Does anyone find it incredibly stupid for taxpayers to pay taxes to build a professional sports team a stadium, considering they have to pay to get in the place, despite the fact they had it built?

It’s to make money for the city. The only problem I have with it is that it gets the government involved in things it shouldn’t. Personally I think it should all be privatized. Bureaucracy doesn’t help the situation. Its not coming out of the politicians pockets so they don’t exactly have the same interest as private investors. Must I remind you of the 300 dollar hammers?

Depends on the story. Wanna send a link or at least tell us what exactly is going on?

Besides, isn't tax money supposed to used to for public buildings, like stadiums etc?

Arlington just voted to build a new stadium for the Dallas Cowboys. My question is this, the owner is a multi billionaire why cant he pay for it?

Also, its like the government building a facility for a private business. Why doesnt the government pay to build a super target? That creates jobs just like the stadium does.

Does anyone find it incredibly stupid for taxpayers to pay taxes to build a professional sports team a stadium, considering they have to pay to get in the place, despite the fact they had it built?
Yes. It is.

I'm almost too angry at this sort of thing to post.

Back when I was highschool, They used tax payers money to put artificial turf on the football field that costed over a million dollars. The school only had enough books for 1 book to every 3 students, and they books were greatly out dated. We also couldn't afford to run the air conditioner, or pay the electricity bills for the lights.

That school sucks.

Most stadium-related things don't make sense.

For ex, money made from the lottery was originally for education. Now it goes to the newest stadium being made :mad:

Back when I was highschool, They used tax payers money to put artificial turf on the football field that costed over a million dollars. The school only had enough books for 1 book to every 3 students, and they books were greatly out dated. We also couldn't afford to run the air conditioner, or pay the electricity bills for the lights.

That school sucks. Artificial turf saves money in the long run. It's a financially sound decision. What sucks about it is that it's artificial turf. Grass is the only way to go. Unless it's the newer, grasslike turf, which isn't so bad.

Does anyone find it incredibly stupid for taxpayers to pay taxes to build a professional sports team a stadium, considering they have to pay to get in the place, despite the fact they had it built? Maybe, but they vote for it.

As some of you may know, I am from Memphis, TN. Our beloved city decided it needed a professional sports team more than it needed to educate our kids. So we brought some basketball team from Canada and renamed them the Memphis Grizzlies. Then we built a stadium for them (the FedEx Forum) with taxpayer dollars, even though we already had acceptable amenities (i.e., the Pyramid).

The best part of this nasty deal is that the Grizzlies have a "first right of refusal clause" in their contract with Memphis. The FedEx Forum is a concert venue too. We already had the Coliseum and the Pyramid for this purpose, but now we also have the Forum. In exchange for the Grizzlies' owner picking up the tab on any financial losses the FedEx Forum may incur, the City of Memphis agrees that the Grizzlies have control over anybody who may want to do a concert in Memphis. If the performers don't want to do their concert at the Forum, the Grizzlies can keep them from performing anywhere in Memphis. Alternatively, if there is a Grizzlies game the same night as an artist wants to do a concert in Memphis, the Grizzlies can still keep them out. This recently happened with Velvet Revolver. So not only has the Forum cost us out the ass to build, but it is going to drain our economy since not every act can be accomodated or wants to be accomodated at the Forum. Which really sucks, because there's not a damn thing we can do about it.

If the performers don't want to do their concert at the Forum, the Grizzlies can keep them from performing anywhere in Memphis.

Let's not forget the Desoto Civic Center (across state lines in Mississippi... Velvet revolver is performing there) and the venues at the casinos. I'm sure the acts will find a way around it. Many country stars and a few old 80's groups preform in Tunica. :D

I have a question, If a stadium is built by tax dollars, then why is it considered private property after it is built? Mabye this isn't true in all cases, but I've heard about this kind of thing before.

Let's not forget the Desoto Civic Center (across state lines in Mississippi... Velvet revolver is performing there) and the venues at the casinos. I'm sure the acts will find a way around it. Many country stars and a few old 80's groups preform in Tunica. :D
You're right, of course. The Desoto Civic Center (located just across the Mississippi state line) can accomodate these acts. Also, the casinos in Tunica are another viable option. But for me the issue is not whether the acts come or not, but how much revenue do we have to lose to Mississippi (esp. Tunica) before our mayor wakes his lazy ass up and fixes it? This is disgraceful. I'm running for mayor of Memphis in 2007. Vote for me!

on top of you paying out the ass for this stadium, and then having to pay to see a game, the players and the owners are the ones who are making out like a bandit. When you pay players an annual salary of what the construction costs were, there is a problem. The tax payers would not be burdened with this if the players would not get paid so much per year.

tMR

Yeah, Mark. $50 for good seats / night does add up quite quickly.

At this time, Memphis does not have ambitions to build a Pro-Baseball or Football stadium. One $250 million arena with absolute rights over concerts is plenty for a city our size.

Mary, you'll have to admit, it will help that very dilapidated area (south of Fourth & Vance) over time... That whole area is like the new frontier for the memphis downtown.

What about a National stadium? To be used for games contested by the National Team? Or, (to include the US) State teams?

Here's the deal - Scotland has a national Rugby team. They play at Murrayfield Stadium. Who pays for the needs of the Scottish National Team? Should it only be people that are interested in Scottish Rugby? Or should it be everyone in Scotland, because our team represents our pride and respect within the international game? (Unless you count last Saturday's performance against the Wallabies, where we were totally fucking embarrassed... again...)

Anyway - the point is this. Your country (or State) has an interest in an international (or Federal) league... It's not about the pitch or the team's salaries or anything like that... It's about YOUR side facing THEIR side!!

So, if YOUR side is playing, they'll need somewhere to play. If there's nowhere for them to play, then WE'LL have to pay for it, cos they're playing for US.

I fail to see how there could be a greater issue to the taxpayer than this. We're here for a short time only - we have a DUTY to enjoy it. And our National/State teams help us do that.

Unless our state team gets fucked by the Aussies.

Again.

Anyway - the point is this. Your country (or State) has an interest in an international (or Federal) league... It's not about the pitch or the team's salaries or anything like that... It's about YOUR side facing THEIR side!! In the colonies, unfortunately, it really is all about the money. The owners focus on the bottom line, the coaches operate like CEOs, and the players are in it for themselves (generally speaking). Honestly, when is the last time you saw an NFL team do the haka (http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/images/1997.wmv) before Monday Night (American) Football (or any game for that matter)?

Those with ties to the monarch may play for guts and glory, but ever since we told King George to piss off, we've been all about the money.

In the colonies, unfortunately, it really is all about the money. The owners focus on the bottom line, the coaches operate like CEOs, and the players are in it for themselves (generally speaking). Honestly, when is the last time you saw an NFL team do the haka (http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/images/1997.wmv) before Monday Night (American) Football (or any game for that matter)?

Those with ties to the monarch may play for guts and glory, but ever since we told King George to piss off, we've been all about the money.
Your loss, mate.

Some of us still like to see people playing for the shirt.

:D