had to tear down Ellis Auditorium a few years ago. 401 00:16:04,797 --> 00:16:06,799 And there was a lot of nostalgia about that. 402 00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:11,470 I can tell you Ellis Auditorium is nowhere close in comparison 403 00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:13,706 to the building that the Canon Center is now today. 404 00:16:13,706 --> 00:16:16,442 Sometimes you just got to say goodbye to something and you've 405 00:16:16,442 --> 00:16:17,443 got to move forward. 406 00:16:17,443 --> 00:16:20,046 And I think unfortunately the Coliseum has lived its life. 407 00:16:20,046 --> 00:16:22,114 I should say, too, just so people.. 408 00:16:22,114 --> 00:16:24,550 There are good stories on our side and the C-A's side 409 00:16:24,550 --> 00:16:25,551 and so on in this. 410 00:16:25,551 --> 00:16:27,854 But what we're talking about is a $30 million multi-purpose 411 00:16:27,854 --> 00:16:30,056 facility, a 30 year bond and, you know, 412 00:16:30,056 --> 00:16:33,426 paid from what they're estimating to be $340 million in 413 00:16:33,426 --> 00:16:36,195 incremental sales tax revenue over that 30 year period. 414 00:16:36,195 --> 00:16:38,197 So, we're talking about big, big money. 415 00:16:38,197 --> 00:16:41,033 That otherwise would have gone to the state. 416 00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:44,904 Right. 417 00:16:44,904 --> 00:16:47,173 No, and it's good because it somehow gets in to the debate. 418 00:16:47,173 --> 00:16:48,507 We've talked a lot about PILOTs. 419 00:16:48,507 --> 00:16:51,210 I mean, so many PILOTs have been talked about on this show. 420 00:16:51,210 --> 00:16:53,079 Everybody comes in and talks about PILOTs. 421 00:16:53,079 --> 00:16:55,214 Kind of hates them but they want to use them or hates them and 422 00:16:55,214 --> 00:16:56,315 they want to stop. 423 00:16:56,315 --> 00:16:57,550 This is one where you -- I'll just go to you -- as a 424 00:16:57,550 --> 00:17:00,653 politician, a T-D-Z, you like if the details get filled in. 425 00:17:00,653 --> 00:17:01,487 Right? 426 00:17:01,487 --> 00:17:04,724 I mean, it's not a tax giveaway. 427 00:17:04,724 --> 00:17:06,726 Any of these incentives get framed by some people 428 00:17:06,726 --> 00:17:07,727 as tax giveaways. 429 00:17:07,727 --> 00:17:09,729 This is not from your point of view? 430 00:17:09,729 --> 00:17:11,731 This is money that would otherwise go to 431 00:17:11,731 --> 00:17:12,732 the state of Tennessee. 432 00:17:12,732 --> 00:17:15,902 And so, these are dollars that would go to somewhere else. 433 00:17:15,902 --> 00:17:19,005 We're keeping them here to improve our community and to 434 00:17:19,005 --> 00:17:22,174 generate, you know, generate a lot of opportunity and business 435 00:17:22,174 --> 00:17:23,209 for restauranteurs. 436 00:17:23,209 --> 00:17:24,810 But what about the perspective? 437 00:17:24,810 --> 00:17:26,812 I mean, you'll get people. We've had people on the show. 438 00:17:26,812 --> 00:17:28,814 They say, you know, if governments involved, 439 00:17:28,814 --> 00:17:29,815 it's a bad project. 440 00:17:29,815 --> 00:17:31,817 It should just stand on its own. 441 00:17:31,817 --> 00:17:33,819 If we want to get a youth sports facility on there, 442 00:17:33,819 --> 00:17:36,489 we want to get retail on there, we should just sell the land and 443 00:17:36,489 --> 00:17:38,658 the private sector should just take care of the whole thing. 444 00:17:38,658 --> 00:17:40,660 And the government shouldn't be involved at all. 445 00:17:40,660 --> 00:17:41,661 Your response to that? 446 00:17:41,661 --> 00:17:43,663 I think what we're trying to do is facilitate, 447 00:17:43,663 --> 00:17:46,065 you know, private people coming in and then ultimately doing it. 448 00:17:46,065 --> 00:17:49,468 Someone has got to go, you know, and get the support and get the 449 00:17:49,468 --> 00:17:50,536 stakeholders together. 450 00:17:50,536 --> 00:17:52,538 And we probably need to have more, 451 00:17:52,538 --> 00:17:54,540 you know, private involved and not just be city lead. 452 00:17:54,540 --> 00:17:58,878 So, I think it should be a collaborative approach. 