  Silverbeauty Member Username: Silverbeauty Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 69.133.93.33 |
Does anybody know if the Winter Blast will be an annual event, or was it created just for the Super Bowl? I hope it comes back. What a great thing for all of us to do in the middle of the winter. | ||
Islandman Member Username: Islandman Post Number: 55 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.42.171.59 |
It's an annual event. It was here last year as well, so I don't think it's related to the Super Bown at all. Granted, it was FREEZING last year at this time compared to this weekend. | ||
Mj64 Member Username: Mj64 Post Number: 57 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.40.177.3 |
I remember last winter there was a lot of talk that the MWB was a practice run for this year's. I hope it's an annual event, though -- I'd bet that will depend on the city keeping sponsors. It's a great event! | ||
Arab_guyumich Member Username: Arab_guyumich Post Number: 735 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.14.179.212 |
Islandman, it's an "annual event" only as of last year. Last year's event was a far smaller version, intended mostly as a trial run for this year's festivities. But I've never heard that the Winter Blast will outlive the Super Bowl. I'm not saying that it won't go on, but it seems somewhat doubtful. There will certainly be far less corporate sponsorship for it without the Super Bowl. (Message edited by Arab_guyumich on February 04, 2006) | ||
Woodward Member Username: Woodward Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 207.91.250.131 |
We let a camera man for the promoter shoot(video) Clint Black from our loft at Merchant's... he said that they were splicing together footage to pitch to sponsors for next year, so it's definitely not a sure thing... The whole thing was put on for just $3 mil, but he said the carmakers especially aren't spending too much on promotions like this. The pitch is to show how great and alive downtown can be with a little support, but the shooting (guns) last nite didn't help. (Message edited by woodward on February 04, 2006) | ||
Islandman Member Username: Islandman Post Number: 56 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 70.236.206.97 |
I know it started last year, but I was hoping it was going to be an "annual event" (such as the auto show) and give people a reason to come downtown during the winter time. Oh well. I was very well attended last year from what I saw..don't see why it couldn't be done every year. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 437 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 70.236.169.84 |
Last year was a run-through. I emailed the Winter Blast committee a couple of times the past couple months inquiring about this, no response. The papers said Kwame, "hinted that he would like to see this become an annual event"....i guess that means it wasnt supposed to be. I sure hope it does. Im sure it would be scaled back like last year, but that was still GREAT | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3152 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Yeah, the event last year was a preview and run-through. It takes A LOT to put together and sustain a festival. You need some committed donors/sponsors, committed businesses that will take time our of their normal business schedule to run the different aspects of the festival, permits... It would definitely be nice to see this outlive the SuperBowl, though. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 504 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.212.169.194 |
And volunteers... who may or may not be so available when its not a warm-up for the SuperBowl or the SuperBowl itself. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3155 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Once most events become annual, they usually have a budget and paid workers, and don't mess around with too many volunteers, especially in a union state like Michigan. And people show up when you pay them needless to say. (Message edited by lmichigan on February 05, 2006) | ||
Taj920 Member Username: Taj920 Post Number: 84 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.42.252.205 |
If it comes back, please don't let them have Coors LIght be the official beer. Yuck! | ||
Corktownmark Member Username: Corktownmark Post Number: 164 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 68.61.194.191 |
Wecome to the Detroit Yes! Forum Woodward! Great first post! | ||
Dtwphoenix Member Username: Dtwphoenix Post Number: 41 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 70.190.215.201 |
I imagine Winter Blast being bookended by the MotorCity Bowl on the opening day, and a New Years celebration at the conclusion. If the MotorCity Bowl could work out a tv time slot with ESPN on the 28th, The Winter Blast could last from the 28th thru the 31st. The MotorCity Bowl, The Great Lakes Invitational, New Years festivities, and the Winter Blast could play off each other and bring more people downtown when businesses are shut down for the holidays. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 461 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.188.86 |
That would be a good idea as well. However, I think it will, and should, go as it did last year, during the Auto Show, where an extra 775,000 people will bne in town. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1404 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
