Convocation Center

[AllanY2525]

I think that the new Convocation Center will help breathe
life back into the entire downtown area... even if there
are "eateries" inside the center, some folks will probably
want to get something to eat BEFORE attending an event
inside the Convocation center.  

One thing that the existing downtown restaurants can do
when the center opens is to find out what kinds of food
are available inside, and then make sure that they put
some fare on their menues that is NOT available at the
Convocation Center.

The existing restaurants should also rent some space
directly across the street from the Convocation Center
and put up a billboard, as large as possible, alerting
those coming to the center of their presence in the
downtown area.

As far as hotels go, Youngstown State University is
already in the process of reopening the Wick-Pollock
Inn - that is a good start.

Are any of the old hotel buildings downtown still
standing? (ie: The Voyager, etc)

How much do you want to bet that a Starbuck's Coffee
Shope (or similar) pops up VERY close to the center
(if not right across the street) when it opens?

[ytowner]

Here's how I view it. During a concert you most likely don't go and eat in the middle in the building, so when the concert is over there will be 7,000 people leaving the place looking for something to eat. And that is where the bars and new restaurants downtown will benefit.

Also after sporting events it will help out too mainly because of the bars.

I see this helping the southern-western end around Front Street well.

I do expect within a year a Hotel will open in downtown, they will totally renovate and old building down there.

[jay]

I feel the location of the Convocation Center is too far away from the west end to help the businesses that are located in that area.  

I don't feel that the Convocation Center will help many of the existing restaurants in the downtown area, at least not to the extent that it should.  Many people do not realize that the Convocation Center will have a half dozen eateries within the building itself.  I doubt if many people who eat while in the complex will then go and dine at a downtown Youngstown restaurant afterwards.

[Nathan Pavalko]

My name is Nathan and I am a student at YSU. I am taking a course that is involved with the Youngstown 2010 program, and this past week we went to Cleveland to see some of the redevelopment they have done there around Jacobs Field and the like. I am greatly encouraged and excited to see what they have done and what can be done in Youngstown. I would like to know what you think will be the outcome of the convocation center? Will it drasticly improve Front Street and West Federal Street? If not, what couold be done to help the covocation center and the surrounding areas?