No more Cincinnati Gardens

[Smails]

My apologies is this has been posted/discussed. I read this article on Yahoo today and it looks like the Gardens has officially run its course and will be demolished.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/port-authority-plans-to-purchase-cincinnati-gardens/40064822

[xukeith]

So many great memories! Most of my youth was spent there.

[Cheesehead]

It's a shame but this venue ran its course. I watched a lot of great XU games and some Cyclones games in the place.

[94GRAD]

Did anything exciting happen there between 83-00?

[Cheesehead]

HS hockey I think.

[muskiefan82]

i wonder if they will sell seats from the place.

[birdman71]

Some of our best players tore that place up repeatedly
Thomas.......Quick.....Rackley......Hicks.....Lark in.....Kimbrough......Hill.......Strong.....Willia ms........Grant........and more.
Some pretty decent opponents too.
Fortson........Harper.......McClendon.......Casbie r.........Alfrederick.......Gaithers.......Paxson. .......Chapman.........and more.
Does anybody remember the season ticket holder's club room? Free drafts and snacks before during and after games. More than paid for my season tix. It didn't last long.

[xucub]

All Xavier fans of that era should pack a cooler, grab a lawn chair, and sit across the street, watching in silence, as a significant piece of Xavier Basketball history comes to a sad close. Moment of silence. Viva le Gardens!!

[X-band '01]

Also means that we can cross off the Gardens as a potential venue for UC when Fifth Third Arena gets renovated.

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Anybody want to take a swing of coming up with

Top 10 list of most memorable Cincy Gardens events....

ever...


Off the top of my head,

I'm thinking

Royals...didn't they end Lakers unbeaten streak there?

NBA All Star Game.....??? year

Beatles gig

Elvis...he did leave the building @ CG

Doors concert

Xavier B Ball


Others?



Btw....

Why is it Madison Square Garden and Cincinnati Gardens???

[GoMuskies]

Why does Cincinnati have a Port Authority?

[XUGRAD80]

I have so many memories of this place........going to see the circus there as a kid, and later taking my own kids. Seeing the Royals. Seeing lots of HS sports there. Xavier BB...seats in the lower bowl, in the corner behind the bench. Never saw a concert there, but my older brothers did. Minor league hockey. Major league boxing. The mueseum/bar. I understand that it's a business decision, but I don't have to like it. :(

[muskiefan82]

Some of our best players tore that place up repeatedly
Thomas.......Quick.....Rackley......Hicks.....Lark in.....Kimbrough......Hill.......Strong.....Willia ms........Grant........and more.
Some pretty decent opponents too.
Fortson........Harper.......McClendon.......Casbie r.........Alfrederick.......Gaithers.......Paxson. .......Chapman.........and more.
Does anybody remember the season ticket holder's club room? Free drafts and snacks before during and after games. More than paid for my season tix. It didn't last long.

Remember when they painted the giant X running man on the wall in there? I wonder if it is still there?

[xucub]

Xavier (or this board) needs to buy the cement caricature of the basketball player on the front of the Gardens and put it in/on the Cintas. Now that would be cool.

[Bill Kirvin]

Remember when they painted the giant X running man on the wall in there? I wonder if it is still there?

Sad--but personally have some great memories. My best games in my three years playing at XU were at the Garden. Just something about it. Played big games there (Bearcats, Louisville, Dayton and so on). Great teammates (Thobe, Pinch, Enright, Mcdermott, Bird, Geiger, Castelle, Nicholai and great fans and 2 great coaches (Big Jim and Ruby). And of course can't forget Scoop Cherry and the Witch Dr.(Ray Baldwin).

[X-band '01]

Btw....

Why is it Madison Square Garden and Cincinnati Gardens???




The building was originally built for hockey - it was inspired by Toronto's old Maple Leaf Gardens.

[birdman71]

Xavier (or this board) needs to buy the cement caricature of the basketball player on the front of the Gardens and put it in/on the Cintas. Now that would be cool.

Great idea!

[drudy23]

Beating Kenyon Martin there...'nough said.

[muskiefan82]

If it's still standing, it would be fun to play the exhibition there next year just for nostalgia

[xukeith]

Did anything exciting happen there between 83-00?

Before 1983, lots of basketball games (shootouts). Huge Pay Per View boxing shows (Muhammad Ali-Frazier), Cincinnati Royals played there. .

[xukeith]

The building was originally built for hockey - it was inspired by Toronto's old Maple Leaf Gardens.

