You have to ask, would there be a space like that left all that time in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or any other major city? Or minor cities or towns come to that.
Assuming that they go ahead with it (and I do think we need a decent music venue that's bigger than the City Hall), then I hope it doesn't look anything like that monstrosity in the artists impression.
Must admit I was surprised at the failure to describe it as iconic. Though, as you write, it is a monstrosity.
Yeah i remembet the apartment idea a few years back I think it in cluded knocking down the old Co op/ Romeos building
I know it was, Ben. Should have put a smiley on to indicate I knew that. Only point out errors to ithers who do the same or make out they are smarter than others. Or are would be journalists.
Their planning application didn't include the old Co-op, that building has a different owner (who has plans to make the old club floors into a call centre, with the rest of the building being mixed retail, office and residential - in other words, they have no idea what they're doing with it).
No single building or venue can make Hull a top visitor destination, its just not going to happen. This venue does however provide the city with facility its crying out for, that will last for decades and can be enjoyed by thousands.
There was some pictures un the Hull Daily Mail about 10 years back showing all of the current Co op building redeveloped with lots of appartments there Think there was a cinema or some leisure thing below them as well
Not that my opinion means a thing but I honestly don't believe it's worth spending £36m on something no bigger than what we have already! We need something nearer to the size of the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Sadly that cost nearer £60m but it is stunning.
We don't have something like this, we have to convert other venues to use for concerts, these are often booked up or cost too much to convert resulting in promoters taking their shows elsewhere. We don't need an arena, there's too many nearby and not a large enough local population to support one. Let's start selling out a 3,500 seater venue a few times a week before wasting millions on a 10,000+ one.
With artists performing more and more to make their money, the bigger and better bands see no point in selling out a 3,500 venue. A brand new 3,500 venue would get acts for the first 10 minutes but once the dust settles it'd be in the same place as Ice Arena. That's why a 10,000 capacity should be the bare minimum to provide some kind of longevity and therefore a greater chance of recouping the initial outlay.
We wouldn't fill it often enough, we can't expect to compete with Leeds and Sheffield, though for the amount it's costing, I can't believe we're not making it bigger than the venue it's replacing (I'd have thought 4,500 would have been practical).
There's only a select few bands that look down on 3,000 seater venues in favour for arenas, its not a luxury that many have. If what you're saying is true then the O2 Academy in Leeds wouldn't be booked out 4/5 nights a week. Hull has never proven it can regularly fill a 3,000 seater venue so to build a 10,000 seater one on the basis that it would attract 'bigger bands' is just pointless.
I do see what you're saying but I cannot see why it makes sense to spend £36m on something that's barely bigger than what we already have and already underuse.