453 00:17:58,878 --> 00:18:01,213 And your take on that? 454 00:18:01,213 --> 00:18:05,885 I think there's a reason why individuals or corporations 455 00:18:05,885 --> 00:18:07,987 don't build, for the most part, arenas, 456 00:18:07,987 --> 00:18:11,023 stadiums, convention centers, performing arts halls. 457 00:18:11,023 --> 00:18:13,559 There's a reason why the community owns those assets. 458 00:18:13,559 --> 00:18:16,395 Number one, the quality of life impact they have 459 00:18:16,395 --> 00:18:17,396 for a community. 460 00:18:17,396 --> 00:18:20,800 Number two, these things are not sustainable as 461 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,268 for profit ventures. 462 00:18:22,268 --> 00:18:25,438 I mean, we're so fortunate that the Grizzlies are on the hook 463 00:18:25,438 --> 00:18:29,075 for the operations of the FedEx Forum. 464 00:18:29,075 --> 00:18:31,510 Because in Nashville, the Predators are not on the hook 465 00:18:31,510 --> 00:18:33,612 for the operation of Bridgestone Arena. 466 00:18:33,612 --> 00:18:37,083 Bridgestone Arena loses millions of dollars a year as a building. 467 00:18:37,083 --> 00:18:39,585 And the FedEx Forum probably doesn't make any money 468 00:18:39,585 --> 00:18:40,586 as a building. 469 00:18:40,586 --> 00:18:42,588 But if it loses money, the Grizzlies are 470 00:18:42,588 --> 00:18:43,589 on the hook for that. 471 00:18:43,589 --> 00:18:46,292 That was a real smart thing our governmental leaders did, 472 00:18:46,292 --> 00:18:49,328 you know, 15 years ago when they cut the deal with Mister Heisley 473 00:18:49,328 --> 00:18:50,329 and the ownership group. 474 00:18:50,329 --> 00:18:54,400 So, you know, you've got to have these public facilities. 475 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,402 We got to have convention centers. 476 00:18:56,402 --> 00:18:58,404 We got to have performing arts halls and we got to have sports 477 00:18:58,404 --> 00:19:00,940 facilities if you want to be a world class community. 478 00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:02,308 Yeah, yeah. Bill? 479 00:19:02,308 --> 00:19:05,144 Taylor, I think you have a point on that. 480 00:19:05,144 --> 00:19:10,783 That's really my worry is that I haven't seen anything about that 481 00:19:10,783 --> 00:19:14,253 kind of the private developer backstop idea. 482 00:19:14,253 --> 00:19:16,255 All of this money that we're talking about, 483 00:19:16,255 --> 00:19:18,257 this free money, it goes to build the buildings. 484 00:19:18,257 --> 00:19:21,927 But there's huge costs in operating and maintaining those 485 00:19:21,927 --> 00:19:24,830 buildings that nobody has really talked about. 486 00:19:24,830 --> 00:19:26,832 Is that the part of the weakness of the plan that, 487 00:19:26,832 --> 00:19:28,834 you know, if you compare it to, say.. 488 00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:30,836 I know it's a little apples and oranges. 489 00:19:30,836 --> 00:19:32,838 But you compare it to Overton Park or Overton Square. 490 00:19:32,838 --> 00:19:33,839 Bob Loeb.. 491 00:19:33,839 --> 00:19:35,841 I mean, whatever you think about that project, 492 00:19:35,841 --> 00:19:37,843 Bob Loeb comes in and says I;m going to put up, 493 00:19:37,843 --> 00:19:41,280 what? -- $20 million if the city will put up whatever five to ten 494 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,315 for the parking garage and the water retention. 495 00:19:43,315 --> 00:19:45,885 The same thing with Graceland in the T-D-Z down there. 496 00:19:45,885 --> 00:19:48,187 Graceland has spent a ton of money down there. 497 00:19:48,187 --> 00:19:50,189 There's a kind of named partner. 498 00:19:50,189 --> 00:19:52,191 Is that part of the weakness with this? 499 00:19:52,191 --> 00:19:53,192 There's no named partner. 500 00:19:53,192 --> 00:19:54,193 Yes. 501 00:19:54,193 --> 00:19:56,362 I mean, the irony of this is that a private developer came to 502 00:19:56,362 --> 00:19:59,331 the city, you know, in 2007 with this same proposal. 503 00:19:59,331 --> 00:20:02,268 But at that time, retail was great. 504 00:20:02,268 --> 00:20:03,569 Target was at the table. 