Is it just me, or is Allentown in a reactive haze? I keep hearing about the cloud over Allentown, since the FBI scrutinized Pawlowski and city hall. The police chief wants to be anywhere, except here. Pawlowski and his company, Allentown city council, say that they can't blame Chief Fritzgerald from striving for upward mobility, but after only two years? We quietly just gave the fire department a new five year contract that has them dancing in their underwear. While they settle for 2% increase in year two, it's 3% yearly thereafter. Since the scant arena schedule has been criticized, the promoter has announced a new monster truck show, and that he will hire additional part-time peanut vendors.
Things are also rough in the blogging business. Yesterday morning, I met Bernie O'Hare and Lou Hershman for what wasn't Breakfast at Tiffany's. After O'Hare called the waitress a bitch, she refused to serve us. After recently noting that Bernie was on the up cycle of his weight swings, a reader accused me of using 20 year old pictures of myself. I'm pictured above two weeks ago in the deep south, with a 1975 Mack fire pumper, which was made in Allentown.
We can thank Mr. Jennings for the additional Big Truck extravaganza.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jennings talks, people listen.
What is it, $160 million for the Monster Trucks? What a waste.
ReplyDeleteWe have the fairgrounds for something like that.
Don't forget about A-Treat. Popular for another 15 minutes until everyone realizes that nobody drinks soda anymore. According to Gallup's consumption survey, 61% of Americans avoid drinking soda, up from 41% in 2002.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone is trying to stay busy until the other shoe drops. When we have an attorney general who refuses to resign despite the mountain of charges against her, there is little expectation you'll have the mayor and the entirety of city council all of a sudden do the right thing in this case.
I never saw Jennings as a sellout but he's pushed all his chips into the middle of the table recently on being a sellout. In my opinion, his shilling for the NIZ has hurt all of his advocacy and work over the years.
@8:37, before and during construction of the arena, i wrote about how competitive the entertainment business has gotten in this area. the eagle and tom petty shows were lost leaders to kick off the arena. it's too small for the very big draws, and too large for most acts. it will be primarily a minor league hockey arena, the world's most expensive. occasionally, because they're willing to haul in tons of dirt, then clean it up, there will be the fair type monster truck demolition derby. we know how much off site money that crowd spends.
ReplyDeleteThe young creative class is super enthusiastic about those Monster Truck events.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion from the beginning was the Allentown arena size offered nothing new to the regional scene. It is surrounded by similar size venues who host the same type of special events. Within a thousand, or so, seats are Reading, Wilkes-Barre, Hershey, and Harrisburg.
ReplyDeleteHere was an opportunity to create a true 'stand-out' facility that had potential of hosting college tournaments, particularly wrestling and basketball. Plus, bigger attractions beyond sports that would have allowed people from medium size communities, like ours, to avoid Philadelphia and Meadowlands.
Oh, well.
Fred Windish
The Allentown arena was always going to disappoint some people.
ReplyDeleteThere are far too many newish arenas and venues in the state. It's got the established, less expensive MusikFest staring at it in the same yard. It has a major casino to deal with in Bethlehem with national marketing dollars behind it. Stabler is still around. Coca Cola Park if it feels ambitious to hold a concert. Not to mention places like Parkland that aren't going to just give up big draws like PIAA basketball playoffs.
I'm thinking the Beach Boys would be a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteas i wrote before, i believe that the arena was just the public pretense to justify the NIZ, aka RRZ, Reilly Reality Zone
ReplyDeleteI love the Beach Boys, but they barely fill the State Theatre with 1,200 seats. They are now divided into two groups (3 if you count Brian Wilson) touring on his own.
ReplyDeleteMonster Trucks might help the BrewWorks, but don't expect many reservations for $60 steaks at Shula's.
MM
ReplyDeleteI see that is you when I looked with my good left eye, allright how about your 30's¿!($
I personally like your headline as well as the historical treasures you endevor to try to save¿!($ I just don't think you have put the blight of such treasures and the development process together for the reel story behind the curtain of what now is public knowledge¿!($ These two things go hand in hand as they roll over the hills and through the woods to take over grammas house too¿!($
Nothing and I mean nothing or no one will stop this Renisance REbound¿!($
redd
patent pending
What happened to the $50K spent on Allentown Semiquincentinnial (250th) Celebration? Did PA DCED really get what they paid for? Allentown sure knows how to waste other people's money.
ReplyDelete