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  #21  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 5:31 AM
BigBird9 BigBird9 is offline
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Wow.... I was almost sure that Baldwin County was considered part of the Mobile metro. So to say that Pensacola is "bigger" than Mobile is really strange to me. I guess looks can be deceiving.
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  #22  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 5:57 AM
Muskavon Muskavon is offline
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BBird, it is a raw numbers population-only game in this scenario, as you know, but still surprising everytime I look at it. Clearly the reality is Mobile aspires to be "big city" and is achieving it rapidly while P'cola is made up of low-income, lack-of-vision, almost (or really) criminal leader nuts who have spent 100 years running off any hopes of developing a great port, bringing in great industry, etc, etc. I doubt a comparison can be made on the basis of earnings, income, assets, and so-forth. That's why 'Cola has that "small-town" feel and look to anyone living in it or looking in on it. Heck, Tally and Montgomery seem much bigger. They have the money industry (government) to put up the real-estate assets that look impressive at first glance. And they have the widely known name as state capitals. But they aren't as populous any way you slice it outside of "city limits".

But, with all that said, those population numbers are not any more a farce in describing the actual population of Pensacola's base than any other population stat. People see the lack of tall buildings, the lack of personal income in the masses, the sorry state of economic progress, the 56k population of the tiny city limits and assume this area has a Biloxi/Gulfport type of mass. It isn't even close. 231k vs. 453k in raw numbers. But to further prove that point...take my challenge.....Drive every heavily commercialized, residentially densed or multi-laned road in the Biloxi/Gulf Port/Ocean Springs/Long Beach/Pass Christian area. See all you can see north and south of I-10. You can pull this off in under 3 hours. Try the same in Greater Pensacola. If you can do it between dawn and dusk...you either ran some red-lights or aren't familiar enough to know how many roads you are missing. And the difference won't be just because traffic sucks.
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  #23  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 3:11 PM
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Originally Posted by alon504 View Post
??? I'm not trying to pick fights. That is silly. You are the only one that is thinking about fighting on this board. It didn't cross my mind. All of the discussion is civil.

In any case, I can clearly see the argument about Baldwin County in regards to Mobile. I'll tell you, once you enter that county, it still feels like you are in Metro Mobile. It is all based on commuters into a central business area. It's pretty likely that Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana and even Pearl River county could be added to Metro New Orleans in 2010--esp. since Hurricane Katrina escalated migration to these areas and that would add 180,000 to Metro New Orleans right there. And Baldwin county could be added to Mobile. They only make these types of changes every ten years. We'll see. I have several relatives that live in Carriere and Picayune in Pearly River County, Mississippi that have commuted to New Orleans for over a decade now.
I know you have a personal vendetta against Mobile and the development thereof, verses New Orleans. Say I am wrong, I can find all of you post to prove it.
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  #24  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 5:52 PM
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That does not mean anything. Look at Montgomery, small airport as well. Baton Rouge, small regional airport. That does not mean anything.
Wrong. It means EVERYTHING to an area that wants investment, corporate growth and connectivity to the outside world. Look, since you like to be so dismissive, chew on this:

Mobile - 21 Daily flights / 575,000 annual passengers

Pensacola - 58 Daily flights / 1.4 million passengers

Why? For two areas that are roughly the same metro populations, clearly something else is at play here.

Montgomery has very crappy service, perhaps even worse than Mobile. Baton Rouge, on the other hand, has service that other areas of similar size would love to have. Apples to oranges.

My point was something I have always wondered about - why do two neighboring metros of very similar size have such wild differences in the quality/quantity of thier respective airports and air service.
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  #25  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 6:32 PM
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Originally Posted by atlantaguy View Post
Wrong. It means EVERYTHING to an area that wants investment, corporate growth and connectivity to the outside world. Look, since you like to be so dismissive, chew on this:

Mobile - 21 Daily flights / 575,000 annual passengers

Pensacola - 58 Daily flights / 1.4 million passengers

Why? For two areas that are roughly the same metro populations, clearly something else is at play here.

Montgomery has very crappy service, perhaps even worse than Mobile. Baton Rouge, on the other hand, has service that other areas of similar size would love to have. Apples to oranges.

My point was something I have always wondered about - why do two neighboring metros of very similar size have such wild differences in the quality/quantity of thier respective airports and air service.


Biloxi`s airport does more flights than Mobile`s as well and it all boils down to one word my friend ---- Price !!!