I still think sitting and watching XU basketball games there was much more fun than Cintas Center. The crowd was louder and much more blue collar-attitude.

[paulxu]

I think my wife saw the Beatles there.

Best memory is a packed house for the Crosstown, and thousands of Muskie fans chanting "UC Sucks."
(we may have been inebriated, which is no easy feat on 3.2 beer)

[Caveat]

Why does Cincinnati have a Port Authority?

This is a great question.

[xu82]

Based upon my recollections, I hope they thoroughly search the Gardens before tearing it down lest they leave anyone stuck to the floor in there. :look:

[sirthought]

My dad took me to a few Bearcats and Cyclones games there in the 80s. A friend posted a bunch of old poster art of shows there in the 60s and 70s. Some really exceptional concerts must have taken place there. Too bad it's not really a viable candidate for someone to fix it up.


For those who asked: The Port Authority of Greater Cincinnati is a public/private development agency, similar to 3CDC or Price Hill Will, but on a larger scale. They are primarily looking at ways to create development that add to the region as far as jobs, neighborhood development, tax base, etc. They haven't been very active in the past because the local leadership created this without have a true source of revenue funneled their way to accomplish much of anything. Cranely really hurt them when he killed the parking meter deal, that was really set up to help them have money to operate with.

From their website:

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority is an economic development agency that initiates projects to improve property value and promote job creation throughout Hamilton County. The Port Authority has broad development-related powers and expertise that allow it to take on complex projects that catalyze private investment, with operational focus on transportation, community revitalization, public finance and real estate development.

The Port Authority was established by the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County in 2001. In 2008, the Port Authority was reformed and empowered to take a leadership position in regional economic development. It is a quasi-public agency that operates collaboratively with dozens of economic development, community and corporate partners.

[GoMuskies]

I get that they are an economic development agency. But why "Port Authority" and not Cincinnati Economic Development Agency? Cincinnati doesn't, you know, have a port.

[xeus]

Cincinnati doesn't, you know, have a port.

It has an inland port. Do you sometimes just post stuff as part of your quest to get to 30,000 posts?

[T 4D]

Xavier (or this board) needs to buy the cement caricature of the basketball player on the front of the Gardens and put it in/on the Cintas. Now that would be cool.

I'm an X fan since 13 and, have been trolling this board for years. I've just recently joined and, I think this is worthy of my 1st post. I'll definitely second this idea!

[GoMuskies]

It has an inland port. Do you sometimes just post stuff as part of your quest to get to 30,000 posts?

An inland port? That's kinda dumb.

[xu82]

An inland port? That's kinda dumb.

I guess a lot of stuff has to get off the Ohio, Mississippi rivers, etc. to get on trains, trucks, etc. Rivers used to be big for shipping back in the day. Wasn't Cincy a bit of a train hub? (I really have almost no idea, I just knew where to buy beer.)

[paulxu]

Inland port can be on a river where barge and other traffic operate, or it can also be an extension by rail of a seaport.
Spartanburg County has an inland port, where stuff is railed up from Charleston and clears customs here.

"Bit of a train hub" would be a bit of an understatement. Didn't you ever visit the terminal?

[xu82]

Inland port can be on a river where barge and other traffic operate, or it can also be an extension by rail of a seaport.
Spartanburg County has an inland port, where stuff is railed up from Charleston and clears customs here.

"Bit of a train hub" would be a bit of an understatement. Didn't you ever visit the terminal?

It was more "museum" or farmers market or something by the time I saw it, but I was trying to be gentle. I don't know the specifics of when it thrived, suffered or died.

[Strange Brew]

Too bad, I have many, many great memories of playing hockey and rooting on X there.

[toledodan]

Remember when they painted the giant X running man on the wall in there? I wonder if it is still there?

i don't believe it was. was last there in 2013 for tna wrestling and don't remember anything xavier left

[toledodan]

Great idea!

i believe those are already set to be donated

[xudash]

I think my wife saw the Beatles there.

Best memory is a packed house for the Crosstown, and thousands of Muskie fans chanting "UC Sucks."
(we may have been inebriated, which is no easy feat on 3.2 beer)

Wait a minute. Now that I've met you, I believe it's possible that you made it look easy.

[PM Thor]

I guess a lot of stuff has to get off the Ohio, Mississippi rivers, etc. to get on trains, trucks, etc. Rivers used to be big for shipping back in the day. Wasn't Cincy a bit of a train hub? (I really have almost no idea, I just knew where to buy beer.)

