Entertainment fix found in new events center

I've lived in Sioux Falls all 21 years of my life, so my opinion of our fair city can be trusted. And here's what I think:

Sioux Falls, with its parks, schools and general feeling of safety, is a great place to raise a family.

Sioux Falls, with its relatively low unemployment rate, is a fine place to find a job.

But Sioux Falls, with its lack of an arena capable of hosting any significant entertainment, is, to put it simply, boring.

On Sunday night, HBO aired the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th Anniversary Concert. I watched as Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, Simon and Garfunkel and other legends strode across the stage and sang the classics that we all rock out to in our cars and belt out in our showers.

I even had goose bumps when I heard Mick Jagger and Fergie's performance of the Rolling Stones staple "Gimme Shelter" and Bruce Springsteen's rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son." It would have been incredible to be in that crowd on that night.

Then I realized something.

It's likely that I will never be able to see any of these exceptionally talented artists live. Unless I want to drive hundreds of miles to a city with an events center capable of holding large crowds, I will have to be satisfied with HBO specials and my surround sound.

Why? Because Sioux Falls' current events centers are pitiful.

The Washington Pavilion is a lovely historic structure and one of the best amenities downtown Sioux Falls has to offer, but is better suited for traveling theatre, comedians and symphonies. A string of rock concerts would ruin the Great Hall, as was evidenced during one of the Pavilion's first shows, in which the plaster beneath the balconies began to crack.
The only other option is the Sioux Falls Arena.

Not only is this 50-year-old structure only able to hold a maximum of 7,000 people, but it's ugly, too. It's an eyesore both inside and out, and given its oval shape, expansion would be difficult and incredibly costly.

But as of today, this is Sioux Falls' largest venue, in which the city's residents are graced with such talents as those of The Glory Holes and Janitor Bob and the Armchair Cowboys. This concert, scheduled for Dec. 31, is the only musical event the Arena has on its calendar through June 2010.

It's clear that Sioux Falls, with an approximate population of 150,000 and a metropolitan population of 230,000, needs and deserves better entertainment. Even Sioux City, with a population half of Sioux Falls', has a better events center. The Gateway Arena inside the Tyson Events Center holds 10,000 patrons and regularly features rather impressive acts.

However, I can't fault the entire city for our lack of an events center. The Sioux Falls events center task force last year began researching community desire for a new facility, costs and locations. But, according to the task force's Web site, planning for a new center began back in 2004, and the issue has yet to be put to a public vote. What are we waiting for?
Passing a bill for a new events center will not be easy for the notoriously penny-pinching people of Sioux Falls, and I understand the hesitation.

Especially for those people who have no interest in attending large events, a new events center may seem frivolous and unnecessary.

But it's hard to deny that approving a new events center would help the already struggling economy. The construction of the center will produce jobs, as will the staffing of the center once it is completed.

What's even more important is the revenue the events center would generate for the city. Residents of Sioux Falls and the surrounding areas will no longer drive to Fargo, Minneapolis, Sioux City or Omaha for shows. Their money instead will be spent in our very own city, at our restaurants, our stores and our hotels.

A new events center would attract more crowds than our current Arena, with its wonderfully efficient yet wildly unattractive cement and plastic décor. The events center would also feature box seating and an updated concessions area as more ways to bring in revenue.

Every Sioux Falls citizen has a vested interest in an events center.

For those who enjoy live entertainment, it would mean something to do on a Friday night and less traveling to nearby metropolitan areas. For those who prefer to watch the HBO specials, it would mean more jobs, more tourists and, consequently, more money for our city.

Seeing as a vote for a new events center probably won't be on a ballot in the near future, all that concerned Sioux Fallsians can do is contact Mayor Munson, the task force or the City Council and express our support.

This city has so much to offer, but its lack of modern-day facilities keeps Sioux Falls from being taken seriously. The citizens of Sioux Falls need to move forward with progressive improvements like this one so that our city can compete with the Fargos and the Sioux Citys of our region.

Sioux Falls doesn't have to be boring. It's up to the voters to help Sioux Falls reach its full potential as one of the premier cities in the Midwest.