Does Phoenix have an identity problem? (Yuma: low income, promotional, schools)

[timothyaw]

Phoenix still has an identity crisis issue.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/ente...n/69852982007/

[OUgrad09]

Originally Posted by timothyaw

Phoenix still has an identity crisis issue.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/ente...n/69852982007/

What a ridiculous op-ed, if you can even call it that, given how short, lame, and uninteresting it is.

I've seen better constructed takes in the "letters to the editor" section.

Arizona is the Grand Canyon State, hence the NFL using the Grand Canyon in promotional material is fine. The NFL content staff also probably has no idea about the many great spots in the PHX metro itself that they could have used instead of the Grand Canyon, such as Papago Park or the Superstition Mountains. Has absolutely zero to do with an identity crisis.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by timothyaw

Phoenix still has an identity crisis issue.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/ente...n/69852982007/

I'm glad you brought this up because there’s a lot of truth in that article ... however, it should be in a new thread because it has nothing to do with Phoenix vs. Dubai. This thread has reached its limit anyway.

Originally Posted by OUgrad09

What a ridiculous op-ed, if you can even call it that, given how short, lame, and uninteresting it is.

I've seen better constructed takes in the "letters to the editor" section.

Arizona is the Grand Canyon State, hence the NFL using the Grand Canyon in promotional material is fine. The NFL content staff also probably has no idea about the many great spots in the PHX metro itself that they could have used instead of the Grand Canyon, such as Papago Park or the Superstition Mountains. Has absolutely zero to do with an identity crisis.

The article isn't very well written, but it makes a very valid point. Timothyaw correctly stated that Phoenix lacks an identity, and the article points out some of the reasons. It doesn't help matters when Phoenix isn't even advertised as the host city for the Super Bowl. Instead, they say Arizona will host it. If the NFL marketing staff has no idea about the Phoenix area attractions, that's their own ignorance. It also shows ignorance when you only list our mountains as "great Phoenix spots". The nation's 5th largest city should certainly have more citified attractions to promote besides mountains, or the Grand Canyon (which is a great natural wonder, but it's over 200 miles away).

Let's use your logic about promotional material, and apply it to next year's Super Bowl. Since it will be played in the Silver State (Nevada), then a silver mine should be used as a promotion to represent the location of the game, right? Now, let's get back to reality. The NFL will likely promote the attractions of the Vegas Strip during the 2024 Super Bowl. This is more than I can say for how Phoenix is being displayed.

[OUgrad09]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

The article isn't very well written, but it makes a very valid point. Timothyaw correctly stated that Phoenix lacks an identity, and the article points out some of the reasons. It doesn't help matters when Phoenix isn't even advertised as the host city for the Super Bowl. Instead, they say Arizona will host it. If the NFL marketing staff has no idea about the Phoenix area attractions, that's their own ignorance. It also shows ignorance when you only list our mountains as "great Phoenix spots". The nation's 5th largest city should certainly have more citified attractions to promote besides mountains, or the Grand Canyon (which is a great natural wonder, but it's over 200 miles away).

Let's use your logic about promotional material, and apply it to next year's Super Bowl. Since it will be played in the Silver State (Nevada), then a silver mine should be used as a promotion to represent the location of the game, right? Now, let's get back to reality. The NFL will likely promote the attractions of the Vegas Strip during the 2024 Super Bowl. This is more than I can say for how Phoenix is being displayed.

People move to Phoenix for its weather, natural attractions, and outdoor recreational opportunities. People go to Vegas for gambling and nightlife. Advertising Phoenix’s natural beauty would make a lot of sense, as would Vegas advertising a tall observation tower and a neon sign. When we were looking for a place to move to, Vegas and Reno were out of the running immediately because of the way gambling and adult activity are a major part of their identity. And since we are trying to raise children, Phoenix would have met the same fate had they been the same.

To me, Phoenix’s identity is the outdoors, recreation, leisure (including major events), natural beauty, and hopefully increasingly manufacturing and commerce. You may not like to golf, so perhaps you think it’s lame, but my buddies in LA are always trying to plan trips to PHX to hit up the courses in the Valley. World class golf (i.e leisure) is definitely part of what people think of when they think of Phoenix.

But that’s just my opinion, if people are interested in a more in depth discussion, I think a new thread about Phoenix’s identity would be a great idea.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by OUgrad09

People move to Phoenix for its weather, natural attractions, and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Moving to Phoenix just for weather & outdoor recreation defeats the purpose of living in a large city, and it's also outdated. Might as well live in Yuma or Palm Springs if all you want out of life is a warm, sunny desert climate with outdoor recreation. There are new arrivals who are here for much more important things like better job opportunities or to be close to family, and couldn't care less about weather or outdoor stuff. Besides, more times than not, I find that the ones who are here only for climate or recreation usually have a serious lack of motivation ... certainly not the kind who would climb very high up the corporate ladder.

Originally Posted by OUgrad09

But that’s just my opinion, if people are interested in a more in depth discussion, I think a new thread about Phoenix’s identity would be a great idea.

Agreed, and this thread has certainly run its course.

[OUgrad09]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Moving to Phoenix just for weather & outdoor recreation defeats the purpose of living in a large city, and it's also outdated.

No one said that. Phoenix just combines the outdoor recreational opportunities and a desert climate with the amenities of a big city, with job opportunities, a great airport, great hospitals with access to specialists, low income taxes, and plenty of schools to choose from. You’re not finding that in Palm Springs or freakin Yuma lol. That’s the difference, and that’s why PHX is now one of the 10 largest metros in the country. And super desirable for families like mine : )

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by OUgrad09

... People go to Vegas for gambling and nightlife. Advertising Phoenix’s natural beauty would make a lot of sense, as would Vegas advertising a tall observation tower and a neon sign. When we were looking for a place to move to, Vegas and Reno were out of the running immediately because of the way gambling and adult activity are a major part of their identity.

When I lived in Las Vegas I had zero interest in gambling and did not participate in it in any form. I actually moved there for the great outdoors and towering snow-capped mountains. Like here there are a plethora of outdoor activities/places to do and see. The entertainment there was just the icing on the cake. Just like a lot of people think all of Arizona is hot all year and all desert which we know is not true, it's the same for Las Vegas. People think there's just gambling there and nothing else. YMMV.

[timothyaw]

Moderator - If you can move my post #99 and onward to a new thread suggested by -
Originally Posted by OUgrad09
But that’s just my opinion, if people are interested in a more in depth discussion, I think a new thread about Phoenix’s identity would be a great idea.

[Mike from back east]

Done.

Moved everything after post #98 to this new thread. If it needs any tweaking let me know by DM.

Have at it, folks,. Politely.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by OUgrad09

What a ridiculous op-ed, if you can even call it that, given how short, lame, and uninteresting it is.

I've seen better constructed takes in the "letters to the editor" section.

Arizona is the Grand Canyon State, hence the NFL using the Grand Canyon in promotional material is fine. The NFL content staff also probably has no idea about the many great spots in the PHX metro itself that they could have used instead of the Grand Canyon, such as Papago Park or the Superstition Mountains. Has absolutely zero to do with an identity crisis.

Give the guy a break. He can probably feel the ChatGPT bot breathing down his neck.