Shreveport ain’t Vegas and the proposed G-Dome will not be The Sphere.
The massive $2.3 billion Vegas Sphere entertainment area with its immersive audio-visual experience featuring 16K resolution wraparound LED screen with 164,000 speakers is owned by billionaire James Dolan and his family who also own Madison Square Gardens and the New York Knicks professional basketball team.
The Sphere is a money loser for Dolan.
The proposed G-Domes sphere is a planned 30 thousand square feet multi use facility costing $22 million. It is likely to be a money loser for Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
This facility can be used to host more parties with semi-nude lady dancers, open marijuana smoking, open bars etc. like the events featured at the Humor and Harmony Festival. While providing ugly pr social media video and comments, the three happenings did provide many low paying one-time gigs. Analysis of the Caddo Sales and Use Tax collections for the month of the festival did not show any increase attributable to the festival.
Other events that could be scheduled in a permanent dome will include concerts, fashion shows, recitals, etc. Presumably such bookings will compete with existing venues, such as The Strand, Municipal Auditorium, RiverView Theatre and the Shreveport Convention Center.
How many big-ticket events are economically feasible for the G-Dome is an open question. And the job creation for the Dome will be a limited number of maintenance personnel with part-time staffing for events. The economic impact of a downtown visual phenomenon on a very busy artery and many onetime curious seeking attendees is not a recipe for economic success, short-term or long term.
LED grants have focused on practical investments creating permanent good- paying jobs. The proposed G-Dome does not fit this template even with the proposed claw backs that will only be successful if 50 Cent has the dough at the time. Seemingly the G-Dome is a half-baked idea for LED financial assistance.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.