Quote:
Bass Pro Shops at The Pyramid logged $44.6 million in sales in its first nine months and paid $875,621 in rent to the city of Memphis, city records show.
The store’s best month was June, when it bagged $7.1 million, and the slowest was November, $3.38 million, according to gross sales reports.
Bass Pro is required to file gross sales reports under a 55-year lease on the city-owned former sports and entertainment arena...
Bass Pro Shops opened the superstore and tourist attraction last April 29 with great fanfare. The opening capped a nearly decade long project that was aided by direct city expenditures of at least $105 million.
Bass Pro has periodically issued updates on store visitor numbers — it reached 2 million before Christmas — but hasn’t commented on sales.I'd say Memphis is getting paid back with the sales tax revenue plus the rent payments.
They recently asked for proposals for Mud Island and Bass Pro seemed to indicate interest and then didn't present anything, just asked for blind faith. The other proposals were lackluster.
It pretty simple what should happen to it:
Allow the Memphis Zoo to develop an Aquarium there, incorporating the best parts of the River Museum
Add a Soarin'style ride that features a flight down the Mississippi.
On the north end of the Island, add some rides. A Star Flyer, an out and back coaster that does a semi circle of the area, 2 to 4 flat rides and an enclosed build to house a collection of kiddie rides with a small custom kiddie coaster that encircles all of it, make it two story wit a food court and games on second level. All sold by wristband or ticket system.
Update and repair riverwalk
Added seats, amenities and roof to Amp, make the open air roof as to not effect the skyline view behind stage. Gives Memphis a " Sydney Opera" type of opportunity for a visual landmark. Explore more opportunities for southern end of Island. Possible small scale water park.
Explore the idea of a Euro style Christmas Market. Place a large tree in middle of the river walk gulf of Mexico. Add a light show choreographed to Memphis music and musicians to it. Set up booths, like 8x10 to rent out to sellers in the open space along and south of the gulf for the market and include a seasonal ice rink. Run the mark from early November to New Years Weekend.
Build foot bridge to Beale Street Landing for added connectivity.