By Tony Farina
The Niagara Aerospace Museum planned for downtown Niagara Falls might be the best bet for state investment over Mayor Robert Restaino’s Centennial Park arena project to attract more visitors to the city, but both projects are definitely worthwhile, and both would be of great economic benefit.
Both would attract tourists and give people more reasons to spend more time on the American side of the Falls. So the question for leaders in Albany is not whether the state can afford them but rather which project would give the best return for tourist dollars?
There is a great deal of pressure on Albany leaders with so many interests across the state looking for help. But for Niagara Falls, help with these two projects would be incredibly beneficial to the American side of the Falls and would help bring in new tourism dollars at a time when the city and the region certainly could use them.
It is true that Centennial Project is the bigger and more ambitious idea. It would build a large arena and sports complex that supporters believe could bring youth sports tournaments, concerts, and major events to Niagara Falls. When teams travel for tournaments, they bring families, coaches, and fans, people who can fill hotels and restaurants and give the local economy a significant boost.
Sports tourism has helped many cities, and Niagara Falls already has one big advantage: millions of people around the world know its name. But it is also true that sports arenas are expensive to build and operate, requiring a steady flow of events to succeed. If the events do not come as expected, the investment can become difficult to justify. What it means is that Centennial Park could create a big impact, but it also carries more financial risk than a downtown museum.
In the case of the Niagara Aerospace Museum, instead of building a large arena, it would create a museum near the tourist district close to Niagara Falls State Park. Visitors from around the world who come to see the worldwide wonder could easily walk to the museum as part of their trip.
Museums are different from arenas because they do not live or die on special events. They are appealing year-round and can attract visitors every day. The long-planned Aerospace Museum would also cost much less to build, up to $30 million versus up to $200 million for Centennial Park, meaning the financial risk is smaller.
Timing is another important factor for the museum project because much of the planning is already complete. It appears ready to move forward if funding becomes available. We should note–in the interest of fairness– that both projects would be beneficial. And the events complex could bring new kinds of visitors to Niagara Falls, while the museum project downtown could strengthen the tourism district that is already there.
If it comes down to a matter of choice for state leaders, the Aerospace Museum may offer a safer return on tourism dollars. That does not mean that success is guaranteed because no tourism project comes with a guarantee. However, the museum would cost less and fit naturally into the current tourism area and appear closer to being ready to build.
Sometimes the most effective project is not the biggest idea. Sometimes it is the one that is ready to happen.