Actually Cincy still is, the CSX train yard down in Queensgate is considered one of the biggest east of the Mississippi. The Port Authority governs that.

As for the Gardens, there are just too many great and funny stories associated with that place to even start. I understand that it's time for it to go, but it still sucks. I know it's not really feasible, but wish they could do what Memphis did with the old Pyramid, make it into a huge outdoor and sporting goods store and keep the building.

[bobbiemcgee]

I wonder if the popcorny, stale beer and smoke smell will remain? It's probably embedded in the concrete floor.

[paulxu]

Wait a minute. Now that I've met you, I believe it's possible that you made it look easy.

Hey, I was up for the challenge. That stuff came out of you almost as fast as it went in.
So, the challenge was how to consume enough to have any effect before it went out.
Took some work...but at 25 cents a glass, I was up for it.
The local breweries were struggling and we were determined to do our part.

[Caveat]

I'm pretty certain that when they knock the place down they're going to find that Wildman Walker has been living in one of the empty concession stands.

[xudash]

Hey, I was up for the challenge. That stuff came out of you almost as fast as it went in.
So, the challenge was how to consume enough to have any effect before it went out.
Took some work...but at 25 cents a glass, I was up for it.
The local breweries were struggling and we were determined to do our part.

I understood the concept of "getting moody with a Hudy" but I could never bring myself to drink Burger Beer or Wiedemann. Just brutal.

[sirthought]

It does suck to lose a place with so much history. I really wish all Cincinnati cultural landmarks would last for several generations. But that doesn't always happen.

It's been for sale for three years. Not sure what would have happened to it if an entertainment promoter did buy it. Not a lot of people headed for Bond Hill to chill out and catch a show. I'm guessing if someone did want to fix it up, they weren't willing to pay the asking price to just get there.

If the port authority plays their cards right, it could be a good catalyst for bringing companies to the city. I know there will be some firms already vying for the space because it's central, closer to the airport, the highway, etc. It's a great location for this kind of development today.

[Caveat]

It does suck to lose a place with so much history. I really wish all Cincinnati cultural landmarks would last for several generations. But that doesn't always happen.

It's been for sale for three years. Not sure what would have happened to it if an entertainment promoter did buy it. Not a lot of people headed for Bond Hill to chill out and catch a show. I'm guessing if someone did want to fix it up, they weren't willing to pay the asking price to just get there.

If the port authority plays their cards right, it could be a good catalyst for bringing companies to the city. I know there will be some firms already vying for the space because it's central, closer to the airport, the highway, etc. It's a great location for this kind of development today.

Not all history is worth preserving, and just because something is old doesn't mean it's worth saving. I had a lot of great memories at the Gardens, but the building is a dump and it would cost a fortune to turn it into productive or useful space.

Sometimes, it's a good idea to just let go and let progress take over.

[XU 87]

Sometimes, it's a good idea to just let go and let progress take over.

Tell that to the people who wont let the empty and decrepit Dennison building be knocked down.

[xu82]

I understood the concept of "getting moody with a Hudy" but I could never bring myself to drink Burger Beer or Wiedemann. Just brutal.

I drew the line with Little Kings. I learned after some MONSTER headaches. I didn't care if McCarthy's was giving them away.....never again!

[Juice]

It does suck to lose a place with so much history. I really wish all Cincinnati cultural landmarks would last for several generations. But that doesn't always happen.

It's been for sale for three years. Not sure what would have happened to it if an entertainment promoter did buy it. Not a lot of people headed for Bond Hill to chill out and catch a show. I'm guessing if someone did want to fix it up, they weren't willing to pay the asking price to just get there.

If the port authority plays their cards right, it could be a good catalyst for bringing companies to the city. I know there will be some firms already vying for the space because it's central, closer to the airport, the highway, etc. It's a great location for this kind of development today.

And a place with no history, the Dennison Hotel, is saved.

[OH.X.MI]

And a place with no history, the Dennison Hotel, is saved.

God I hate the Cincinnati Historic Conservation Board.

[Caveat]

And a place with no history, the Dennison Hotel, is saved.

Good -- because every city should preserve the heritage of their roach motels.

[PM Thor]

Good -- because every city should preserve the heritage of their roach motels.

You realize what 21C was before it became 21C? No, obviously you do not.