That is a great idea! I had heard somebody say something about during the bowl game, but I wasn't sure. Now that I think about like that, I like the idea! That week is probably pretty slow for a lot of offices around there too. So is the auto show though... | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 326 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 35.11.210.161 |
It should be kept during the auto show since that is our signature international event it provoides great chance to show off to out of town journatlist. Locally given the draw it'd help to keep people from just going to the auto show and back home they'd spend even more time downtown hopefully spending more money. | ||
Tabletop Member Username: Tabletop Post Number: 73 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 141.217.224.87 |
Bob Allen made a great suggestion about building Winter Blast in his Crain's email column on Monday: "Make the Winter Blast a Winter sports spectacular: A year ago, I suggested that, as part of the Super Bowl, the Red Wings should play one of their games outdoors at Comerica Park. That couldn't happen because of commitments for the Super Bowl. But there's no Super Bowl next February. Here's what I envision: Ford Field hosts basketball games: Pistons vs. Miami or San Antonio or another big draw. Michigan State takes on Michigan. Maybe hold a tournament of the top high schools in the area. Maybe even dig into the elementary schools. Across the street at Comerica, the Wings play Toronto or Montreal, one of their "Original Six" rivals. And, again, Michigan State and Michigan face off, too. And why not hockey of all levels? The Ontario junior leagues. High schools. Pee-wee. Maybe have a lottery to select two teams among the many adult-onset-athlete leagues. And when the ice isn't in use, people can skate on it. Detroit is, I think, from tots to geezers, the greatest hockey city in the world." Read it here: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/c gi-bin/editorsChoice.pl?newsId =7889 | ||
Skulker Member Username: Skulker Post Number: 3511 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.103.104.93 |
DTWPHX - I have been arguing the same idea...great minds think alike. Here are my reasons.... Starting on the 26th provides a good draw and amenity for the Motorcity Bowl (looks good on TV, gives visitors something to do), might even convince a few of them to stay an extra couple of days..... The week between Xmas and New Years is shut down for the automotives and their suppliers and schools, so the local families would have plenty time to kill and would provide the needed foot traffic. Lots of downtown offices are going to have people on vacation during this time period as well, so you mitigate the business interruption for them. End it on New Years Eve with a First Night celebration like they have in Boston, complete with fire works and concerts...... http://www.firstnight.org/Page s/FirstNight.aspx (Message edited by skulker on February 10, 2006) | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 332 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.221.79.80 |
Bob Allen's got a great idea. Bringing in the rival colleges ala College Hockey at the Joe...but with the basketball twist is excellent...You may get push back from Illitch on hockey outside of his pocketbook...never mind, Comerica is his thurf too! | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 884 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.204 |
The only problem with having it so early (late December) would be the probability of no snow. You need snow for a proper Winter Blast. I would suggest late February. The city hits the doldrums during that period anyway. | ||
Fnemecek Member Username: Fnemecek Post Number: 1500 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.212.225.106 |
Yeah, you're right. There's rarely any snow in Michigan in December. http://warrendale.blogspot.com /2005/12/christmas-in-warrenda le.html and http://warrendale.blogspot.com /2005/12/let-it-snow.html | ||
Cynknight Member Username: Cynknight Post Number: 63 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.209.162.124 |
Can't depend on snow being there either month - it's the luck of the draw. February is better IMO - Christmas/New Year's everyone has too many family commmitments/travel plans, etc. I like it in February - a true winter festival in an otherwise blah month. And everyone's idea for hockey and basketball sounds like a blast. And fireworks - gotta have fireworks! | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1197 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 141.213.173.94 |
Yeah February would be a good month because there isn't much going on anyway. January averages about 12" of snow in Detroit. December and Feb., about 10-11." Last December was very snowy, January was warm, and now February is cold. Sometimes you have warm months with one big storm. Guessing on local weather patterns shouldn't really factor in to deciding when to place the Winterblast, although I see no reason to ever hold it before Christmas, weather aside. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 333 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.221.79.80 |
Last year, it was tied into the Auto-Show, when we have all of the out-of town vistors (during non-superbowl years). We should tie them together again and use it for additional good press for the city...treating those out of town journalists like gold as they were treated in the SB. |
