Here we are, ensconced in the 21st century. Living with some of the awe-inspiring inventions and developments seen at past World's Fairs. Robots, wireless telephones, cars that can tell you where you are going and how you are to get there.
And yet, where is the wonder which spawned all these advancements? Where are the innovators of today? And where are the World's Fairs now? The US has not hosted one since 1984, when it was held in New Orleans. And to be honest, does anyone care?
found the website of the folks who run the World's Fair. It lists the dates up until 2020, and who is hosting it. Past 2012, there are no hosts listed. Bids are open.
Which gives me wonder. Serious wonder.
Think it would be possible to get the World's Fair to Roanoke? It would require a heavy commitment (regionally) to improving the roads, expanding the airport, preserving lands and building anew.
Just the act of putting in a bid would rattle the town and bring it to national and international attention. Im sure VT would want in on the deal as well.
Did you even realize there was one in 2005? Over in Japan - 18 million people visited it. There is even precedent for using existing structures (set in 2000) rather than build insanely. Even the "failed" New Orleans expo of 1984 had over 7 million attending. Knoxville and Spokane have both hosted, and neither is a mega-city.
Again, just submitting a bid for it would be a boost to Roanoke, and should we fail to secure the Fair - it's still a winning proposition. Hey - Hampton Roads hosted one in 1907, maybe its Roanoke's turn.
As Overlord I will make it my business to fully examine and arrange with the neighboring counties and region in general the possibility of bringing a World's Fair to the Roanoke Valley.
We have the land available - 140 acres of it. And thats just in one location - thats not even mentioning smaller parcels.
Well.. give your Overlord some time to think about this one, theres some numbers that need to be run..
/Vote Overlord, for the future of all mankind.
And yet, where is the wonder which spawned all these advancements? Where are the innovators of today? And where are the World's Fairs now? The US has not hosted one since 1984, when it was held in New Orleans. And to be honest, does anyone care?
found the website of the folks who run the World's Fair. It lists the dates up until 2020, and who is hosting it. Past 2012, there are no hosts listed. Bids are open.
Which gives me wonder. Serious wonder.
Think it would be possible to get the World's Fair to Roanoke? It would require a heavy commitment (regionally) to improving the roads, expanding the airport, preserving lands and building anew.
Just the act of putting in a bid would rattle the town and bring it to national and international attention. Im sure VT would want in on the deal as well.
Did you even realize there was one in 2005? Over in Japan - 18 million people visited it. There is even precedent for using existing structures (set in 2000) rather than build insanely. Even the "failed" New Orleans expo of 1984 had over 7 million attending. Knoxville and Spokane have both hosted, and neither is a mega-city.
Again, just submitting a bid for it would be a boost to Roanoke, and should we fail to secure the Fair - it's still a winning proposition. Hey - Hampton Roads hosted one in 1907, maybe its Roanoke's turn.
As Overlord I will make it my business to fully examine and arrange with the neighboring counties and region in general the possibility of bringing a World's Fair to the Roanoke Valley.
We have the land available - 140 acres of it. And thats just in one location - thats not even mentioning smaller parcels.
Well.. give your Overlord some time to think about this one, theres some numbers that need to be run..
/Vote Overlord, for the future of all mankind.
4 comments:
And just were will we house these 18 million visitors. That is the figure you give for Japan's. I understand that Japan's population probably inflated the number. But just how many hotel rooms are there in Roanoke?
Good point fire, I've had visitors tell me all the hotels were booked just when there was a VT game going on! However, I do love the idea of World's Fairs...Been to the NYC and Montreal's, both when I was a kid. I still have fond memories of them etched in my brain, and would love to take my kids to one. Epcot, the closest we've come to one, is the only Disney park they can stand, and barely at that. I don't think Roanokers would go for it though...Why don't you contact the Explore Park guy and talk him into building a mega hotel next to RV World?
i thought i was the only one who wondered what happened to the worlds fairs. you always see those old pictures or paintings of it with those grand old structures and cool inventions.
its a neat idea, bringing it to rke.
and as for its demise. hasn't the worlds fair just be replaced with trade fairs, like all the tech fairs that there are always big fan fair about.
oh well, that's my two cents.
This is an idea that has occurred to me also. I'd really like to visit a World's Fair sometime. I kinda regret I didn't push my parents to go to the 1982 Knoxville Fair. (Really, I wish I could travel back in time to the 1939 NYC Fair.)
As you wrote, there have been World's Fairs in Knoxville and Spokane, neither of which is much bigger than Roanoke. According to Wikipedia, the 2005 Expo cost $3.3 billion, which is obviously a complete non-starter. While it wouldn't be an "official" World's Fair, maybe something interesting could be developed for $100 million if inspiration strikes. How much money is Larry Vander Maten planning to pump into Explore?
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