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Nexus Center

Nexus is a planned expansion for the Utica AUD, and is touted as part of Utica's upcoming U District. We've heard that some folks hoped to reshape Downtown Utica into a Cleveland, OH model, with more sports, entertainment, and healthcare. But going further, everything will be connected by "elevated walkways" that will accomodate Autonomous Google Cars!

Looking back to 2010 article, Cleveland Tops List of Most Miserable US Cities, we are a bit cautious. Would a hospital downtown be able to handle all the hockey season traffic? View their entire Nexus Site Study Area.

2022

March 14, 2022 - Nexus Center and Adirondack Bank Center mentioned in, Mohawk Valley getting $9 million in federal funding to support local projects

January 2022 - Page 101, of Governor Kathy Hochul's 2022 State Of The State address reads...

Improve the Utica Harbor Point Waterfront - Significant marina-area improvements to the Utica Harbor Point waterfront would advance economic development in the Mohawk Valley. Projects include the creation of an attractive public promenade; design and construction of multiple soccer and softball multi-use fields, including associated lighting and parking; and design of a pedestrian bridge to connect the recreational side of the harbor with the Adirondack Bank Center and the Nexus Center sports complex. These upgrades will unlock significant opportunities for marina-front restaurants and entertainment.

This bridge harkens back to a Harbor Point project (see page 4) that reads, "There are many more initiatives taking place - from the redevelopment of our historic buildings in Baggs Square which will be connected to Harbor Point via a dedicated pedestrian bridge, the redevelopment of our downtown retail spaces, and the restoration of the Utica Memorial Auditorium (now the Adirondack Bank Center)", as per the 2018 Harbor Point Mixed-Use Waterfront Development Opportunity RFP.

2021

October 19, 2021 - Read news story titled, Construction To Resume On Nexus Center In Utica This December. Where it is reported...

"In June, the Oneida County Board of Legislators voted in favor of a bond agreement to support the Nexus project. This means the county is essentially co-signing for up to $35 million to allow the Aud Authority to finish the facility."

View Nexus Center Conversation on Facebook regarding the above news.

February 22, 2021 - Halted construction, a lawsuit, and now Supreme Court judge rejects Oneida County's motion to dismiss Nexus lawsuit.

And on the radio, WUTQ's Talk Of The Town: Oneida County Executive Picente Dicusses Nexus Funding Roadblock, listen-in at minute 32:00.

2020

October 18, 2020 - Funding remained only a concept- without a solid plan, signed commitments, the halted Nexus Center construction breeds a lawsuit...

June 20, 2020 - Elsewhere in arena developement... "The PS5 looks like a publicly funded hockey arena with poor sightlines that's part of a downtown revitalization project that's really just a real estate investment scheme."

June 11, 2020 - Nexus Center making headlines...

May 20, 2020 - Picente: Nexus Construction Could Slow, Pause

May 8, 2020 - How tax breaks affect the bottom lines in Utica, Rome

April 26, 2020 - Utica Comets and Mohawk Valley Garden President, Rob Esche, "Nexus Center Will Have Large Economic Impact...", as told to Bill Keeler on WIBX Radio.

April 2, 2020 - Nexus project in Utica to proceed with construction

March 27, 2020 - Coronavirus: NY halts nonessential construction projects

March 31, 2020 - Wow, it's July 25, 2017 all over again. Remember this article, Warning to city: No garage, no new hospital?

Today it seems the Nexus Center has become just like the new hospital...

"If that parking lot doesn't happen, the Nexus project is dead right where it sits," Annese said.

February 19, 2020 - UTICA, NY, OFFICIALS BREAK GROUND AT SITE OF NEW NEXUS CENTER SPORTS COMPLEX: City and state officials gathered Wednesday to break ground on the $44 million Nexus Center in downtown Utica.

The complex will serve as a venue for sports tournaments, with at least 50 projected to take place each year.

Empire State Development Board Chair Howard Zemsky says it will be "a place for hockey, lacrosse, for places as far away as Pittsburgh, Boston, Toronto and Buffalo to meet our kids on the ice, the courts and the fields. Tourism is an area of your economy that has grown over 20% in recent years. This is a perfect addition to your tourism economy."

The 169,440 square-foot complex is expected to be completed by December 2020.

Syracuse Post Covers Nexus Center

Governor Cuomo Announces Groundbreaking of $44 Million Nexus Center in Downtown Utica, and the Renderings.