Mobile`s prices are rediculous !! There are several Mobilians who will travel that 45 minute commute to P-cola for a flight. My girl friend and her mom flew out of P-cola for the inaguration last week and that 45 minute or even 35 minute drive isn`t bad for the prices and Biloxi is 30 minutes away as well.
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  #26  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 7:36 PM
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Originally Posted by atlantaguy View Post
Wrong. It means EVERYTHING to an area that wants investment, corporate growth and connectivity to the outside world. Look, since you like to be so dismissive, chew on this:

Mobile - 21 Daily flights / 575,000 annual passengers

Pensacola - 58 Daily flights / 1.4 million passengers

Why? For two areas that are roughly the same metro populations, clearly something else is at play here.

Montgomery has very crappy service, perhaps even worse than Mobile. Baton Rouge, on the other hand, has service that other areas of similar size would love to have. Apples to oranges.

My point was something I have always wondered about - why do two neighboring metros of very similar size have such wild differences in the quality/quantity of thier respective airports and air service.
I have flown out of Baton Rouge, Prices are similar as to Mobile and the service is about the same. I know because I use them both.
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  #27  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 8:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama View Post
Biloxi`s airport does more flights than Mobile`s as well and it all boils down to one word my friend ---- Price !!!


Mobile`s prices are rediculous !! There are several Mobilians who will travel that 45 minute commute to P-cola for a flight. My girl friend and her mom flew out of P-cola for the inaguration last week and that 45 minute or even 35 minute drive isn`t bad for the prices and Biloxi is 30 minutes away as well.
Ahh, the AirTran effect - got it.

Perhaps Mobile wishes they had supported them more - maybe not.

Thanks for the insight.
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  #28  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 8:35 PM
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I have flown out of Baton Rouge, Prices are similar as to Mobile and the service is about the same. I know because I use them both.
Wow - are you ever conversant. Seems you have quite a chip on your shoulder.

Look, a city as large as Mobile given it's location between two other sizable and growing metros should be ashamed at the level of service it offers. Again, I smell something wrong down there. If you don't think it's important, or means anything to the future of your city.........well, just keep thinking that.

Sorry I ducked into this thread.
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  #29  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 9:20 PM
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Originally Posted by atlantaguy View Post
Look, a city as large as Mobile given it's location between two other sizable and growing metros should be ashamed at the level of service it offers. Again, I smell something wrong down there. If you don't think it's important, or means anything to the future of your city.........well, just keep thinking that.
I agree... service from the Mobile airport is lacking greatly. However, the airport is stable because of its use by business travelers. In the Biloxi-Mobile-Pensacola "metroplex" Mobile is the most profitable due to having a sizable demand year round for time-proximate bookings by area businesses. According to data, flights out of Mobile are more profitable than at either GPT or PNS. Airlines just do not want to add service because it would dilute the profits made by higher-demanded, lesser-supplied flights.

Plus: Mobile Regional is not publicly funded.
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  #30  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 9:33 PM
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Originally Posted by atlantaguy View Post
Wrong. It means EVERYTHING to an area that wants investment, corporate growth and connectivity to the outside world. Look, since you like to be so dismissive, chew on this:

Mobile - 21 Daily flights / 575,000 annual passengers

Pensacola - 58 Daily flights / 1.4 million passengers

Why? For two areas that are roughly the same metro populations, clearly something else is at play here.

Montgomery has very crappy service, perhaps even worse than Mobile. Baton Rouge, on the other hand, has service that other areas of similar size would love to have. Apples to oranges.

My point was something I have always wondered about - why do two neighboring metros of very similar size have such wild differences in the quality/quantity of thier respective airports and air service.
It's called beaches. Out of the airports in Pensacola, Mobile and Biloxi, Mobile's is the furthest from the beach if I'm not mistaken, that has a lot to do with it. Plus, there seems to be more tourism in the Biloxi and Pensacola areas. Tourism has A LOT to do with airtraffic. Do you think PC-Bay County International would get much traffic if there were no beaches nearby? Doubtful...
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  #31  
Old Posted Jan 27, 2009, 10:28 PM
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It's called beaches. Out of the airports in Pensacola, Mobile and Biloxi, Mobile's is the furthest from the beach if I'm not mistaken, that has a lot to do with it. Plus, there seems to be more tourism in the Biloxi and Pensacola areas. Tourism has A LOT to do with airtraffic. Do you think PC-Bay County International would get much traffic if there were no beaches nearby? Doubtful...
That is my point. Thank you!
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  #32  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 2:30 AM
Dixieboy Dixieboy is offline
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Mobile's airport is too far from the interstates IMO. Pensacola's is more convenient, especially once the Airport Blvd @ I-110 exit gets completed.
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  #33  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 3:00 AM
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I know you have a personal vendetta against Mobile and the development thereof, verses New Orleans. Say I am wrong, I can find all of you post to prove it.
Do what you want. I don't have personal vendetta's against any city. That is really ridiculous. I may state something negative, but, to have a personal vendetta against any particular place would not be worth my while. I'm disappointed in you.

