Tourism in Fremont
By Matt Artz
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 3:00 pm in Artz, Fremont.
When Councilman Bob Wieckowski first broached the hotel tax hike, he talked up Fremont as a hotspot for tourists, which generated some raised eyebrows at the press table. Other than Niles, it’s hard to think of any attraction in Fremont that would make someone book a hotel room here. It’s more of a day trip city.
So here are some suggestions for new attractions that could get more people into city hotels:
The Central Park Goose Poop Obstacle Course
Why bother spending all those millions on a new water park when geese provide plenty of fun for free.
The Left Turn Arrow Museum
Left turn arrow traffic lights weren’t invented in Fremont, but the city has embraced them nonetheless. For some reason traffic engineers here just don’t trust anyone making a left to nudge into the intersection and complete the turn when the coast is clear. Drives me nuts. Maybe it’s time to celebrate the history of traffic signals that keep the roads so safe for pedestrians and so frustrating for drivers.
The Men’s Health Monument
I’m convinced that nothing makes Fremont officials prouder than having been named the Healthiest City for Men by Men’s Health Magazine. You’d be surprised how often the accolade works its way into city reports that have nothing to do with health. It was even mentioned in this year’s budget. To memorialize Fremont’s triumph, perhaps the city, which has doubled in population since 1970, could build a monument to its own virility. The structure above would do the trick. It could be the centerpiece of the city’s planned downtown or, even better for tourism, a new red light district.
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June 18th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Too funny Matt, glad someone like you reports on the fun news in Fremont. Keep up the great work.
June 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Pretty much everyone stays in Newark anyway, but at least we can then tax the meth labs that rent rooms in the Extend Stay America.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
Pretty entertaining, Matt.
I’d like to encourage you and the other tri-city reporters to tackle the more significant issues and political mis-management that plague our city. You so barely scratch the surface with this “humorous” comment - how about tackling these kinds of issues head on ?
Examples might include the Fremont re-re-re-development agency. . . . or the wild swings in budgetary forecasting (we’re broke - one minute, and in the green the next) . . . . or the complete lack of open discussion of full fiscal impact of the A’s relocation to Fremont . . . . or the recent China boondoggle. . . .
There’s some meaty stuff out there that someone in the press should be bringing some serious illumination to. Yet, the Tri-City Voice is the lone voice of reason and investigative reporting into such matters. Why is that ????
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
No to the A’s in Fremont.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 am
Emphatic YES to the A’s in Fremont!!!!!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:44 am
I agree that the relationship between Fremont’s Redevelopment Agency and the Ballpark Village is an interesting topic. The fact that all of the property tax from the proposed Ballpark Village will go into the Redevelopment Fund and not the General Fund makes me wonder how Fremont can possibly cover the cost of police and fire services for the Ballpark Village, since according to our City Attorney and City Manager Redevelopment funds can’t be spent on police and fire services.
I’m also curious about the relationship between the Nummi plant and the Balllpark Village. I’ve heard rumors that Toyota is threatening to pull out of Nummi if the Ballpark Village is built. This could be an economic disaster for Fremont. I’d love to read some investigative reporting on this topic.
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Gus Morrison said it will reduces sales tax from the biggest sales tax area in Fremont (nearby Pacific Commons shopping center). A person tells me that, Fremont Business at Pacific Commons, is very happy that A’s are moving to Fremont. Right know, I don’t think Pacific Commons is so successful, and there aren’t enough traffic at Pacific Commons. With A’s move to Fremont, people will shop and dine at Pacific Commons. So, I disagree will Gus Gus Morrison.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
So, Brian - let’s say the A’s coming to Fremont bring $300 to $500k per month of incremntal revenue to Pacific Commons retailers. Let’s say that it costs the city an additional $200k per month of police overtime and another $200k per month in other emergency services and meanwhile slows down residential traffic, thereby deteriorating their quality of life -
I’m making these numbers up, Brian - but until someone brings a credible analysis of BOTH revenue, direct AND INDIRECT expenses, and long-term risks - it’s hard to state that this is a wise economic investment.
And the ARGUS and Matt Artz should be leading the way into such obvious open loopholes in the current discussion of A’s . . . . any half-intelligent business person could drive an A’s team bus through the loopholes in the current “analysis” of economic “benefit”. . . . .
The lack of serious and open discussion on these matters tells me that either there is something to hide or that Wolfe and Diaz and Co discount the intellect of their constituency and customers. Both of these are serious problems deserving of hard scrutiny by the public press.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Given the meteoric rise in fuel costs this year, Mr. Wolff, like any good businessperson must be taking a long, hard look at what impact it will have on his new ballpark plans. In addition, the slumping housing industry will definitely impede any quick decision on the proposed ballpark village.