[Juice]

You realize what 21C was before it became 21C? No, obviously you do not.

What purpose could saving that piece of shit building serve? It's not architecturally special. Nothing actually historical happened there. The city is just pissed that private citizens and not 3cdc or the port authority own it.

[fellahmuskie]

What purpose could saving that piece of shit building serve? It's not architecturally special. Nothing actually historical happened there. The city is just pissed that private citizens and not 3cdc or the port authority own it.

I get that nothing ever happened at the Dennison, but I love walking past the building and think it fits extremely well on Main St. It's hard for me to believe we would build something better in that spot, especially when I look at all the shit that's been built downtown since the 70s and 80s.

I'd rather fill in all the surface parking lots with new construction before we go around knocking down buildings like the Dennison. Maybe in 20 years we'll decide it should come down, but for now it seems really hasty.

[Juice]

I get that nothing ever happened at the Dennison, but I love walking past the building and think it fits extremely well on Main St. It's hard for me to believe we would build something better in that spot, especially when I look at all the shit that's been built downtown since the 70s and 80s.

I'd rather fill in all the surface parking lots with new construction before we go around knocking down buildings like the Dennison. Maybe in 20 years we'll decide it should come down, but for now it seems really hasty.

The plan is to knock down the Dennison and put a building on the property that would replace it plus carry over onto the parking lot. People wanted development along the street car line? http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/04/11/dennison-hotel-owners-vision-a-fortune-500-hq.html Well here it is. Please tell me how keeping the shitty Dennison Hotel is a better idea than this. It's not.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

The plan is to knock down the Dennison and put a building on the property that would replace it plus carry over onto the parking lot. People wanted development along the street car line? http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/04/11/dennison-hotel-owners-vision-a-fortune-500-hq.html Well here it is. Please tell me how keeping the shitty Dennison Hotel is a better idea than this. It's not.

The Joseph's have been promising to build an office on their parking lot for twenty years, and for twenty years it's been a parking lot. If they actually had a plan in place to build something I'd be all for knocking it down, but they don't have any plan and won't build something without a tenant already signed on. They keep claiming that some magical Fortune 500 company is going to decide to move to Cincinnati but that hasn't and never will happen. They don't even need the Denison space anyways for their fantasy office plan as they already own 75+% of that block, the Dennison building would add what maybe 10% more? With all the press this has gotten they've had multiple offers from companies to buy the building who want to renovate it so the city is rightfully blocking their attempt to demolish it.

[Juice]

The Joseph's have been promising to build an office on their parking lot for twenty years, and for twenty years it's been a parking lot. If they actually had a plan in place to build something I'd be all for knocking it down, but they don't have any plan and won't build something without a tenant already signed on. They keep claiming that some magical Fortune 500 company is going to decide to move to Cincinnati but that hasn't and never will happen. They don't even need the Denison space anyways for their fantasy office plan as they already own 75+% of that block, the Dennison building would add what maybe 10% more? With all the press this has gotten they've had multiple offers from companies to buy the building who want to renovate it so the city is rightfully blocking their attempt to demolish it.

But here's the important part, the Josephs own it. It's their property. God forbid someone wants to use their property as they want. It's a hipster form of eminent domain, except nothing is getting built. It's just the government telling you what you can or cannot do with your own property.

Maybe if they told the city they were going to renovate it into the city's 17th stupid theater or music venue that doesn't get used everyone would be happy about it.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

But here's the important part, the Josephs own it. It's their property. God forbid someone wants to use their property as they want. It's a hipster form of eminent domain, except nothing is getting built. It's just the government telling you what you can or cannot do with your own property.

Maybe if they told the city they were going to renovate it into the city's 17th stupid theater or music venue that doesn't get used everyone would be happy about it.

They bought a building that had been designated a historic landmark that is within the Main St. historic district. They only bought the building a couple years ago so they should have been well aware of these things. Maybe don't buy the building when it was obvious they wouldn't be allowed to demolish it? They were and are stupid for buying it if they had no intention to renovate it.

[Juice]

They bought a building that had been designated a historic landmark that is within the Main St. historic district. They only bought the building a couple years ago so they should have been well aware of these things. Maybe don't buy the building when it was obvious they wouldn't be allowed to demolish it? They were and are stupid for buying it if they had no intention to renovate it.


In 2011, it was announced that the building had been purchased by The Model Group and, with help from 3CDC and the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, the building would get a renovation to 63 studio apartments, but continue to serve as low income housing.

