Many of us remember in the 1960s, when conservative Cincinnati confronted a high-stakes, far-reaching choice about the need for a new sports stadium on the riverfront. Since then, it seems that every generation has had to face the same fundamental question: do we want to remain a “big league” city? Do we, and can we, try to keep pace with “large market” cities when they raise the ante with bigger and better arenas, stadiums and performance venues?

Factor in our aesthetic, civic and historic responsibility to maintain Music Hall – our “secular cathedral,” as Thom so aptly put it – and things get REALLY complicated!

Today’s harsh economy underscores the fact that there are plenty of worthwhile ways to spend our money. But the discussion has to start somewhere and must include Music Hall.