OCVibe Approved by Anaheim City Council.

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

Honda Center set for privately funded, $1.1B reno

Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli is privately funding a $1.1B renovation of Honda Center to be completed before the venue hosts the LA28 Summer Olympics' volleyball competition.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

$1 Billion additional renovation.

 

[TP2000]

Honda Center set for privately funded, $1.1B reno

Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli is privately funding a $1.1B renovation of Honda Center to be completed before the venue hosts the LA28 Summer Olympics' volleyball competition.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

$1 Billion additional renovation.

That is fabulous news. The arena was definitely looking dated and very 90's lately. A cool Billion ought to fix that nicely.

And good to hear it will be done with six months to spare before the Summer Olympics.

This should also help get OCVibe development going faster than its glacial pace. There are Woonerfs to be built!

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/1b-renovations-planned-for-honda-center-in-anaheim/

 

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

That is fabulous news. The arena was definitely looking dated and very 90's lately. A cool Billion ought to fix that nicely.

And good to hear it will be done with six months to spare before the Summer Olympics.

This should also help get OCVibe development going faster than its glacial pace. There are Woonerfs to be built!

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/1b-renovations-planned-for-honda-center-in-anaheim/

And it’s privately funded. You’ll get those far left people still complaining about wasting money when the city is paying zero dollars. I’ve already seen some of the comments online. They’ll complain about everything.

 

[Nirya]

The comparison between the Samuelis and Arte Moreno across the street is just night and day.

 

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

The comparison between the Samuelis and Arte Moreno across the street is just night and day.

It’s a shame Disney didn’t package both teams when they sold them off. I would have forced the Samuelis to buy the team.

 

[truecoat]

And it’s privately funded. You’ll get those far left people still complaining about wasting money when the city is paying zero dollars. I’ve already seen some of the comments online. They’ll complain about everything.

Yeah, never stop complaining about the most trivial things.

 

[NobodyElse]

Here's an LA Times piece from yesterday:

Commentary: Ducks unveil $1-billion arena renovation, stress-free parking. But can either OC team win?

The work being done to Honda Center stands in stark contrast to the current stalemate between the city of Anaheim and the Angels over the future of Angel Stadium.

www.latimes.com

They marvel at the new parking innovations...

***
No more cars inching forward to the parking attendant. No more shuffling through your wallet for cash or a credit card. No more scrolling through your phone to find that bar code, or scrambling through your glove compartment to find that parking pass.

Just drive right in and enjoy the show.

“We think this will get people in 20 to 30 minutes faster,” said Bill Foltz, chief executive officer of OC Sports and Entertainment.

“Parking is the first thing you see when you are coming to a concert or a sporting event, and getting out of there is the last thing you remember. So we are working really hard to make sure both of those things are great experiences.”

And...

Truth be told, Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli would have spent the money anyway. They previously committed $4 billion to the OC Vibe development now under construction around the Honda Center, with a performance hall, restaurants, a food hall and park scheduled to open next year, with homes, hotels and offices and additional entertainment venues to follow.


It is all of that — the district around the arena — that shaped the parking policy. Whether you stop by to watch the Ducks, see a concert, grab dinner or simply meet friends for a stroll, the policy is the same.

“What we’re trying to do is eliminate that transaction that everybody has when you’re pulling into a parking lot,” Foltz said. “You are just going to pull in.”

And finally...

That doesn’t mean you won’t pay a fee to access the general parking lots for a game or a concert, but the fee will be part of what Foltz called an “all-inclusive” ticket price.

***

No mention of those issues we've already brought up:

Walking in from a local hotel or elsewhere? You're paying for parking.
Utilizing public transportation, like at the adjacent ARTIC or Uber/Lyft/Taxi? You're paying for parking.
Carpooling with five other ticket-holders in your pal's Suburban? You're ALL paying for parking.

 

[TP2000]

The comparison between the Samuelis and Arte Moreno across the street is just night and day.

No kidding. And Mayor Sidhu had to find out the hard way.

