Main Street Festivals and Arizona Hoops

MESA By Jon Garrido March 26, 2004 - When I was a little kid growing up in Superior, I remember with great fanfare, travel to Main Street to buy items not available in Superior.

Great memories of Main Street are of a vibrant, active shopping area.

Then the period of shopping malls became the buzz concept with opening of Fiesta Mall sucking all the oxygen out of Main Street leading to Main Street’s demise.

Things never stay constant and now Fiesta Mall is gasping for oxygen as the discount centers found everywhere are doing what Fiesta Mall once did to Main Street.

Such is the world of supply and demand as Americans’ buying habits and where they buy continuously change.

Over the years, the City has tried time and time again to revitalize Main Street but city planners have never succeeded.

The secret to successful revitalization is too germinate a concept that will attract a large segment of the population. Either a destination development like Disneyland, not found elsewhere to avoid competition, or an event on a magnitude of not a one time single event such as the Renaissance Fair but a series of events, each building on the other.

An economic development cardinal rule for success requires a minimum critical mass with sustained growth to attract people.

The Mesa Main Street Festivals including Mesa and Arizona Hoops is such a series of events that will appeal to the emotions of thousands.

Music is one of the heart throbs that everyone irregardless of age or background appeals to the inner soul.

Almost at the same level of human basic needs is well being. Climbing a mountain or observing a sunrise at the Grand Canyon give this feeling of well being.

Playing a game with the intensity of competition filled with excitement gives this same feeling that can not be experienced at the newest shopping concept down the street.

Mesa Hoops can be enjoyed by all ages of active participants or as participants screaming from the crowd cheering one’s team on to victory.

Mesa Hoops, Arizona Hoops and the Mesa Main Street Festivals alternating themes each weekend of Jazz, Salsa, Country, Mariachi, Polish, Gospel, Holiday, Rock and Roll, Disco, Hits from the 70s, 80s, 90s, Hip Hop, African, South American as well as many more sounds will bring thousands to Main Street each weekend.

This many people coming to Main Street will result in a continuous sustained flow of demand. Someone will very quickly get the idea a water/drink concession will be an economic gold mine. Someone else will get the idea, visitors to Main Street need to eat and retailers will quickly start counting potential consumers resulting in opening a multitude of new restaurant and retail stores.

Main Street will come alive and the frosting on the cake will be the diversity of Mesa will be embraced. Music is the common denominator of USA residents.

Then the 100 basketball games being played by boys and girls of all ages in addition to others up to past 50 all going on at the same time will energize Main Street as never before.

This is how it will work: 3 girls, age 7, will play 3 other girls age 7 in the girls’ age 7 category.

3 boys, age 12, will play against 3 other boys in the age 12 category.

3 men, age 50, will play against 3 men in the age 50 and over category.

All ages will be invited to participate with each gender and age having its own category. All done on Main Street with 50-100 courts on asphalt all playing at the same time. Championship games will be played at Center Court surrounded by bleachers with people from all over Mesa.

All games played through double elimination advancing to the championship of each category.

Mesa Main Street Music Festivals, Mesa Hoops and Arizona Hoops need volunteers and sponsors. Visit our website: www.Hispanic.cc to sign up.

Now all we need is a building on Main Street. The vacant old Department of Economic Security building is perfect. Does anyone know anyone at City Hall?

Jon Garrido, a native of Superior, is the CEO of Hispanic News (www.Hispanic.cc) and is the former economic development coordinator for the City of Tucson and former executive director of economic development for the City of El Paso. Jon is the president of the Arizona Law and Education Center.