505 00:20:03,569 --> 00:20:05,571 You know, you had a name developer, 506 00:20:05,571 --> 00:20:07,573 someone with stature in the community, saying, 507 00:20:07,573 --> 00:20:10,409 "I'm going to invest substantial capital in this now 508 00:20:10,409 --> 00:20:12,712 if you can put in some, too." 509 00:20:12,712 --> 00:20:15,147 You know, we don't have that now. 510 00:20:15,147 --> 00:20:17,516 And, you know, they'll say, well, 511 00:20:17,516 --> 00:20:19,552 we're going to put out an R-F-P and that'll happen. 512 00:20:19,552 --> 00:20:22,588 Let's go ahead and get those guidelines for what 513 00:20:22,588 --> 00:20:23,589 we're going to require. 514 00:20:23,589 --> 00:20:26,325 Are we going to require that developer who submits an R-F-P 515 00:20:26,325 --> 00:20:28,627 to backstop potential losses. 516 00:20:28,627 --> 00:20:30,696 You know, these are the things that need to be discussed now. 517 00:20:30,696 --> 00:20:32,198 Do you agree with that? 518 00:20:32,198 --> 00:20:35,367 I mean, is that part of the concerns that people have about 519 00:20:35,367 --> 00:20:38,504 the project that there's no named private partner? 520 00:20:38,504 --> 00:20:41,240 It feels to some people like a build it and they will come 521 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:42,241 kind of project. 522 00:20:42,241 --> 00:20:44,510 Well, I think, you know, I mean, Kevin said it. 523 00:20:44,510 --> 00:20:48,781 I think, well, let's go get it approved and get the funds. 524 00:20:48,781 --> 00:20:51,817 Then I think that's when some of those details can be worked out. 525 00:20:51,817 --> 00:20:53,919 Now I think there's a lot more that needs to be worked out, 526 00:20:53,919 --> 00:20:55,921 you know, on the front end right now. 527 00:20:55,921 --> 00:20:57,923 Do we need to have the whole structure on the process? 528 00:20:57,923 --> 00:20:58,924 I don't think the city really.. 529 00:20:58,924 --> 00:21:03,262 I think the idea is that we will go out and do an R-F-P and 530 00:21:03,262 --> 00:21:04,263 have a private.. 531 00:21:04,263 --> 00:21:07,700 The city is not going to be the developer on this project. 532 00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:11,837 And I think that Wharton said to me when he was on the show, 533 00:21:11,837 --> 00:21:13,839 he talked about that and said -- and I'm paraphrasing. 534 00:21:13,839 --> 00:21:17,443 Look, if we get this thing approved, 535 00:21:17,443 --> 00:21:19,979 it's not like we're going to go start building before we have 536 00:21:19,979 --> 00:21:20,980 this partner in place. 537 00:21:20,980 --> 00:21:22,982 We're going to put that R-F-P, the Request For Proposal. 538 00:21:22,982 --> 00:21:24,984 We're going to talk to people and get them in before. 539 00:21:24,984 --> 00:21:27,887 The city cannot go out and build a hotel and then go hire Hilton 540 00:21:27,887 --> 00:21:28,888 to run it. 541 00:21:28,888 --> 00:21:31,457 The city is not going to build a 60,000 square foot strip 542 00:21:31,457 --> 00:21:34,994 shopping center and go hire Simon Malls to come in here 543 00:21:34,994 --> 00:21:35,995 and operate it. 544 00:21:35,995 --> 00:21:37,363 I mean, that's ridiculous. 545 00:21:37,363 --> 00:21:39,365 But that's the impression people have. 546 00:21:39,365 --> 00:21:42,234 But this is as Kemp said. This has to be market driven. 547 00:21:42,234 --> 00:21:45,171 Whatever happens on the private side has to be market driven. 548 00:21:45,171 --> 00:21:48,607 And I think what will interest the private side if you do the 549 00:21:48,607 --> 00:21:51,877 infrastructure right around on the rest of the footprint on the 550 00:21:51,877 --> 00:21:54,680 public piece whether it's a multiplex, 551 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,682 sportsplex, whatever it might be. 552 00:21:56,682 --> 00:21:59,685 When you do those things, that's what garners an interest 553 00:21:59,685 --> 00:22:00,886 of private developers. 554 00:22:00,886 --> 00:22:02,888 And that's where they will come to the table. 555 00:22:02,888 --> 00:22:03,889 This thing is a process. 