These plans did not come to fruition and in July of 2013 the building was sold to CBD Holdings Inc. for $1,277,473. Just one month later, the building was sold again to the Columbia Oldsmobile Company for $744,431; a part of the Joseph Auto Group.

So the city owned it in a partnership with the Model Group and couldn't do shit with it, sold it, and now is telling people what to do? Got it.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

So the city owned it in a partnership with the Model Group and couldn't do shit with it, sold it, and now is telling people what to do? Got it.

Moral of the story is don't by a historic building if all you want to do with it is knock it down. Now the Joseph's are just going to waste a bunch of money in legal fees and probably end up selling the building at a loss. Or they could have just not bought it in the first place and saved themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars.

[Juice]

Moral of the story is don't by a historic building if all you want to do with it is knock it down. Now the Joseph's are just going to waste a bunch of money in legal fees and probably end up selling the building at a loss. Or they could have just not bought it in the first place and saved themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Moral of the story: don't dare actually try to develop something in downtown Cincinnati unless the city can claim they were a part of it too

[sirthought]

Actually the Model Group owned it with 3CDC --- but that doesn't matter. What matters is that after all of these years when they could have done something to acquire the property the Joseph Group only stepped into any of this when it was clear that the goal was to make that property be available to low income individuals. Their real colors come shining through and they somehow did backroom shit to get 3CDC to broker the sale to them at a loss to the former owners.

But seriously, let's not sidetrack this thread completely when there's already a thread on the other stuff.

I admit that this port authority deal is the best way forward and look forward to seeing what they can do with it. It will take some time, but it's really in their best interest to get as much central Cincinnati land as possible for attracting new manufacturing jobs here.

But I don't see it that "some history isn't worth saving" at least on some level (memorial or otherwise), especially when that history is showing that DJ Alan Freed on April 14, 1958 brought a lineup that included Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, The Diamonds, Danny and the Juniors, Billy Ford and the Thunderbirds, The Chantells, Screamin Jay Hawkins, and several more. One single day with so much music history.

When that history includes the showing and local broadcasting of Big Time Wrestling, so many competitive hockey matches, the freaking NBA Cincinnati Royals, Pro Boxing and Evil Knievel jumping over a huge row of cars.

These are people's personal histories:
Rod Stewart and the Faces with support from REO Speedwagon and Blue Oyster Cult
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Elvis
The Beatles
The Monkees
Badfinger
Creedence Clearwater Revival with Bo Diddley and Tower of Power
Frank Zappa with Captain Beefheart, George Duke and Leslie West
The Allman Brothers with Boz Skaggs
Poco
Blue Oyster Cult with Aerosmith
Iron Maiden with Guns N Roses
Alice Cooper
Ozzy Osbourne
Judas Priest
David Cassidy
Moody Blues
REO Speedwagon and Styx
Three Dog Night
J. Geils Band
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Madonna
The Jackson 5
Bob Dylan
Sammy Davis Jr.
Pearl Jam
Tom Petty
Metallica
Pink Floyd
Grateful Dead
Neil Diamond
Bon Jovi
Freaking CINCINNATI POP FESTIVAL MARCH 26 1970 with a lineup that included the goddamn MC5, Joe Cocker, Mountain, Amboy Dukes, Brownsville Station, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Frigid Pink, Pleasure Seekers, Cradle, Savoy Brown, and more

It's just a bummer to think that one place that housed so much fun can be let go of. I agree with it, but I don't like it.

[OH.X.MI]

I'm 100% with you on this Juice, but it's my understanding that the Historic building society is some kind of independent organization that causes problems like this for everyone - the City, 3CDC, and private owners.

I'm all for saving "landmarks" that are actually a landmark of something. The Dennison is just an old shitty building that will never be renovated. I suppose I'm insensitive to architectural aesthetics, but a new building that people actually use seems a lot more useful to the city over all than some abandoned dump.

[OH.X.MI]

Also this might be a good place to post this. Politico did a really interesting on the history / revitalization of OTR. A bit heavy handed on the "dangers" of gentrification in my opinion, but still a great read:

How Cincinnati Salvaged the Nation’s Most Dangerous Neighborhood (http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/what-works-cincinnati-ohio-over-the-rhine-crime-neighborhood-turnaround-city-urban-revitalization-213969#ixzz4Brc63dek)

(Sorry if it's been posted anywhere else)

[fellahmuskie]

I'm 100% with you on this Juice, but it's my understanding that the Historic building society is some kind of independent organization that causes problems like this for everyone - the City, 3CDC, and private owners.

