Mankato tourism

[Free Press Editor Joe Spear]

A weekend story in The Free Press detailed the growth of tourism and conventions in Mankato. The sources in the story point to growing conventions, and visitors, but it sounded mostly like that was driven by sports tournaments....A reader raised a question: What is the biggest tourist draw in Mankato? They argue we're not like Duluth (Lake Superior, near lots of outdoor things) or other places that have a draw. Our biggest claim to fame (largest mass execution in U.S. history) might not be the kind of thing one see as a "tourist" attraction. Still. What is Mankato's biggest tourist attraction and can we come up with another one? Thoughts?

[Dan Conner]

I doubt that Mankato will ever be considered a major tourist destination, but that is not all bad. Tourist destinations are really taking some "hard hits" during these economic times. Also, I don't think tourism is an industry that employees as many people as many other businesses. Mankato is rich in, what I would consider to be better, more tangible and more productive enterprises: farming, retailing, services, and manufacturing. Many tourist destinations are missing many of these. I think Mankato should be proud of its tangible contributions to the economy. Meanwhile, if it can find a way to attract tourists to this pretty river-valley community, loaded with ravines, picturesque overlooks, and history, then all the better.

[Ben Willaert]

Our downtown entertainment district is really taking off. The bar scene is well policed and is a major draw for young adults from all over the area.

I have said before that I would like to see an indoor water park / hotel across from the civic center. Something like that can support itself and offer more rooms for conventions. If I had the money, I’d be doing everything I could to put one up. Especially in tough times like this, many families are putting off vacations but could still come up with the money for a get away weekend in Mankato with shopping and entertainment for the kids.

I really like the Wow zone as well; finally something for the kids to do. Too bad it couldn’t go downtown next to the indoor water park.

[Free Press Publisher Jim Santori]

All good points. For me, an attraction we should be promoting more is the combination of healthy living, our great scenery and bike trails. Sakatah and Red Jacket are two outstanding biking trails. The MSU class project cited here (https://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1211205166&paper=topstories) that proposed a 10.3 mile trail linking Mankato and St. Peter is a worthwhile undertaking that would help enhance the area as a destination point.

[Dan Conner]

All good points. For me, an attraction we should be promoting more is the combination of healthy living, our great scenery and bike trails. Sakatah and Red Jacket are two outstanding biking trails. The MSU class project cited here (https://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1211205166&paper=topstories) that proposed a 10.3 mile trail linking Mankato and St. Peter is a worthwhile undertaking that would help enhance the area as a destination point.

I agree. I think we need to spend more to make more.

[Dan Conner]

Our downtown entertainment district is really taking off. The bar scene is well policed and is a major draw for young adults from all over the area.

I have said before that I would like to see an indoor water park / hotel across from the civic center. Something like that can support itself and offer more rooms for conventions. If I had the money, I’d be doing everything I could to put one up. Especially in tough times like this, many families are putting off vacations but could still come up with the money for a get away weekend in Mankato with shopping and entertainment for the kids.

I really like the Wow zone as well; finally something for the kids to do. Too bad it couldn’t go downtown next to the indoor water park.

Well, apparently Ben likes the downtown "bar scene" as an attractant for people all over the area. I assume he thinks that's good? I don't. I think it would be nice to find other less harmful entertainment in the downtwon area, other than bars. I worked in an office that was subject to periodic vandalism by bar patrons. I know Mankato police are kept busy on many nights handling unruly behavior by intoxicated bar patrons. While bars may attract some young people downtown, I don't think that is the lowest common denominator we should strive for. The WOW concept is far better. It is a less harmful way of having fun. Public intoxication isn't something Mankato should strive for to attract young people.

[Ben Willaert]

Well, apparently Ben likes the downtown "bar scene" as an attractant for people all over the area. I assume he thinks that's good? I don't. I think it would be nice to find other less harmful entertainment in the downtwon area, other than bars. I worked in an office that was subject to periodic vandalism by bar patrons. I know Mankato police are kept busy on many nights handling unruly behavior by intoxicated bar patrons. While bars may attract some young people downtown, I don't think that is the lowest common denominator we should strive for. The WOW concept is far better. It is a less harmful way of having fun. Public intoxication isn't something Mankato should strive for to attract young people.

Yes, the police are busy downtown making their presence known. The bars have also stepped up their security staff. Add that to the remodeling of downtown and we have a very nice entertainment district.

A couple months ago I had relatives down from the Twin Cities and they were amazed at the diversity of the Mankato bar scene without any violent tension. If people didn’t feel safe, it wouldn’t be as booming as it is. Of course there are always going to be a few idiots, but for the most part the downtown crowd is kept in line. Just like CEO’s, don’t let the few bad apples distort your view of all of them.