Last edited by alon504; Jan 28, 2009 at 3:11 AM.
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  #34  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 4:34 AM
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Mobile airport

Alon...I've looked at most of your posts and find you are interested in everybody and every city. I first thought you were trying to dig on Mobile but I think you were stating facts in a way we Mobilians could misconstrue but you meant no harm. That being said, our airport is lousy because the leadership HAS BEEN lousy. The good news is that Bay Haas is out and Bill Sisson is in. Right now we are having to pay Haas for another year of "consulting" before Sisson takes over. This leadership change will take a while to show results but I am confident that passenger numbers will rise and fares will drop. Most of the people I know in Mobile who fly on a pleasure trip will go to P'cola first and maybe Gulfport second; there is a big price difference. Our airport is also in the wrong place to encourage Baldwin county customers but great if you live in the woods on the MS/AL state line.
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  #35  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 4:36 AM
BigBird9 BigBird9 is offline
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Mobile's airport is too far from the interstates IMO. Pensacola's is more convenient, especially once the Airport Blvd @ I-110 exit gets completed.
That's a good point. Although I wish the Pensacola airport (which I believe is now called the Gulf Coast Regional Airport....?) were closer to the freeway, it's still MUCH more convenient than the Mobile location. Especially when the Airport/110 exit is completed. We actually flew out of Mobile once because it had a better deal than Pensacola, and I was amazed at how long it took to get to the airport from I-65. And the airport itself is pretty pathetic.... it's the one part of Mobile that seems much smaller than Pensacola. I know I'm dreaming, but maybe one day as Mobile and Pensacola grow, we can have a large international airport built equidistant between the two cities on I-10in Baldwin county.
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  #36  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 5:08 AM
NitekKetin NitekKetin is offline
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The fat-faced Good 'Ol Boy Network would never allow competing airport to develop between Mobile and Pensacola. However, a good site location would be at the intersection of I-10/AL 59 in Baldwin County.

The West Mobile Bypass would have provided a degree of access to Mobile Regional, if it had been built. ALDOT's questionable environment track record and general ineptitude will probably keep this highway project on the far backburner.
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  #37  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 6:58 PM
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Mobile is industrial, Pensacola is beaches

As a Pensacola native, it seems ridiculous to list Mobile as smaller than Pensacola. Look at Mobile's skyline. Look at Mobile's port. Look at Mobile's interstate. However, Pensacola definitely has the airport edge. It also has a Civic Center that basically stole all concerts and shows from Mobile.Pensacola's "skyline" is only impressive on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. Mobile is progressive and will continue to grow. Mobile also has worse crime statistics than Pensacola. Mobile Bay is orange. Pensacola Bay and Beach are blue and emerald. Pensacola leaders do not want an airport that says "Alabama" for the address. Alabama does a much better job with the roads because Mobile is the only port in the state. Pensacola is in the forgotten panhandle and has to compete with larger population areas to the South. Both cities play off of each other well. Mobile MSA should include Baldwin County. Pensacola (city of) should annex more to become a city of 200,000+. City to city, they are about the same size. Visuals aside, Pensacola has caught up with Mobile in population only. Civic direction and leadership, Mobile is far ahead.
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  #38  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 7:40 PM
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Originally Posted by alon504 View Post
Do what you want. I don't have personal vendetta's against any city. That is really ridiculous. I may state something negative, but, to have a personal vendetta against any particular place would not be worth my while. I'm disappointed in you.
Sorry you feel that way, but I take you post a little differnt than most.
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  #39  
Old Posted Jan 28, 2009, 9:59 PM
BigBird9 BigBird9 is offline
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I knew that a Mobile vs. Pensacola thread was inevitable....

But it's been pretty civil so far, so let's keep it that way
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  #40  
Old Posted Jan 29, 2009, 8:00 AM
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Jeez...can't believe I'm drawn in to such a crazy topic, but here I go.
The airport topics and points.
--Mobile's airport sucks, but I use it every time I fly to support the Mobile economy.
--Pensacola and Biloxi/Gulfport airports have 3 major military bases within ten miles of their airports not to mention thousands of military retiree's. They have beaches and casinos that people fly into, so it makes sense that their passenger totals are 25-50% greater than Mobile.
--Mobilian's have 3 airports from which to fly out of within an hour's drive. And if you want to get crazy you can be at Louie Armstrong International in New Orleans in about an hour and a half.
--To atlantaguy, put your demographics and spread sheet back into your back pocket and sit on it! We don't have the wealth or the numbers down here on the American Gulf Coast compared to Atlanta, but we got water and LOTS of it! LOL.

PENSACOLA, MOBILE, BILOXI/GULFPORT is the American Gulf Coast,
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