I'm all for saving "landmarks" that are actually a landmark of something. The Dennison is just an old shitty building that will never be renovated. I suppose I'm insensitive to architectural aesthetics, but a new building that people actually use seems a lot more useful to the city over all than some abandoned dump.

If there was a plan in place to build a gleaming new Fortune 500 HQ on the spot, I'd say go for it. I just don't trust the Joseph group, though, at least not yet. I'm guessing we'd have a parking lot for 5-10 years, then some crappy new office building would get built that looks even worse. As it is, I think they could do a really nice renovation on the Dennison and get some more apartments downtown.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

Moral of the story: don't dare actually try to develop something in downtown Cincinnati unless the city can claim they were a part of it too

The Joseph's aren't developing anything. If they actually had a plan in place to build something on the site the demolition would get approved. A building right across the street from the Dennison that's also in the Main St historic district got approval to be demolished because a developer is going to build two condo towers. The Joseph's don't want to develop anything on their property and they've proven that by having a surface lot in the middle of downtown for almost 30 years. Promises of future development don't mean anything, either put together an actual project or the building isn't going anywhere.

[Juice]

I'm 100% with you on this Juice, but it's my understanding that the Historic building society is some kind of independent organization that causes problems like this for everyone - the City, 3CDC, and private owners.

I'm all for saving "landmarks" that are actually a landmark of something. The Dennison is just an old shitty building that will never be renovated. I suppose I'm insensitive to architectural aesthetics, but a new building that people actually use seems a lot more useful to the city over all than some abandoned dump.

And I'm all for architectural preservation but this building is a brick rectangle.

[wkrq59]

Hope they save the hockey hall stuff..I'm in the damn thing

[birdman71]

Actually the Model Group owned it with 3CDC --- but that doesn't matter. What matters is that after all of these years when they could have done something to acquire the property the Joseph Group only stepped into any of this when it was clear that the goal was to make that property be available to low income individuals. Their real colors come shining through and they somehow did backroom shit to get 3CDC to broker the sale to them at a loss to the former owners.

But seriously, let's not sidetrack this thread completely when there's already a thread on the other stuff.

I admit that this port authority deal is the best way forward and look forward to seeing what they can do with it. It will take some time, but it's really in their best interest to get as much central Cincinnati land as possible for attracting new manufacturing jobs here.

But I don't see it that "some history isn't worth saving" at least on some level (memorial or otherwise), especially when that history is showing that DJ Alan Freed on April 14, 1958 brought a lineup that included Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, The Diamonds, Danny and the Juniors, Billy Ford and the Thunderbirds, The Chantells, Screamin Jay Hawkins, and several more. One single day with so much music history.

When that history includes the showing and local broadcasting of Big Time Wrestling, so many competitive hockey matches, the freaking NBA Cincinnati Royals, Pro Boxing and Evil Knievel jumping over a huge row of cars.

These are people's personal histories:
Rod Stewart and the Faces with support from REO Speedwagon and Blue Oyster Cult
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Elvis
The Beatles
The Monkees
Badfinger
Creedence Clearwater Revival with Bo Diddley and Tower of Power
Frank Zappa with Captain Beefheart, George Duke and Leslie West
The Allman Brothers with Boz Skaggs
Poco
Blue Oyster Cult with Aerosmith
Iron Maiden with Guns N Roses
Alice Cooper
Ozzy Osbourne
Judas Priest
David Cassidy
Moody Blues
REO Speedwagon and Styx
Three Dog Night
J. Geils Band
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Madonna
The Jackson 5
Bob Dylan
Sammy Davis Jr.
Pearl Jam
Tom Petty
Metallica
Pink Floyd
Grateful Dead
Neil Diamond
Bon Jovi
Freaking CINCINNATI POP FESTIVAL MARCH 26 1970 with a lineup that included the goddamn MC5, Joe Cocker, Mountain, Amboy Dukes, Brownsville Station, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Frigid Pink, Pleasure Seekers, Cradle, Savoy Brown, and more

It's just a bummer to think that one place that housed so much fun can be let go of. I agree with it, but I don't like it.

Great list. Thanks.
Also, some pretty good boxing including a successful heavyweight championship by Cincy's own Ezzard Charles the very week the Gardens opened, as well as Aaron Pryor and more.
Wrestling, including Ric Flair and Buddy Rogers.
Monster trucks, rodeos,gun shows......