556 00:22:03,889 --> 00:22:07,960 This is not something where you just wave a magic wand and you 557 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:08,994 just make it happen. 558 00:22:08,994 --> 00:22:11,530 I mean, you know, you got to go through the process. 559 00:22:11,530 --> 00:22:13,566 I think Taylor brings up some great points. 560 00:22:13,566 --> 00:22:17,503 I think you do need to make sure that you've looked at this thing 561 00:22:17,503 --> 00:22:19,505 very thoroughly because you're right. 562 00:22:19,505 --> 00:22:23,709 The utility bill on an eight court basketball complex.. 563 00:22:23,709 --> 00:22:26,245 Heck, the utility bills alone is probably more than what bid fees 564 00:22:26,245 --> 00:22:27,246 for tournaments would bring. 565 00:22:27,246 --> 00:22:29,915 But unfortunately, a lot of this is not about bid fees 566 00:22:29,915 --> 00:22:30,916 for tournament. 567 00:22:30,916 --> 00:22:34,420 A lot for these complexes whether it's a convention center 568 00:22:34,420 --> 00:22:36,422 or Game Day Baseball and Mike Rose Soccer, 569 00:22:36,422 --> 00:22:39,258 how many people do you bring to your community that stay in your 570 00:22:39,258 --> 00:22:41,393 hotels, that eat in your restaurants, 571 00:22:41,393 --> 00:22:43,929 that go to your attractions, how much taxes do they generate and 572 00:22:43,929 --> 00:22:45,998 how much economic benefits do they generate for the community? 573 00:22:45,998 --> 00:22:48,000 I just want to say, too, I think the examples you gave, 574 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,002 Overton Park, Graceland, those are privately owned. 575 00:22:50,002 --> 00:22:56,175 So, Bob Loeb bought Overton Square from a private owner. 576 00:22:56,175 --> 00:22:58,877 This is a city owned asset right now. 577 00:22:58,877 --> 00:23:01,847 So, I don't think that tax payers will say, 578 00:23:01,847 --> 00:23:04,750 "Okay, Mister developer here, we're going to give this to you 579 00:23:04,750 --> 00:23:05,818 to go do what you want." 580 00:23:05,818 --> 00:23:08,988 I mean, I think the city needs to have a bit of control in 581 00:23:08,988 --> 00:23:09,989 a collaborative way. 582 00:23:09,989 --> 00:23:12,825 The market will bear what's developed there. 583 00:23:12,825 --> 00:23:15,828 But there will be a private entity that will come in. 584 00:23:15,828 --> 00:23:18,797 You've got the private piece and then you've got the kind of the 585 00:23:18,797 --> 00:23:21,500 youth sports piece of it and the operations piece. 586 00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:22,935 And the math has to work. 587 00:23:22,935 --> 00:23:24,937 And from an elected officials standpoint, 588 00:23:24,937 --> 00:23:26,939 votes like this, like Redbirds Stadium, 589 00:23:26,939 --> 00:23:28,974 you know, these have very, very long tails to them. 590 00:23:28,974 --> 00:23:32,678 And we want to make very sure that they're done right. 591 00:23:32,678 --> 00:23:33,679 Bill? 592 00:23:33,679 --> 00:23:36,448 So, the council voted on the concept once. 593 00:23:36,448 --> 00:23:40,219 Should the council vote on this again? 594 00:23:40,219 --> 00:23:46,358 And if it does, does a vote on that at before or after it gives 595 00:23:46,358 --> 00:23:51,063 the city its blessings to go ahead for a tourism development? 596 00:23:51,063 --> 00:23:52,064 Perhaps. 597 00:23:52,064 --> 00:23:54,066 I think the council needs to really be engaged from this 598 00:23:54,066 --> 00:23:56,635 point forward from here to the finish line whether that's some 599 00:23:56,635 --> 00:23:59,605 kind of liaison or it comes back for a vote. 600 00:23:59,605 --> 00:24:02,675 I've got a bit of an open mind on that. 601 00:24:02,675 --> 00:24:06,245 But I definitely think that the council will be involved in some 602 00:24:06,245 --> 00:24:10,582 form or fashion from here until it gets approved and then 603 00:24:10,582 --> 00:24:11,583 ongoing. 604 00:24:11,583 --> 00:24:12,584 I think we have a duty. 605 00:24:12,584 --> 00:24:15,020 Taylor, some of your hesitancy on this, 606 00:24:15,020 --> 00:24:19,591 some of your concern about this seems to be that the 607 00:24:19,591 --> 00:24:21,660 train is on the tracks. 