Disgraced Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu Sentenced to Two Months in Prison

Friday’s sentencing stems from former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu destroying records around the now-dead Angel Stadium land sale and lying to federal officials about a helicopter he bought to evade taxes.

voiceofoc.org

 

[TP2000]

And it’s privately funded. You’ll get those far left people still complaining about wasting money when the city is paying zero dollars. I’ve already seen some of the comments online. They’ll complain about everything.

Great point! That this is privately funded is wonderful. I can only imagine though some of the young'uns complaining that the Samueli family should "Pay their fair share!" or whatever the current rallying cry is at DSA conventions.

I can, and certainly have, made fun of OCVibe in the past. Mainly because of the cringey and clunky first pass of marketing they did for it several years ago. It wasn't as bad as the ridiculous word salad that the Disney Parks Blog belched out about Downtown Disney's remake a few years ago, but it was a close second. But in all honesty, I wish the entire OCVibe project team well.

That ridiculous ARTIC blob across the street built at a huge loss for a California bullet train that will never arrive is a problem for the greater area, but the rest of the plan seems wise. Especially now that they've scaled back all the office space in OCVibe version 1.0 and replaced them mostly with 1,500 condos and apartments in version 2.0.

The Honda Center was looking very 1990's to our 2020's eye, so it's good it's getting a Billion dollar makeover. It needs it.

 

[NobodyElse]

From the Woonerf-Adjacent Department...
OC River Walk in Anaheim estimated to cost $200 million if built today

"
Anaheim’s ambitious push to turn the often-dry Santa Ana River into a river walk with ample water and activities for the public is estimated to cost $200 million, according to a city budget overview.

OC River Walk would add inflatable rubber dams to the Santa Ana River near Angel Stadium to create a riverbed with standing water. Along the Santa Ana River, the city would construct new park space with trails and terrace steps for what’s envisioned as a destination for the region.

City spokesperson Mike Lyster said the $200 million figure is an estimate of what it would cost to build today, but there are no plans to begin construction anytime soon. The big costs are building the dam system, embankments and a pedestrian bridge.

Currently, city officials are studying the project with grant support from other levels of government and a nonprofit. Where new trails and bridges might go is all to be determined. The city anticipates studies on planning and design will take through at least 2030 and has the funding identified for that.

The OC River Walk would extend about two miles from Ball Road near the Anaheim Coves to Orangewood Avenue and total 100 acres. Renderings from the city envision people kayaking and being able to look out on the water from steps built into the embankment."

*Bold italics provided just for fun.

 

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

From the Woonerf-Adjacent Department...
OC River Walk in Anaheim estimated to cost $200 million if built today

"
Anaheim’s ambitious push to turn the often-dry Santa Ana River into a river walk with ample water and activities for the public is estimated to cost $200 million, according to a city budget overview.

OC River Walk would add inflatable rubber dams to the Santa Ana River near Angel Stadium to create a riverbed with standing water. Along the Santa Ana River, the city would construct new park space with trails and terrace steps for what’s envisioned as a destination for the region.

City spokesperson Mike Lyster said the $200 million figure is an estimate of what it would cost to build today, but there are no plans to begin construction anytime soon. The big costs are building the dam system, embankments and a pedestrian bridge.

Currently, city officials are studying the project with grant support from other levels of government and a nonprofit. Where new trails and bridges might go is all to be determined. The city anticipates studies on planning and design will take through at least 2030 and has the funding identified for that.

The OC River Walk would extend about two miles from Ball Road near the Anaheim Coves to Orangewood Avenue and total 100 acres. Renderings from the city envision people kayaking and being able to look out on the water from steps built into the embankment."

*Bold italics provided just for fun.

I remember Jet Jam back in the 90s that espn put on. Would be nice to add some water to the area.

 

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

Some updated photos from last night. Katella parking structure will be open next week and Cerritos one shortly after. Food hall/office building and Theatre are coming along nicely. If you plan on coming to an event there, get there early because it’s a big mess with all the construction and rerouting. Also eat before because concessions are limited due to the renovation to The Pond.

 

[chadwpalm]

View attachment 884722View attachment 884723View attachment 884724View attachment 884726Some updated photos from last night. Katella parking structure will be open next week and Cerritos one shortly after. Food hall/office building and Theatre are coming along nicely. If you plan on coming to an event there, get there early because it’s a big mess with all the construction and rerouting. Also eat before because concessions are limited due to the renovation to The Pond.