I would love to see the tax numbers from that area. I am sure it more then pays for the added police hours. There are many young adults coming from all over to spend their money in Mankato and pay taxes to Mankato. It’s worked well for Las Vegas; their citizens pay nearly nothing in taxes because of the tourism. Besides, with all the cigarettes consumed while drinking, the bars are supporting the SCHIP program as well.

[Dan Conner]

Yes, the police are busy downtown making their presence known. The bars have also stepped up their security staff. Add that to the remodeling of downtown and we have a very nice entertainment district.

A couple months ago I had relatives down from the Twin Cities and they were amazed at the diversity of the Mankato bar scene without any violent tension. If people didn’t feel safe, it wouldn’t be as booming as it is. Of course there are always going to be a few idiots, but for the most part the downtown crowd is kept in line. Just like CEO’s, don’t let the few bad apples distort your view of all of them.

I would love to see the tax numbers from that area. I am sure it more then pays for the added police hours. There are many young adults coming from all over to spend their money in Mankato and pay taxes to Mankato. It’s worked well for Las Vegas; their citizens pay nearly nothing in taxes because of the tourism. Besides, with all the cigarettes consumed while drinking, the bars are supporting the SCHIP program as well.

Property taxes for downtown busiensses are the same for any other business property. It's based on valuation. Why should businesses that don't cause a need for additional police protection and additional costs to adjacent businesses, caused by vandalism, pay for downtown police for bars? Aren't you always saying, "Why should people have to pay for the benefit of others?" And why should Mankato be a promoter of alcohol and drinking? I'm sorry Ben, this doesn't wash with even your own convictions of "what's mine is mine." Bars should pay for their own protection, not the taxpayer. They should also be partly responsible for damage caused by their drunk patrons.

[Ben Willaert]

Property taxes for downtown busiensses are the same for any other business property. It's based on valuation. Why should businesses that don't cause a need for additional police protection and additional costs to adjacent businesses, caused by vandalism, pay for downtown police for bars? Aren't you always saying, "Why should people have to pay for the benefit of others?" And why should Mankato be a promoter of alcohol and drinking? I'm sorry Ben, this doesn't wash with even your own convictions of "what's mine is mine." Bars should pay for their own protection, not the taxpayer. They should also be partly responsible for damage caused by their drunk patrons.

I may be naïve, but doesn’t some of the sales tax from the alcohol go to the city? Don’t all the tax payer patrons deserve to be protected by the police? And aren’t bars already liable for damage caused by patrons? If I drink at a bar and get in an accident and kill someone, the family can sue the bar. Mankato has held its bars responsible for security. I remember The Haze receiving violations last year. Have you been to The Haze after 11pm lately? Those bouncers know how to control a crowd.

[Dan Conner]

I may be naïve, but doesn’t some of the sales tax from the alcohol go to the city? Don’t all the tax payer patrons deserve to be protected by the police? And aren’t bars already liable for damage caused by patrons? If I drink at a bar and get in an accident and kill someone, the family can sue the bar. Mankato has held its bars responsible for security. I remember The Haze receiving violations last year. Have you been to The Haze after 11pm lately? Those bouncers know how to control a crowd.

Ben, I'm sorry, but the vast majority of sales tax goes to the State of Minnesota. There is a small incremental tax added by the City of Mankato, but that tax was already used for development downtowns, to include the civic center and other improvements, like the skywalks, etc. None of the sales tax goes for additional police required for bars. That is a responsibility born by all city taxpayers.

Believe me, there is far more happening than the high visibility law suits resulting from over-drinking. Drunken patrons have broken windows of businesses, urinated on walls, thrown up on walls, urinated in elevators, wrote on walls, punched large holes in walls, been caught fornicating in stairways, etc., etc. My company has incurred cost on more than one ocassion. In one case, a bar patron busted a large picture window at 3:00AM. The bar wasn't liable for that.

When you ask if bar patrons deserve to be protected by the police I would totally agree, but then I'm a proponent of, what you call, a "nanny state." I guess a "nanny state" is OK with you now, when it comes to drinking.

What you don't understand is that a bouncer kicking a drunk patron out of a bar, doesn't reduce the cost of others, it simply puts a drunk on the streets.

I'll make a deal with you. If you stop generalizing about children's poor diets, the laziness of the poor, and the general failure of people to take responsibility, I'll stop generalizing about bars and the problems irresponsible patrons cause.

[Ben Willaert]

I don’t want to hijack this thread too, so see my response on the Government Health care thread.
http://freepforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=243#post243