February 12, 2020 - Nexus Center update: Esche: Nexus expected to open in December

"Designed as a 170,000-square-foot building along Whitesboro Street in Utica, the Nexus Center will be a sports recreation facility primarily used for ice hockey, box lacrosse and soccer. The project also calls for locker rooms, commercial office space, retail space, food and beverage services and other multipurpose training spaces... Work also has been underway to address Nexus parking. After a legislator noted how Comets games almost always have parking issues, Esche said developers worked out an agreement with the city to use the former Washington Courts site for parking... This area, Esche said, would provide 800 parking spaces. Nexus only needs 725, he said."

January 8, 2020 - Nexus Center update...

Oneida County creates capital project for Nexus Center

January 2, 2020 - Read, More than Comets: Inside the Adirondack Bank Center

"The Nexus Center, which may receive up to $22 million in state funds... with more ice availability once the Nexus Center is built, youth hockey is likely to grow..."

Consider... Publicly Funded Stadiums...

"The nation is peppered with examples of stadium projects built on empty promises of boosting the local economy, complete with “economic impact” studies that purport to show how crowds on game days will bring new spending on restaurants, hotels, and shops, and raise the city’s profile. Those studies aren’t geared to reflect reality; they’re built to sway public officials on their best hopes and civic pride. Economic research consistently finds a negative economic impact overall with subsidized sports stadiums."

November 26, 2019 - Score! Two Nexus Center updates in a single week; one article and one UticaOD "Opinion"...

Nov. 26th... OUR VIEW: Governor, please sign bill to hike bed tax... it will help fund the Nexus Center

Nov. 19th... Preparing for Nexus

November 13, 2019 - Nexus Center update...

Oneida County given $1.5M grant for Nexus Center

October 21, 2019 - Nexus Center update...

Oneida County's Picente: Nexus could break ground in Utica this year

September 6, 2019 - Per WKTV, event held for businesses interested in Utica's proposed Nexus Center... Subcontractors gather for Nexus Center meet-and-greet.

June 12, 2019 - A path to help fund the Nexus Center...

"Picente plans to negotiate to have a portion of the increase set aside for the Nexus Center, which is part of his proposed U-District. He believes the Nexus Center, along with other attractions in the county, would bring in more visitors which would then provide the county more money through the tax."

"According to Oneida County Tourism, the county's hotel occupancy tax (also known as the bed tax) brought in $809,000 in 2018 and $759,000 in 2017. The projected increase would boost revenue to an estimated $1.96 million per year overall, according to Oneida County Tourism."

June 11, 2019 - This Observer Dispatch article discusses the plans for Downtown Utica's proposed #NexusCenter...

June 8, 2019 - Story breaks titled, Downtown Nexus Center takes next step toward reality.

"The Nexus Center is moving closer to becoming reality. Officials recently put out a Requests for Quotations (RFQs) for the project. This will begin the bidding process for construction, which is estimated at approximately $40 million. We know it's going to be built, what it's going to be used for, said Carl Annese, chairman of the Aud Authority. We just have to design it first.

April 1, 2019 - New York has a state budget. Newspaper says, A look at key items in NY's $175.5 billion state budget, but we do not yet know if Nexus Center funding is truly in there. Meanwhile, last month the city budget was progress: City Officials Working Toward Approving Utica's $718M Budget.

February 28, 2019 - Robert M. Palmieri (@MayorPalmieri) touts Utica projects...

"he Mohawk Valley’s also gearing up for a projected 322,560 annual visitors who will spend more than $26 million a year in the region—that’s because downtown Utica’s the future home of the $44 million Nexus Center, a tournament-based sports complex that will be a Northeast hub for teams coming from around the U.S. and Canada. The world-class, 169,440-square foot facility will have ice that is easily transformed for use in field sports and will be used for ice hockey, soccer, box lacrosse and other field sports. While estimates call for 24 hockey and 24 lacrosse tournaments each year, the facility, which is receiving $22 million Upstate Revitalization grant funding, will also be available to the community for year-round use by local athletes and schools."

February 22, 2019 - Route 5S, hospital, Nexus Center projects to transform Utica

January 22, 2019 - County Executive Tony Picente discusses $22M Nexus Funding & Cuomo Budget on radioshow "Talk of The Town, WUTQ"...

January 17, 2019 - More on the 170,000 square foot Nexus Center...

Cuomo's Nexus Press Release states, "The Nexus Center will be a 169,440-square-foot facility". And Elsewhere we hear, "...is projected to host 24 hockey and 24 lacrosse tournaments each year and will see a projected 322,560 annual visitors."

