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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mail Tribune 100, Dec. 27, 1915 ... Butte Creek Mill owner says rebuilding is possibility ... Mail Tribune 100: Dec. 24, 1915, continued ... Mail Tribune 100, Dec. 27, 1915 ... Butte Creek Mill owner says rebuilding is possibility ... Mail Tribune 100: Dec. 24, 1915, continued ... OUR VIEW Our View: Take it easy on convention center aspirations MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Dec. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> City leaders talking about a convention center for Medford should pursue a planned feasibility study with their eyes wide open and no preconceptions. While a facility capable of accommodating large groups for meetings, trade shows and conferences would be nice, it may be more than this community can or would support, especially if it means local taxpayers will help foot the bill. Mail Tribune business reporter Greg Stiles explored the pros and cons in a four-part series of stories last week. The installment that stood out the most to us was Tuesday's story, "Potential Pitfalls." That article described the fortunes of major convention centers built in much larger cities — Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Philadelphia — which have seen declining usage in recent years for a variety of reasons. In Portland, the Oregon Convention Center lacks an adjacent large hotel. In Chicago, McCormick Place is too far from downtown. Seattle's Washington State Convention Center and Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Convention Center have seen dwindling numbers despite major expansion projects. Local leaders are saying the right things about the feasibility study funded with a $100,000 grant from the Legislature. Medford City Council President Dan Bunn says the city needs an unbiased perspective, and must resist being "swept up in a grand vision of building something we can't support." Medford is never going to be able to compete with really big convention centers in major cities, largely because of its relatively remote location and lack of easy transportation, not to mention a limited number of hotel rooms in a single location. A less grand vision might work here, but even that must be tempered with reality. As Texas-based professor and author Heywood Sanders noted, small- to medium-size communities often assume a convention center will boost the local economy, but that seldom ends up happening. Local leaders often start by asking the wrong questions, he says. Any convention center would compete with existing hotels — a consideration the city should keep in mind. Another consideration is the need for a meeting space that can be rented affordably by local groups and organizations in addition to out-of-town groups. Sanders says, "if you're interested in building what is essentially a community amenity to serve locals and modest degrees of out-of-town visitors, it's perfectly plausible." That approach might make the most sense — and have the best chance of paying for itself over time. City leaders should look for a consultant that will give them an honest appraisal of what is possible and what is not — and then make sure the right questions are asked. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501