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In case you live under a rock, you know the NHL All-Star Game is happening in Raleigh this weekend. With it comes a week of festivities and parties -- and the chance to be scrutinized by international media.
Maybe it's the inferiority complex in me, but I anticipate our fair city will be criticized for a few things: lack of "big-city" nightlife; lack of "really nice" downtown restaurants; lack of retail. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with those first two; Raleigh is just fine, thank you very much. (The retail thing -- well, we need to improve that.) But every time the Hurricanes have been in a major playoff push, the opposing city's media has decided that we really are Mayberry -- even if the crowd is loud and proud.
Nonetheless, as Raleighites, what things do you think we will be raked over the coals for? And if you are visiting us, what are some things you like or don't like about the the City of Oaks?
Just be gentle, please.
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7 comments:
There will be comment that the RBC Center is out in the middle of nowhere rather than downtown. Causing the weekends activites be split between 2 locations.
VERSUS TV in their promotional ads got it right, by superimposing the RBC Center in between out downtown buildings. How come they're smarter than our elected politicians?
Because the TV spot was not made by developers -- it was a handful of connected developers who pushed to get the arena built out there so that their nearby land would become more valuable. It was all about a few fatcats buying up land & making money by convincing the wolfpack club they needed a new arena rather than renovating Reynolds (as Duke has done with Cameron).
How many visitors will stay in Cary and never go downtown at all? Of course were that to happen, I'm thinking many hardcore hockey fans are from the northern US and Canada so they make think this is the greatest place ever.
Does anyone know how much Valvano wanting the new arena downtown caused a backlash against that?
Who has profited from the arena being out there? Since the RBC Center opened as RESA a little over a decade ago, the Damon's went out of business and is now Backyard Bistro, there is just now a second new hotel (Wingate at 54/40) and not much else. The Goodnight and their Umstead hotel has directly benefitted more than anyone.
I am glad the fan festival stuff is downtown, and not in the RBC parking lot! Though I also hope people 'find' Glenwood South, City Market. Raleigh Times, Busy Bee, etc. and don't assume Fayetville Street proper is our be-all/end-all nightlife distsrict.
They will love our weather if they are from Canada or the northeast. Expected to be almost in the 60's this weekend!
Barry, I think about once a week how Raleigh missed the boat by having that arena "out there." Sigh.
"... convincing the wolfpack club they needed a new arena rather than renovating Reynolds (as Duke has done with Cameron)."
So true. So true.
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