The largest aquarium in the country (Bragging rights and bizarre for the desert)
We are a tourist destination, so anything that offers them something to do will appeal.Select an architect that can design a destination building to house it, tie it to the zoo and the botanical gardens and wait for the hordes of sightseers. This will lead to redevelopment all along McDowell as they cater to the attendees.
It will be expensive but should pay off over the years

Comments
Mike S 6 months ago
We already have the large Sea Life aquarium in Tempe. Do we really need to spend the money for a second aquarium so close? Will there be enough tourist traffic/revenue to support two aquariums? I highly doubt it.
alastair prescott 6 months ago
Destination buildings bring people.
The monorail connecting the Zoo and the DBG will create excitement.
i think the repurposed mall venue will fail. It's really not very good.
Andrea Forman 6 months ago
Agree with Mike S - unless you merge two together. Even then - an aquarium in the desert....rather see a Smithsonian Museum.
alastair prescott 6 months ago
Well, actually I'd rather see a Smithsoniam as well.
I just thought that an aquarium would fit with a zoo and garden.
Peter C 5 months ago
If you look carefully at the plans for OdySea posted on their website, the aquarium and other attractions appear to actually be clever draws for a fairly large retail mall.
While I'm generally happy to have these new "attractions" to add to the other tourist draws in the area, the mall itself could eventually divert substantial sales tax dollars from Scottsdale's coffers.