Former T-P building may become "major amusement facility" -- Top Golf Rumors flying (1 Viewer)

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The former Times-Picayune building on Howard Avenue is under consideration for redevelopment as a “major amusement facility,” and its new owners received the first step of approval Tuesday from New Orleans city officials toward the rezoning that would allow such a project.

The group that bought the 9-acre site — comprised of some of the top developers in New Orleans — has requested “mixed use” zoning instead of the current “business industrial park” designation, though they revealed few details about what they plan for the location. The city planning staff initially objected to the zoning change — on the grounds that the street network couldn’t bear the traffic a mixed-use development would bring, that the uses allowed wouldn’t fit with the surroundings, and because it would encroach on a dwindling amount of industrial land near the city center — prompting a new round of meetings between developers and city officials.

That communication did not sway the city planning staff, but it did lead to the disclosure that the intended redevelopment of the site is for a “major indoor and outdoor amusement facility” — not a residential development, according to a Jan. 23 letter from the developers.

“It’s no secret. There’s a specific tenant we are working with,” said attorney Mike Sherman in Tuesday’s hearing before the City Planning Commission. “We hope it works out. We don’t know.”

Sherman did not, however, disclose the name of the tenant during the hearing, though other members of the development group also referred to a dramatic reshaping of the Earhart corridor.

Former Times-Picayune building may become “major amusement facility,” city says – Uptown Messenger

Rumors are flying around on multiple different NOLA based message boards, with several posters on several different ones claiming that they know for a fact that it is indeed Top Golf that will be on that site.

Would be great for NOLA to get a Top Golf.
 
What is "Top Golf"?

Edit: Nevermind. I googled that for me.

Apparently it's a facy driving range. I'm not sure that is the best use for potentially very valuable land right off the Pontchatrain Expressway. I mean, the number of golfers is in steep decline over the last few years IIRC. Millenials aren't picking up the game. An amusment facility targeted at golfers seems a bad choice in that environment in a city with major economic struggles.
 
What is "Top Golf"?

In door driving range but with pool, great craft beer and good food.

It has multiple floors and a seating area per unit that resembles a bowling lane. They have several different types of range based games.

I haven't been, but they are a big hit around here.
 
In door driving range but with pool, great craft beer and good food.

It has multiple floors and a seating area per unit that resembles a bowling lane. They have several different types of range based games.

I haven't been, but they are a big hit around here.

I can see how in a city like Atalanta or Houston it would be big. Both have thriving economies and people with disposable incomes. It might even work somewhere in Metry. But, I don't see this as a fit for the area between Earhart and the Ponchtrain Expressway. Of course, I'm no developer and I have no market research so I could be wrong.
 
In the time it took to type that out you could have googled it. Ha.

But yeah they are a pretty big deal. It is a giant Golf-centric indoor amusement type thing. They have a "driving range" that is set up like a game so that everyone can play. Bars, food, etc etc. They are quite large as well, they usually take up about 13 acres, this spot is only 9 acres, so it would be scaled down a bit.

http://topgolf.com/us/

They print money hand over fist and to say they are extremely popular is an understatement. They are a private company and don't franchise, so in the past they have been EXTREMELY selective in where they are, although they have decided on a rapid expansion recently.

2131_hitting-bays-night-topgolf-centennial-01.jpg


nighttime-bays-xl*750xx1024-576-0-54.jpg


2111_exterior-night-topgolf-naperville-01.jpg
 
What is "Top Golf"?

Edit: Nevermind. I googled that for me.

Apparently it's a facy driving range. I'm not sure that is the best use for potentially very valuable land right off the Pontchatrain Expressway. I mean, the number of golfers is in steep decline over the last few years IIRC. Millenials aren't picking up the game. An amusment facility targeted at golfers seems a bad choice in that environment in a city with major economic struggles.

Yeah, you are definitely going to be wrong. Every time there is a spot that people think could accomodate a Top Golf locally people go nuts with rumors.

You don't understand. These things kill it, even in smaller markets. They are wildly, wildly successful. Everywhere.
 
Yeah, you are definitely going to be wrong. Every time there is a spot that people think could accomodate a Top Golf locally people go nuts with rumors.

You don't understand. These things kill it, even in smaller markets. They are wildly, wildly successful. Everywhere.

One thing that major retailers and amusement companies have learned is that New Orleans isn't "Everywhere." That is a result of both good and bad things. I mean Houston and Atlanta are vastly culuturally different than New Orleans. They are generic America. New Orleans is not.

In addition, it sound like this is a company that is used to an area beggin them to build there and giving them any concessions they want to build in that area. I'd bet a lot of money that the New Orleans City Counsel and the City Planning comission is not going to give in on things like giant parking lots and the traffic something like that would cause on the surface streets in the area.
 
I can see how in a city like Atalanta or Houston it would be big. Both have thriving economies and people with disposable incomes. It might even work somewhere in Metry. But, I don't see this as a fit for the area between Earhart and the Ponchtrain Expressway. Of course, I'm no developer and I have no market research so I could be wrong.

Yeah, you are definitely going to be wrong. Every time there is a spot that people think could accomodate a Top Golf locally people go nuts with rumors.

You don't understand. These things kill it, even in smaller markets. They are wildly, wildly successful. Everywhere.

The economy in NOLA is thriving and there are tons of folks with lots of disposable income. Tourists would also be a market for this business.

You're right about golf's overall struggles, but that's more a function of cost and time. People don't have time to spend playing golf twice a week at 4 hours each round. They generally don't want to commit to big memberships and long term dues commitments unless they're die hard. Kids get bored because it takes too long to play and takes too long to get good.

This place gives you all the benefits. You can play in an hour for a lot less money and drink and eat while you're doing it in a party type atmosphere.

Think of it as yuppy bowling on money steroids.
 
What is "Top Golf"?
.... I'm not sure that is the best use for potentially very valuable land right off the Pontchartrain Expressway.

I don't think that property is potentially that very valuable; access is a *****: it's at the dead end of Howard Avenue (essentially the I-10 service road), and hemmed in on three sides by rail, and also hemmed in by the interstate, as well as the Broad Street overpass. You can't get to it directly from Earhart Boulevard; or via Broad Street; and if you are coming from the west I-10 you have to remember to take the Carrollton exit and go through the old Pontchartrain Expressway/Carrollton interchange to take the Howard Avenue exit.(Metairie). See photo below (rail lines are in blue):
 

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I've enjoyed Top Golf in DFW for years but damn that is hella expensive for a driving range.
 
What is "Top Golf"?

Edit: Nevermind. I googled that for me.

Apparently it's a facy driving range. I'm not sure that is the best use for potentially very valuable land right off the Pontchatrain Expressway. I mean, the number of golfers is in steep decline over the last few years IIRC. Millenials aren't picking up the game. An amusment facility targeted at golfers seems a bad choice in that environment in a city with major economic struggles.

they should plop it somewhere in baton rouge.
 
they should plop it somewhere in baton rouge.



Bingo.


Sounds like a much better fit for Baton Rouge, or Covington, or Kennabrah-- or any other place where all the suburban golfers live... I'm a middle-aged white guy, and ive never understood the appeal of golf as a sport, or a lifestyle, or anything else... not saying it isnt legit, i just dont get it.. but whatever floats your boat.
 

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