Dear Editor:
I am advocating Mayor Carrie Tergin and City Council members vote for the Chesterfield Hotel/Arcturis Team Proposal put forward for MSP redevelopment.
From a resource allocation standpoint, we have many soccer fields across the Missouri River, at the Helias Athletic Complex, Capital City High School, and Highway 179 complex. Additionally, Adkins Stadium has been striped for soccer and JCHS will have separate competition-level fields soon. Do we really need more?
In contrast, the Chesterfield proposal leverages a tourism and economic development opportunity unique to Jefferson City. The Washington Park Ice Arena is the only facility of its kind within a 112 mile radius. It's home to the University of Missouri's Men's Division I Ice Hockey team, Mizzou Women's Synchronized Skating team, and adult and youth competitive and recreational programs, including youth and adult ice hockey, speed skating, and synchronized and individual figure skating. For nearly 60 years, the arena has offered a professionally produced family-friendly community production that has often sold out for the entire weekend it is scheduled. Our six local youth ice hockey teams have won 14 state championships over the last 10 years. The synchronized figure skating team recently won a national championship; and, individual skaters have competed at the world championship level, the national pipeline for United States Olympic figure skaters.
Clearly, the quality of programming is well beyond what one might expect to find within a community of our size and location.
The Chesterfield proposal also includes two sheets of ice, which allows for more local events, hosting of Show-Me State Games here (currently hosted in Springfield and St. Peters), and serving as a host-site to regional and national ice sport competitions.
The downtown area, restaurant, lodging, and retail sectors could easily capitalize on such a facility and area, much like Kansas City's Crown Center and the Historic City of St. Charles do today. In 2020, Wichita Kansas hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Regional and Sectional Championships, which brought in more than $3 million for the local economy (www.kansas.com/news/local/article222456845.html, 2018).
It's important we make the most of valuable opportunities and use our resources smartly. Big thinking always precedes great achievement, and the Chesterfield proposal creates a clear competitive economic and social advantage for Jefferson City in attracting tourism dollars, recruiting younger professionals, and further enhancing the quality of our community.