A friend of mine recently mentioned to me that this whole Google initiative isn’t the first time Mayor Ardis has tried to lure a national act to Peoria. Just last year, he tried to get the band AC/DC to make a tour stop here. Here’s what the Journal Star had to say back on January 11, 2009:
Peoria radio station WIXO-FM organized the rally in hopes of catching the attention of the band, which has not performed in Peoria since 1983. … A video of the event, along with the petition, will be sent Monday to AC/DC. … Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis appeared on stage at the rally. He told AC/DC fans after the band sees the video, it will have no choice but to come back. Ardis had appeared on The X’s morning show and assured listeners AC/DC is welcome. “It would be great for Peoria,” Ardis said.
On October 22, the Journal Star followed up: “The fans were fervent, as the rockers hadn’t played in Peoria since 1983. But, unfortunately, it doesn’t look like they’ll be making a stop in P-town anytime soon.”
Granted, the city didn’t have an airplane fly a sky banner over the band asking, “Will AC/DC play in Peoria?” like the City did for Google. So let’s hope the Mayor has better luck this time.
I don’t understand, I guess. What do we get out of this Google enterprise? It costs us 10s of millions to lay the cable and if or when it doesn’t turn out to be feasible we are stuck with it. Google invests what? Google risks what?
Their reputation?
Simpletons!
We all know why AC/DC did not come to Peoria…..
NO MUSEUM!!!
We have plenty of museums… we don’t have a “riverfront” museum.
“What do we get out of this Google enterprise?”
We’d get the fastest internet speeds in the country, immediate stiff competition for Comcast’s cable and the DSL companies, more incentive for new businesses to locate to Peoria, and a more attractive environment for the coveted young urban professional demographic.
It’s my understanding that the city wouldn’t be on the hook for much of the infrastructure expenses, as Google is searching for a test market for them (Google) to set up shop in and roll out their services on a wide scale. Google provides the capital for everything, we just go along for the ride and see what surfing the web at 1 gig is like.
There’s a reason why over 1100 communities nationwide applied to be the test market, and I doubt it’s because they were all ready to cut checks for tens of millions of dollars each.
For the sake of the rest of the country, I’m hoping we’re the only community out there who does that on a regular basis.
What is the incentive for new businesses to relocate here?
“coveted young urban professional demographic” huh?
Your “immediate” stiff competition would be temporary, as I understand it… right?
And of course, it will be the fastest internet speed until…? (The next new innovation… see tomorrow’s newspaper)
AC/DC did rock the United Center last August and put on a fantastic show. Anyone from this area knows you have to travel 150 miles north or south to get great entertainment in the form of sports teams, concerts, theater, etc.