Here’s an excerpt from Ann Killion, SJMercuryNews columnist: “…the A’s are averaging 18,968, well on their way to a fifth consecutive season of declining attendance…Attendance is down all around baseball, which set a record last season. That’s surely a reflection of the economic downturn. The Giants, too, are experiencing a significant drop in attendance, down an average of 5,750 from last year”.
Our current national economic trend does not bode well for business plans formulated prior to 2007-2008.
In other words, don’t get your shorts too bunched up just yet.
June 24th, 2008 at 10:30 am
All new ballparks sell out their first 5 years minimum, regardless of economic climate. And the benefits cannot be accurately measured by economics alone. Bringing the A’s home to Fremont will be the greatest thing ever to happen to this city!!! Lets Go A’s!!!
June 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
WarbleFly, I’ll play devil’s advocate. I’m sure your stat regarding “all new ballparks sell out their first five years…” is true - historically speaking. My question, have we ever been faced with such an erosion of discretionary income as we have today? All segments of consumerism have been greatly impacted by skyrocketing living costs. The ripple effect has carried over to the cost of raw materials, transportation, construction, and yes, even the cost of baseballs. It seems we are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place for the foreseeable future.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Look at Old Navy and Kohl’s, is not even crowded. Look at Great Mall, Westfield Valley Fair, and Santana Row, there are so many people shopping there. If A’s built, more people will shop at Pacific Commons. If A’s isn’t built, more business is closing. People want to shop at one place. If Great Mall has Old Navy, American Eagle, and etc, people will want to shop there. If A’s Ballpark Village has Apparel Store, people will shop at Pacific Commons. Look at Fremont Hub, is not that successful. Less people shop there, because not very good store. They have to renovate hundred times. I wish they can demolish and rebuild that shopping center.
A’s Ballpark Village generated $3.6 million per year in sales taxes and other new revenue. If people shop at A’s Ballpark Village and Pacific Commons, I think we have enough money to fund police.
In the future, Bob Wasserman is asking VTA to bring light rail to Fremont. Lew Wolff has proposed purchasing a fleet of buses to ferry fans between the Fremont BART station and Cisco Field, then donating them to local transit agencies for use during the off-season. Wow, Go A’s!!!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I wish I shared your unsubstantiated and anecdote-filled optimism, Brian.
I’m betting that VTA wont be in Fremont before Mr. Wolfe abandons Cisco field to develop elsewhere.
One of the very best ideas I’ve seen relating to the proposed Cisco field to mitigate convergence of human foot-traffic with vehicular traffic exiting 880 is the suggested “flyovers” at Automall.
Such an obvious solution to a major problem that if the developer was truly interested in mitigating the obvious traffic problems, these would have been included in the original design.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:26 am
I think (pedestrian-only) flyovers leading from Pacific Commons to other areas (north or east) are an interesting idea (regardless of whether the ballpark is created or not), but in the existing city plan they would actually create other problems. For example, flyovers across 880 would carry foot traffic into existing industrial areas, not residential. I wonder what business owners would think of hundreds of people parking in their lots and streets (I’m being a dreamer, and envisioning a wildly-successful PCom retail district), in order to walk somewhere else to spend money?? Methinks they would not be greatly pleased.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Unfortunatley, I think people need to realize there is no turning back for Fremont. It was little Kabul and now its more like little China (which is why we have the forced left turns i think..lol). And no matter how you slice it..in 10 to 20 years Fremont will progess (or digress) into a San Jose or a mini San Francisco. Congested and chalk full of people. Good for business..sure…good for quality of life …ehh not so much, unless you are from SF or hong kong and enjoy city living with all its perks …and drawbacks.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Wow Inner Sanctum
I know Why Don’t we build a baseball stadium in fremont so we can be just as congested as Oakland and SanFransico.
NO TO THE A’s IN FREMONT!!!!!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Derelect - let’s take this one at a time so that we can have a reasonable discussion of several “flyover” ideas - which you seem to be skeptical of.
1st - in the existing ballpark plan - significant portions of attendee parking will be located to the North of Automall and to the West of 880 - creating significant foot traffic across automall parkway.
The convergence of THIS foot traffic and vehicular traffic exiting 880 and attempting to get to parking west of 880 and distributed along automall, creates a worsened situation which would easily be mitigated with flyovers running north and south across automall. . . . .
The flyover locations you propose and discuss, “across 880″ are not part of my suggestion For the reasons you mention, flyovers over 880 seem to me to be less than desireable. At the same time, I can see absolutely no reason NOT to construct flyovers traversing Automall. . . . except that the developer will be out of pocket for an additional expense - this expense would provide tangible relief to an obvious traffic problem.