January 15, 2019 - First as told by by Jubal Harshaw, "The value of property in the footprint of Utica's proposed downtown hospital just went through the roof." What of traffic counts, as the Nexus Center funding is now imminent...

Utica newspaper reports, State Budget Proposal Includes $22M For Nexus Center.

WKTV2 reports, UTICA'S NEXUS CENTER SLATED TO BANK $22M FROM STATE BUDGET, which stated, "The goal is break ground on the site by the end of this year or early next year. The center should be complete by 2020."

Also see, Cuomo Budget To Fund Utica Nexus Project, which states: "$22 Million Set For The Downtown Sports/Entertainment Complex".

January 4, 2019 - Today on WUTQFM County Executive Tony Picente gives updates on U District, Nexus, and Downtown Utica Hospital Concept...

In the Radio Interview we hear; the Nexus property was secured, the former owner did demolition of old Tartan Textile buildings. Now the AUD Authority owns property, and in coming weeks the County Executive says the funding formula between, AUD Authority, Nexus Operators, County and the State could be worked out.

Nexus, U District, and the hospital concepts... their cumulative impacts have never been studied! Nothing new for those backing the hospital that's never offered a complete plan and budget.

January 2, 2018 - The Newspaper says, "full speed ahead" for Nexus in 2019...

What impact would this have on hospital and their SEQRA process?

December 26, 2018 - Does this interview build confidence that #MVHSDowntown was well thought-out? Have a listen, as Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Talks; #MVHSDowntown Hospital & Parking, Nexus Center, AUD, And His Proposed U-District.

December 6, 2018 - News story on Nexus funding titles Picente hopes Utica sports complex project will gain funding in 2019, and implications on hospital concept...

March 1, 2018 - Old Tartan Textile buildings are down...

January 16, 2018 - AUD, Nexus, and Beer Museum...

December 28, 2017 - What! Chemical contamination has miraculously vanished?

December 21, 2017 - AUD Authority purchases Tartan Textile property for future Nexus Center...

August 9, 2017 - How many themes can you pack into one project?

Are they dropping "Arts"? Learn more at Utica Comets' page titled, Casamento Sees Nexus Center As Roadmap For Education-Sports-Entertainment Partnership.

July 18, 2017 - Story in today's newspaper, County struggling with site control for Nexus Center

May 27, 2017 - Read more about the Nexus Sports Center Highlighting The Nexus Center on the Utica Comets' website...

"Unveiled on May 16 by Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., The U District encompasses the area beginning at The AUD and stretching East to Bagg’s Square and contains concepts for an American Craft Beer Museum and Innovation Center, Utica Commons Casino, Nexus Center and more. The vision creates a walkable epicenter for Arts, Sports and Entertainment and truly has options for everyone. One of the highlights of The U District is the Nexus Center. Developed four years ago by Esche, the Nexus Center is a sports and recreation hub geared towards tournament-based recreation play. Nexus, meaning a series of connections, is what The U District can truly be – a connection of different businesses and entities that all share the common undercurrent of bringing people together."

On May 24th, Story also on AUD's website, Highlighting The Nexus Center

May 18, 2017 - Nexus now part of the U-District, read on the Utica AUD website: The U District Sixty Years In The Making.

May 17, 2017 - The Utica newspaper covers Nexus story in, Picente details Utica sports, entertainment district...

It reads in part, "There are two conceptual plans for what Picente is calling The U District, which would be anchored by an expanded Aud, the American Craft Beer Museum and Innovation Center and the Utica Commons Casino. On both plans, the arts, sports and entertainment district starts at the Aud and goes east on Whitesboro and Oriskany streets toward Genesee Street."

We found this on the Oneida County website, Oneida County American Craft Beer Museum (PDF) calling for an $80M investment. A bit odd, as it seems we have the "real deal" just a mile away at the Saranac Brewery.

May 16, 2017 - Utica Nexus Sports Center is released...

December 11, 2015 - Looking back... Problems plagued Comets chairman's first attempt at multi-million dollar sports venue.

October 18, 2013 - Looking back... Mohawk Valley Garden takes over Utica Memorial Auditorium.

You can help, please join us on Facebook #NoHospitalDowntown. Also consider adding your voice to Hundreds of People Saying, "No Hospital Downtown". Get to know BUD, that's the future of the Columbia Lafayette Neighborhood!

No Studies, No Reports, thus we remain #NoHospitalDowntown

Our research is ongoing, please check back. Our research is ongoing, please check back.