People want it, but no one wants to pay for it.

The answer is simpler than you think: Make it pay for itself.

Yes, we’re talking about Aloha Stadium — actually, Aloha Stadium, v2.

All things considered, it’s beginning to look like the best place for a replacement for the aging football facility is right where it is now.

1. There’s no room at the University of Hawaii or other areas of urban Honolulu. I like that longstanding idea of turning Ala Wai Golf Course into nine holes and putting a stadium there, but it seems there are still enough self-centered, entitled golfers out there willing to fight that one to the bitter end.

2. That long-expected westward population shift of Oahu that put the stadium in Halawa Valley to begin with more than 40 years ago is finally really happening. It’s projected the population of Kapolei will grow by more than 50 percent in the next 20 years, compared to 9 percent for the entire island.

3. We don’t know if it will be done in our lifetimes or not and, whether or not we like it, rail is coming. There will be a station where the stadium is now.

4. A change in zoning around Aloha Stadium to allow businesses such as clubs and restaurants has been agreed upon by all parties, is finalized and just awaits signatures.

Of course, the location will never be ideal for University of Hawaii students who want to see their Rainbow Warriors play. (Some of us still hold the quaint belief it is first and foremost the students’ team.)

And we’ve learned the hard way that better access and egress is a must when the stadium and its environs are redesigned.

As for seating, if we really want to chase big events the stadium can’t be confined to less than the current 50,000 capacity. It must be able to expand to accommodate at least that many.

Also, it should be multi-purpose — meaning big enough so it can also host soccer and other sports. A world-class baseball stadium spiffy enough for an event like the World Baseball Classic, or at least a spring training game, would be nice, too. But that’s probably way too improbable of a dream. Speaking of dreams, did the Padres and Cardinals really play MLB regular season games at Aloha, or did I just imagine that?

With who-knows-what and who-knows-where after a couple of years in Orlando for the Pro Bowl, the best shot at the NFL is an exhibition game. But I’m told it would cost the state more than $5 million to get a team to give up even a preseason home game.

NFL fans in Hawaii are smart enough to know they’d only see the starters play a few downs. Making money off such a venture is way less certain than a pre-2016 point-after-touchdown.

And, what about the hundreds of nights a year when the stadium is dark, with no events, big or small?

Well, state officials, including Sen. Glenn Wakai, who represents District 15, home of the stadium, were scheduled for a teleconference Wednesday with representatives of Topgolf.

Topgolf is the trendy cool thing that’s going to hold the public’s imagination a lot longer than Pokemon-whatever did. Never mind revenue stream … we could be talking about a Mississippi River of money to help defray the new stadium cost.

Wakai got the idea — basically a golf practice range with games, music, food and drink, that is fun for even non-golfers — from former UH associate athletic director John McNamara. On nongame nights, stadium luxury suites would host Topgolf and serve as the launching pad for shots.

“I love the opportunity for them to come into the stadium,” Wakai said. “I totally support that very innovative idea.”

Topgolf has already researched the viability of its product in a stadium, and is hosting “Topgolf Crush” at Safeco Field in Seattle, Feb. 17-20.

This if from promotional literature for Topgolf Crush:

Expect the energy of your hometown ballpark to be transformed with great music, delicious snacks and drinks, plus the opportunity to challenge your friends to addictive, point-scoring golf games that even non-golfers can enjoy. Craving a competitive edge? Our technology tracks the flight path of your balls and instantly scores them so you can see how your skills stack up.

Sounds like a great idea. But why stop there? Could a new stadium have a bowling alley, karaoke bar, batting cage and … of course … a great restaurant or food court?

Maybe, maybe not. But with the rezoning, some of these fun people magnets wouldn’t have to be in the stadium itself.

As much as we might love them, football and swap meets are not enough.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.