Are You Ready For A Convention Center?
The on and off discussion about whether Ocala should have a convention center is on again. The Marion County Tourism Development Council is recommending to the County Commission the expenditure of $60,000-$70,000 for a consultant to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of a local convention center.
A previous study done in the late 1990s concluded that a convention center might not be workable because of lack of a major airline service to bring tourists here and whether there would be a reliable/continuous revenue source to fund its operation.
So, tell us what you think: Do we need a convention center?
posted by Blog Master @ 10:07 AM
19 Comments:
Tourism and conventions can be money makers. It is worth looking at. However, not sure anything has changed since the 1990s that would make a convention center more attractive. Will be interesting to find out.
Good idea as long as it is all done with private money and no taxpayer funds are needed.
Convention Centers and baseball parks are money drains on county govrnment. They do not make money and cost millions. However, they do make money for the hotels, so if they want to fund one I am all for it. If they expect to try and get county govrnment to fund it, no. And the revenue from the tourist tax will not fund the construction and the operational cost. --pwf
don't get the ocala city council involved in the convention center or we will have another hole and big pile of dirt sitting around for a long time.
Sell me a piece of land for $1 and I'll build you a magnificent Convention Center for $40 million that Ocala can be proud of.
Giun Nutt says...
Finally a place where we can have our diversity festivals and sensitivity seminars! Wow I think I'll have my convention in Ocala instead of Las Vegas this year. Come on folks! Do we really need to pay some consultant (a/k/a snake oil salesman) to tell us that we don't need to pay for a convention center?
You bet ! Let the good times roll on ! The economy and discretionary spending are going to be "strong " as our President says, forever and ever and ever.
With a weakening economy, which has been bouyed by easy money and consumer spending, a reality check is in order. What is going to ignite the economy in the future ? I don't know about you, but I can't think of a thing.
Descretionary spending, which is already weakening, fuels convention center useage.
Our economy, our federal spending,indeed our nation, is MAXED OUT.
Summary : Terrible timing !
Clayton Ellsworth
We ain't no Orlando and I for one don't want us to become another Orlando.
The convention center is a great project for the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce. Let them take this on; raise the money and run the center. Now that would be a meaningful contribution to the community!
Why spend money on another convention center consulting study? Just dust off the study that was done in late ’90 and let someone from the County administration update it.
Fewer developers and more tourists would be good for our economy.
Where do they post the budget for the TDC?
It won't hurt to take another look at a study for the Convention Center.
The TDC budget doesn't seem to be available online. However, call 291-9169 and ask them for a copy.
BRING IN MORE TOURISTS AND WATCH THE COUNTYS CRIME RATE GO UP.
Discretionary spending is at a definite low...go ask local merchants and restaurant employees...seems like bad timing for a center like this...plus, I agree, let the hotels and businesses in the tourism industry pay for it rather than the general tax payers...avoid making it into a government entity. Private ventures are always more profitable and productive.
Voice of Reason says . . .
A convention center study is a really stupid waste of taxpayer's money. If the Commission choose to spend the dough on a consultant, the consultant will be a friend. We can call that type of spending, "intellectual welfare" because it is just an entitlement program for someone with some letters behind his name.
When looking at places for a convention, Ocala has nothing to offer: no attractions other than Silver Springs (geared toward the retired population and elderly). Even possible historic sites like Fort King are not up and running as a tourist attraction. Sucks Gunn Territory left town 25 years ago for lack of interest. The only guy who wants that attraction back is Gunn Nutt. (PS, the cowboys and Indians used capp gunns so you wouldn't have liked it Gunn Nutt.)
There's no recreation to speak of in Marion County as compared to Orlando, Miami, Vegas, the beaches. Transportation is not geared for conventions. Why would industries choose Ocala? If parents brought kids, the kids would whine all day to go to Disney or Universal. If the wife goes, she will whine that there is no shopping or beach and that the kids are whining to go to Disney. The Husband will bellyache that his family is bellyaching. All I can foresee is complaints.
The only thing that would make sense is high-end gambling. Maybe the Chamber can get some fake Indian to buy some land in Ocala and claim that it is old Seminole lands. Then, set-up a casino with extremely high limit tables. The idea is to get professional sports imbeciles, movie stars, NASCAR drivers, and big business guys to gamble away their money for redistribution to the local economy. Throw a few bucks back at the fake Indian and everybody makes out happy. The high dollar tables will keep away smaller gamblers who are the ones more likely to be family men who can't afford to be habitual gamblers.
The only people who will be hurt are the local churches who run Bingo rackets.
VoR
Voice, you have THIS one nailed. Look at the stupid concultant study that led to the sand pile the Mayor and Council have downtown. Where did they go to get that one, San Francisco or somewhere. Consultants frequently write what you want them to write, get their check and go home, and then the taxpayers usually get screwed. --pwf
Gun Nutt says...
Six gun territory! I remember that place from when I was younger. I wonder is any of those indians are still in town. If so, maybe we can get them to open up the casino Voice of Reason was talking about.
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