LETTER TO THE EDITOR: WMU students should say ‘No’ to arena

Although the struggle to link WMU students to the Kalamazoo community is an ongoing and worthy one, it is disappointing that so many have bought into the idea that an arena could finally bridge that gap. The proposal is an ill planned attempt to dupe the citizens of greater Kalamazoo into paying for a risky commercial venture. Admittedly, the property is an incredibly strategic area for development, situated at the gateway to downtown.

Because most WMU students aren’t registered to vote in Kalamazoo, they don’t have the option to oppose the tax that would fund this project.

Western currently owns the property in question, and there is still a $1.5 million outstanding mortgage. Clearly, the university wants to offload an outstanding liability while Suite Idea, the arena’s non‑profit development team, is looking to buy the property for a song. It doesn’t hurt that Ken Miller of the WMU Board of Trustees is also involved with Suite Idea.

WMU and Kalamazoo K‑Wings hockey games would comprise almost fifty percent of the events held in the arena. But, last season, WMU hockey had an average of only 57% attendance, while the K‑Wings averaged only slight better at 62%. If students and paying customers alike wanted to come to the events, an old arena wouldn’t deter them any more than a new one would attract them.

It’s hard for some students to get downtown and park. Moving a formerly free event away from campus and possibly charging admission is a bad idea.

It is ridiculous to think mid-sized arena could compete with other large arenas for touring bands and music groups is nonsensical. Most touring bands play to arenas with an average of 12000 seats.

This project should not be funded by the county, nor financed by students who don’t have the option to say “no.”

Jonathon Freye
WMU Alumni

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=12675

Posted by heraldstaff on Nov 29 2009. Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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