[muskiefan82]

Perhaps they will sell portions of the floor from the building to use as an alternative for nails, glue, or command strips.

[XU 87]

The Joseph's aren't developing anything. If they actually had a plan in place to build something on the site the demolition would get approved. A building right across the street from the Dennison that's also in the Main St historic district got approval to be demolished because a developer is going to build two condo towers. The Joseph's don't want to develop anything on their property and they've proven that by having a surface lot in the middle of downtown for almost 30 years. Promises of future development don't mean anything, either put together an actual project or the building isn't going anywhere.

And how do you know all this?

Do you know why the former Chiquita Building was originally called Columbia Tower?

One more question: why would the Josephs spend $750,000 on this building, and spend hundreds of thousands more in litigation costs, so they can spend hundreds of thousands more to tear down this building and make it into a parking lot?

[Juice]

And how do you know all this?

Do you know why the former Chiquita Building was originally called Columbia Tower?

One more question: why would the Josephs spend $750,000 on this building, and spend hundreds of thousands more in litigation costs, so they can spend hundreds of thousands more to tear down this building and make it into a parking lot?

You're absolutely correct because the property that surrounds the Dennison is mostly a parking lot as it is right now. They would gain like 10-20 parking spots tops by tearing it down.

[coasterville95]

Latest concern for the Gardens are the dozen or so hockey teams using the two ice rinks they have (main arena and expo hall). Schools crying "where will we go?"

Unfortunate high school teams, amateur teams and even our own Muskie club team don't exactly pay enough rent or generate enough ticket sales to support an arena.

What's going to happen? Ice rental at the remaining rinks is gong to go up. Supply and demand. After all who is going to foot the bill to move those two rinks somewhere else.

It may be the death of high school and Muskie ice hockey.

[Snipe]

I get that they are an economic development agency. But why "Port Authority" and not Cincinnati Economic Development Agency? Cincinnati doesn't, you know, have a port.

I saw a regional government report in the early 2000's that stated the Ohio River saw more tonnage than the Panama Canal. Now since the canal has expanded to fit the large bulk carriers I am sure that is not the case, especially with coal companies closing up shop in recent years.

Water is the cheapest way to ship anything, and for bulk goods like coal, aggregates, building & agricultural needs, it is still tremendously efficient. Most of our population centers are centered on water. While facilities for shipping may be old they are still in place and constantly in use. Dramatically bigger weight limits too. One truck can haul one 40,000 pound steel coil. I could imagine how many of those you could pile into the 15 barges that can fit through the Ohio River locks at one time.

Some years ago someone wanted to build a new container port in downtown Cincinnati. I thought it was an exciting idea because the infrastructure hasn't been updated in some time. Then it seemed like the politicians didn't want to let someone else have it, they wanted to build it instead. Well I don't think it is any longer in the plans. I thought the Port Authority may have come to fruition to look at the options for just that, but I haven't paid very good attention to local politics. I remember thinking at the time that they just took this guys plan and stole it, and then didn't do anything with it. He had bought a rail line linking to downtown and wanted to revive it and start shipping containers with mainly agricultural goods (soy, I think) for export from the United States.

I am going to miss the Cincinnati Gardens. I remember when we sold out the season for the first time, before the first game of the season. Boy did that place rock.

[Juice]

So let me get this straight...hipsters don't want the building torn down but they also don't want a net put up for people's safety because the building is so shitty?
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2016/07/15/city-dennison-net-stay-without-permit/87138508/

[xeus]

So let me get this straight...hipsters don't want the building torn down but they also don't want a net put up for people's safety because the building is so shitty?
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2016/07/15/city-dennison-net-stay-without-permit/87138508/

Haha! Yep, that's pretty much it. Are you on the Greater Cincinnati Politics page on facebook? Hilarious - the streetcar crowd is apoplectic.

[Juice]

Haha! Yep, that's pretty much it. Are you on the Greater Cincinnati Politics page on facebook? Hilarious - the streetcar crowd is apoplectic.

People called the City offices about the net that was put up, a bunch of narcs mad about their precious building that none have the money or resources to do anything with.

[sirthought]

s.h.

[MD Muskie]

Beating Kenyon Martin there...'nough said.

That was my freshman year and best memory of the gardens. Actually had floor seats for the game and was one of first students to rush the court during that game.