 

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

View attachment 884749

Hey, no fancy European words here.

 

[TP2000]

Greetings from the Hangar Cocktail Lounge at the semi-glamorous LAX Marriott Hotel! Today I drove up to LAX to prepare for tomorrow's early afternoon flight to Japan. Because I always treat front desk clerks like minor royalty (and wink a bit), I was gifted three drink vouchers upon check-in. But that cocktail windfall isn't why I'm posting from the bar...

On my way up I had lunch with old friends, and then a few banking errands to run in OC. Lo and behold, as I drove down the Orange Freeway with the top down, I was surprised to see the new OCVibe parking structure nearing completion! Here's an action shot as I drifted into the offramp to City National. That's a giant video screen on the side of the structure. It's painted all sorts of different colors, and obviously will be decorated with rather wild steel structures on the roof.

So after talking to my old banker friend to ensure I was still solvent, I went across the freeway to check out the OCVibe progress. I made fun of this thing ruthlessly a few years ago when it was nothing more than a slick website full of intern psycho-babble about "Woonerfs" and "Lifestyle Spaces". But it's finally actually happening, and they really do seem to be doing a top notch job on the design and aesthetics.

The parking garage is the first to near completion, and it already looks far more engaging and interesting than the Disneyland parking structures of the recent past. Here's a shot from Katella, where they are placing colored steel panels all along the exterior. The big tower to the left is a giant LED video wall, which will apparently broadcast the latest events to passing freeway motorists. There's a second one of these towers further along in construction on the northern end of this structure.

On the inner courtyard of this project there is office and retail/dining space directly across from the Honda Center. It's a big facility, and there's a lot going on besides thousands of new parking spaces in the peripheral garages.

As noted in this thread above six months ago, the Honda Center has now begun its transformation and modernization. And not a moment too soon, as it definitely looks 1990's and isn't aging well. But work has clearly begun on the western flanks of the Honda Center...

The good news here is that this is all well underway, and it should all be completed and operating by the time of the Summer Olympics in 2028 when several different events will be held at the Honda Center. Without a Woonerf in sight.

 

[TP2000]

On the flip side, is that odd little news clipping from a year or so ago that Anaheim was going to remake the Santa Ana Riverbed into an "Anaheim Waterfront" of sorts.

The Riverbed, which is normally bone dry, actually had a bit of water in it this afternoon after yesterday's 2 inches of rain! It wasn't pretty, but at least it was water. The eastern flanks of the OCVibe and Honda Center property will still need some serious help before the Olympics. Flags and banners aren't going to be enough here.

The city of Anaheim and Orange County need to get moving on whatever beautification and upgrade package they can here, ASAP. Luckily, OC has done a good job of clearing out all the homeless people that camped out here a decade ago. But on my trip to LAX I learned that they've all just moved north to LA County, as there are homeless encampments EVERYWHERE once you cross the LA county line.

But any sort of "Anaheim Riverbank" project needs to get underway fast if they're going to do something before the Olympics arrive.

 

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

And the best part about this OCVibe is the Ducks are finally good again.

 

[NobodyElse]

And the best part about this OCVibe is the Ducks are finally good again.

*WARNING* Selfish hijack of thread to follow...

I've been invited to the 11/20 Ducks game. What's the actual story with parking? Do you need to show ticket media upon entering the parking structure, or do they wave you through? Is one entrance or structure better/easier than the other? Etc.?

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Disneyland/DCA]

When I went to a game a couple weeks ago I just drove in, then just drove out after the game. There were no devices or people to check my ticket. It was like parking in any other orange county mall; very trippy.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

Same thing here. I drove in from the north to the north parking lot (I'm not sure what letter/number it is/was) and they waved me on it. The lot was full (shrunk due to all the construction) and they waved me all the way through and over to the parking structure, then just parked in there like a regular structure.

I spoke with a couple of ushers at the game about the parking and they mentioned that the intent for the time being at least is that parking will be 'free' as in it's factored into the ticket price now.