The Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex (SPARC) - News & Updates

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The Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex (SPARC) - News & Updates

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Started 3 years ago by Walker
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News
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City backs Cooper Stadium plan
By Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch
Friday December 16, 2011 7:30 AM

City officials are recommending that a panel approve a special permit next week to clear the way for a racetrack at the Cooper Stadium site. Their report says that the former home of the Columbus Clippers has been vacant for three years and its presence “has a negative impact on the surrounding community.”

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/16/city-backs-cooper-stadium-plan.html

Posted 1 year ago #
News
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Zoning board OKs auto racing at Cooper Stadium site
By Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch
Wednesday December 21, 2011 12:17 AM

Columbus' former baseball park will soon be home to roaring race cars. The city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment approved 4-0 last night a special permit that will clear the way for developer Arshot Investment to build a half-mile racetrack, automotive research and technology center, a hotel and restaurants at the Cooper Stadium site west of Downtown.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/20/zoning-board-oks-racing-at-cooper-stadium-site.html

Posted 1 year ago #
cheap
Westgate
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awesome

very excited to see something like this down there

Posted 1 year ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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this is tremendous! I think it would be an excellent addition into Columbus coming in from the west side. I'm just glad we didn't approve it and it get shot down, and potentially miss something great.

Thank you Columbus!

Posted 1 year ago #
cbus11

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Will be a great addition to the revitalization of Franklinton. I see it being another draw that will help what is going on further east. I think they have an opportunity to make it a class act and bring a wider audience to the sport. Being close to 400 Rich it will add another amenity.

Posted 1 year ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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cbus11 said:
Will be a great addition to the revitalization of Franklinton. I see it being another draw that will help what is going on further east. I think they have an opportunity to make it a class act and bring a wider audience to the sport. Being close to 400 Rich it will add another amenity.

*cough* Street rail here to Casino to Downtown to Arena District to OSU. *cough*

Posted 1 year ago #
Cbusbill
Columbus
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If you look at our 'rust belt' neighbors, its exceedingly rare to find such a large scale development being proposed for a neighborhood that has suffered as much as Franklinton. As long as they can keep the noise issue under control, this is a slam dunk win for the neighborhood, and the city. It may not be my cup of tea, but I'm still excited to see what tourism opportunities this can bring to the region. Folks coming to town to attend events at the race track will be spending money at hotels, restaurants, museums, etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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cbus11 said:
Being close to 400 Rich it will add another amenity.

They're not *that* close. It's a 1.5 mile walk down Sullivant between the two, with the cross-through under the highway.

Posted 1 year ago #
rohartman
Columbus 1961
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Walker said:
They're not *that* close. It's a 1.5 mile walk down Sullivant between the two, with the cross-through under the highway.

COTA.....This is GREAT news for the City! "Ladies & Gentlemen start your engines"

Posted 1 year ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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Cbusbill said:
If you look at our 'rust belt' neighbors, its exceedingly rare to find such a large scale development being proposed for a neighborhood that has suffered as much as Franklinton. As long as they can keep the noise issue under control, this is a slam dunk win for the neighborhood, and the city. It may not be my cup of tea, but I'm still excited to see what tourism opportunities this can bring to the region. Folks coming to town to attend events at the race track will be spending money at hotels, restaurants, museums, etc.

You said it perfectly I'm so happy this is approved.

Posted 1 year ago #
leftovers

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rohartman said:
COTA.....This is GREAT news for the City! "Ladies & Gentlemen start your engines"

Definitely

Pickerington_Kyle said:
*cough* Street rail here to Casino to Downtown to Arena District to OSU. *cough*

+1 These kind of destination attractions will help. Originally the streetcar companies built amusement parks and attractions at different ends to spur ridership. I think a mix of COTA and streetcars would be great. With this and 400 West Rich it is nice to see Franklinton getting some love.

Posted 1 year ago #
JeepGirl

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Pickerington_Kyle said:
*cough* Street rail here to Casino to Downtown to Arena District to OSU. *cough*

+1 With maybe the airport thrown in too.

Posted 1 year ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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JeepGirl said:
+1 With maybe the airport thrown in too.

How would it get there is my question. But I could see maybe a light rail?

Posted 1 year ago #
b.miller
Clintonville
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Sorry if it's buried somewhere in these 33 pages, but curious if the type of racing this track will draw has been discussed. Are we talking NASCAR? Indy? Or is this more of a local/regional size track? Again, sorry, I'm completely ignorant to the sport.

Posted 1 year ago #
groundrules

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b.miller said:
Sorry if it's buried somewhere in these 33 pages, but curious if the type of racing this track will draw has been discussed. Are we talking NASCAR? Indy? Or is this more of a local/regional size track? Again, sorry, I'm completely ignorant to the sport.

not nascar or indy. more local/regional. club road racing, etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
b.miller
Clintonville
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groundrules said:
not nascar or indy. more local/regional. club road racing, etc.

Gotcha. Thanks.

Posted 1 year ago #
joev
Merion Village
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There should be a streetcar to get people here from West Virginia.

Posted 1 year ago #
CooperGuy

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cbus11 said:
Will be a great addition to the revitalization of Franklinton. I see it being another draw that will help what is going on further east. I think they have an opportunity to make it a class act and bring a wider audience to the sport. Being close to 400 Rich it will add another amenity.

I don't know what will come of it, but I can tell you that there have been discussions with Arshot representatives regarding an idea that the facility could/should feature information regarding the history of the area and all the positive things happening nearby. They've been very open to the suggestions.

Posted 1 year ago #
cheap
Westgate
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b.miller said:
Sorry if it's buried somewhere in these 33 pages, but curious if the type of racing this track will draw has been discussed. Are we talking NASCAR? Indy? Or is this more of a local/regional size track? Again, sorry, I'm completely ignorant to the sport.

they run the NASCAR Craftsman truck series at Mansfield speedway.
highly recommend that,very intense entertainment,nothing like the yawnfest you see on TV..

i believe NASCAR teams will be doing testing on their 1/2 mile track cars at Cooper.

i also thought there was going to be a drag strip as well.

Posted 1 year ago #
CooperGuy

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cheap said:
they run the NASCAR Craftsman truck series at Mansfield speedway.
highly recommend that,very intense entertainment,nothing like the yawnfest you see on TV..

i believe NASCAR teams will be doing testing on their 1/2 mile track cars at Cooper.

i also thought there was going to be a drag strip as well.

There will be no drag strip. Years ago when the concept was announced there was an inaccurate image published in the Dispatch that included a drag strip, which lead to a lot of confusion regarding the nature of the project.

As for NASCAR teams testing here, I would expect that there will probably be very little of that due to the track layout. Race teams practice at particular tracks to try to optimize the chassis set-up and gearing. The Cooper Park layout is not a true oval with a unique banking and turn radius at every corner. It would not benefit a NASCAR team to spend time and money setting their cars up at Cooper Park for another 1/2 mile track. Matter of fact it would hurt their efforts to practice at Cooper for competing at another track

Although there may be an occasional NASCAR racer on the track, the racing at Cooper Park will most likely include lower level ARCA or ASA type of events. They usually practice, qualify, and race all in one day.

Posted 1 year ago #