Arizona's Maricopa County Board has backbone

[DoubleWasp]

Originally Posted By: Sunnyinhollister
This is the reason I do not want tax payer money paying for a stadium:

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/six-lies-about-the-marlins-stadium-6380692

The article is five years old, but the greed has not changed.


And people still don't show up. I was recently at a Marlins game, and not only are the Marlins a real bore to watch, but seats are plenty empty. Watching a Marlins game is a good way to become a broke alcoholic.

Poor Stanton is still afraid of the ball after getting his face caved in by a beaner (I'm referring to the ball, in case that gets misinterpreted).

The "Energy Team" couldn't raise a spark in a lightning storm.

The whole operation just looks lazy and fading. Even the T-shirt gun, which barely cleared the first 10 rows seemed pathetic.

But something pointless and corrupt happening in Miami was about as much a shock as the rain in June.

 

[LoneRanger]

I could care less about pro sports. When I watch it's usually NCAA, which unfortunately is becoming like a smaller version of pro with all the perks and money given to star players and etc.

Are there any other countries on the planet that elevate professional sports to the level of idol worship as widely as the USA does?

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
I could care less about pro sports. When I watch it's usually NCAA, which unfortunately is becoming like a smaller version of pro with all the perks and money given to star players and etc.

Are there any other countries on the planet that elevate professional sports to the level of idol worship as widely as the USA does?


You don't think other countries idolize their athletes like the USA does? Soccer, F1 racing, tennis, etc etc. Same goes for movie stars. All countries idolize their celebrities and that includes whatever is the most popular sport.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979


You don't think other countries idolize their athletes like the USA does? Soccer, F1 racing, tennis, etc etc. Same goes for movie stars. All countries idolize their celebrities and that includes whatever is the most popular sport.


I'd be willing to wager that idolatry in the US does not even reach the level it does abroad. Especially when it comes to soccer and F1. Those people are as close to Gods as it gets.

 

[threeputtpar]

The whole idea of an individual owing a sports franchise makes me scratch my head. What we have here in Green Bay with the Packers is how it really should work.

When Lambeau Field was falling behind in it's age and capacity compared to other stadiums in the league, the team simply had a stock offering to raise funds. Sure, the stock isn't worth the paper it's printed on because you cannot resell it and it won't every appreciate in value, but you can then proclaim that you are a team owner and attend the annual owner's meeting.

There was also a 0.5% sales tax to cover bonds that the city sold to fund the rest of the project. I think it was 10-12 years that the sales tax ran and once the bonds were paid off the tax was redacted and the excess funds were proportionally given back the municipalities that paid it in. Yes you heard that right, they didn't find another pet project that the tax could fund they let it sunset just like they promised to do when it was passed.

The economic impact of the 11-12 games (including 2 playoff games because the Pack will have home-field advantage this year) is astronomical for the city of 100k residents. I cannot imagine how bad off Green Bay would be without all things Packers and the money they bring in from all over the state. Season ticket holders around my FIL's seats come from the WI/MN border for every game. Without the Packers there's no way anyone would visit Green Bay from 5 hours away for pleasure purposes.

If the Packers were owned by one person, I would have felt the same way as the council person in the OP when they asked the city in 2003 for money to renovate the stadium.

Plus I want to add that I took my two sons to the Packers Family Night event at the end of July. The entire stadium of 70k+ was sold out at $10 a ticket, to see a 90 minute practice. There is no other team in any professional sport that could sell out their stadium for a practice. Many of them cannot even sell out regular season games! Plus the $700k all went to local charities in Green Bay, so everyone wins. They've been doing Family Night since 1999 now, and it's been a full sellout since 2000.

 

[cptbarkey]

Originally Posted By: Al
The next chairman will join the rest of the rest of the board, line their pockets and [censored] the taxpayers..very sad.


this, the smart money would wait them out since its clear the current chairman has short timers and suddenly feels compelled to "speak his mind."

 

[javacontour]

I agree.

Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams tried to hold STL hostage. But then is largely spending more of his own money to move the team (back) to LA.

It really won't change the economic future of STL to miss the 8 regular season and 2 pre-season games that were played here.

It might hurt those who picked up 10 additional shifts selling $10 beers and brats at the concession stands, but really, there are other things the braintrust running STL need to fund instead of the new stadium Kroenke was looking to build.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Al
The next chairman will join the rest of the rest of the board, line their pockets and [censored] the taxpayers..very sad.


If it's that bad then why don't people like you man up, get into politics at the grass roots level, and make changes rather than sit around griping, whining and skirting the profanity rule about it? It's the very reason I ran, and true to my promise I'm only serving 1 term. I also did it for free-state law requires that I take a paycheck, but we donate my monthly salary to the local animal shelter.

Anyone have the cojones to step up and do it too? Or is sitting around watching tv and whining about it on a discussion forum all you can muster?

 

[cptbarkey]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Al
The next chairman will join the rest of the rest of the board, line their pockets and [censored] the taxpayers..very sad.


If it's that bad then why don't people like you man up, get into politics at the grass roots level, and make changes rather than sit around griping, whining and skirting the profanity rule about it? It's the very reason I ran, and true to my promise I'm only serving 1 term. I also did it for free-state law requires that I take a paycheck, but we donate my monthly salary to the local animal shelter.

Anyone have the cojones to step up and do it too? Or is sitting around watching tv and whining about it on a discussion forum all you can muster?


your expounded naivety is cute.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Let idiot owner build with their own $$$.
Usually the voters are stupid.

 

[jimbrewer]

What? You guys aren't impressed with Bill Richardson now that he lives in your state?

Believe me, Arizona makes the New Mexico legislators look like the Roman Senate.