608 00:24:21,660 --> 00:24:24,296 I don't want a Midtown Pyramid. 609 00:24:24,296 --> 00:24:26,632 I don't want to be back here in ten years trying to figure out 610 00:24:26,632 --> 00:24:29,668 what to do with all these buildings that the private 611 00:24:29,668 --> 00:24:31,937 developers long ago left because he didn't want 612 00:24:31,937 --> 00:24:32,938 to bear the losses. 613 00:24:32,938 --> 00:24:35,307 So, we're stuck with this and now we got to figure out how to 614 00:24:35,307 --> 00:24:36,442 make it work. 615 00:24:36,442 --> 00:24:37,609 That scares me. 616 00:24:37,609 --> 00:24:40,479 And we will have used up all of the Midtown tax, 617 00:24:40,479 --> 00:24:43,048 you know, sales tax increment for the next 30 years. 618 00:24:43,048 --> 00:24:45,184 I'll be 65. 619 00:24:45,184 --> 00:24:49,755 I'll be a little older than that. 620 00:24:49,755 --> 00:24:55,327 And Kevin, you have a concern in this as well and that 621 00:24:55,327 --> 00:24:56,595 is about timing. 622 00:24:56,595 --> 00:24:58,664 Because as we talked before the show, 623 00:24:58,664 --> 00:25:00,933 the state, the Tennessee Building Commission, 624 00:25:00,933 --> 00:25:04,203 the state leaders in Nashville, they've kind of had enough of 625 00:25:04,203 --> 00:25:06,138 the tourism development. 626 00:25:06,138 --> 00:25:07,873 I think Taylor brings up great points. 627 00:25:07,873 --> 00:25:11,043 And I know that Kemp is thinking this through because he has been 628 00:25:11,043 --> 00:25:13,779 involved in so many of these projects to make sure that the 629 00:25:13,779 --> 00:25:16,148 city is protected in the long run and the citizens are 630 00:25:16,148 --> 00:25:17,683 protected in the long run. 631 00:25:17,683 --> 00:25:21,420 Get the Tourism Development Zone and then figure out exactly how 632 00:25:21,420 --> 00:25:23,422 this thing should be structured. 633 00:25:23,422 --> 00:25:25,691 But if we don't get this Tourism Development Zone, 634 00:25:25,691 --> 00:25:30,462 shame on us for giving $300 million over 30 years to the 635 00:25:30,462 --> 00:25:32,231 state of Tennessee. 636 00:25:32,231 --> 00:25:33,232 I agree with Kevin. 637 00:25:33,232 --> 00:25:35,501 And I think it will help us to get the vote in Nashville. 638 00:25:35,501 --> 00:25:37,669 I was in Nashville for the inauguration and I talked 639 00:25:37,669 --> 00:25:38,670 to the treasurer. 640 00:25:38,670 --> 00:25:40,672 I talked to a lot of my friends in the house, 641 00:25:40,672 --> 00:25:42,808 in the senate, my friends in F-N-A. 642 00:25:42,808 --> 00:25:46,278 I think if we measure twice and then cut once, 643 00:25:46,278 --> 00:25:48,280 it will help us get that vote in Nashville. 644 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,282 And I just think we've got to think, 645 00:25:50,282 --> 00:25:53,685 flush a few of these things out, have a bit more of a solid plan. 646 00:25:53,685 --> 00:25:54,787 I think we'll get the vote. 647 00:25:54,787 --> 00:25:58,223 And I think, you know, with a lot of the things that Mister 648 00:25:58,223 --> 00:26:01,326 Berger is talking about, we will have a great project that all 649 00:26:01,326 --> 00:26:02,828 Memphians can be proud of. 650 00:26:02,828 --> 00:26:03,896 Okay. Just last second. 651 00:26:03,896 --> 00:26:05,898 Are you running for mayor or are you one of the only city 652 00:26:05,898 --> 00:26:07,900 council-people who aren't running for mayor? 653 00:26:07,900 --> 00:26:08,901 I am not running for mayor. 654 00:26:08,901 --> 00:26:10,903 I would like to work with and serve, 655 00:26:10,903 --> 00:26:12,371 you know, a great mayor. 656 00:26:12,371 --> 00:26:16,508 I like being on the council and I would love to collaborate with 657 00:26:16,508 --> 00:26:17,509 a great mayor. 658 00:26:17,509 --> 00:26:19,645 We know we have one who is not. Okay. 659 00:26:19,645 --> 00:26:22,381 Thank you all for being here. Appreciate it. 660 00:26:22,381 --> 00:26:24,483 Join us again next week. Goodnight. 661 00:26:24,483 --> 00:26:40,632 [theme music] 662 00:26:40,632 --> 00:26:44,632 CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY W-K-N-O, MEMPHIS.