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Bread & Circuses: The Shady, Slimy & Corrupt World Of Taxpayer Funded Sports Stadiums

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Mike Krieger via Liberty Blitzkrieg blog,

Screen Shot 2015-09-03 at 12.09.24 PM

Like pretty much everything in the modern U.S. economy, wealthy and connected people fleecing taxpayers in order to earn even greater piles of money is also the business model when it comes to sports stadiums. Many cities have tried to make voter approval mandatory before these building boondoggles get started, but in almost all cases these efforts are thwarted by a powerful coalition of businessmen and corrupt politicians. Sound familiar? Yep, it a microcosm for pretty much everything else in America these days.

To get you up to speed, here are a few excerpts from an excellent Pacific Standard magazine article:

Over the past 15 years, more than $12 billion in public money has been spent on privately owned stadiums. Between 1991 and 2010, 101 new stadiums were opened across the country; nearly all those projects were funded by taxpayers. The loans most often used to pay for stadium construction—a variety of tax-exempt municipal bonds—will cost the federal government at least $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies to bondholders. Stadiums are built with money borrowed today, against public money spent tomorrow, at the expense of taxes that will never be collected. Economists almost universally agree that publicly financed stadiums are bad investments, yet cities and states still race to the chance to unload the cash. What gives?  

 

To understand this stadium trend, and why it’s so hard for opponents to thwart public funding, look to Wisconsin. Last month, Governor Scott Walker signed a bill to spend $250 million on a new basketball arena for the Milwaukee Bucks. (The true cost of the project, including interest payments, will be more than $400 million.)

Isn’t Scott Walker supposed to be “Mr. Fiscal Conservative?”

The story of what’s happening in Milwaukee is remarkable, if not already familiar. Step one: A down-on-its-luck team is purchased by a group of billionaire investors. Step two: The owners nod to their “moral responsibility” to keep the team in its hometown,while simultaneously lobbying for a new stadium. Step three: The team threatens to abandon its hometown for greener pastures—and newer facilities—in another city. Step four: The threat scares up hundreds of millions of public dollars in stadium financing. Step five: The new stadium opens, boosting the owners’ investment, while sloughing much of the financial risk onto taxpayers. As New York Times columnist Michael Powell wrote, “From start to desultory end, Milwaukee offered a case study in all that is wrong with our arena-shakedown age.”

 

That’s not to say the Bucks plan was entirely unopposed. Last year, a coalition of religious and community groups known as Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground tried to fight the arena proposal. It called for a voter referendum on the bond issue, and lobbied for money to improve Milwaukee’s public parks and playing fields. Powell explains the rest:

 

The local business community—which includes several members who have ownership shares in the team—dismissed such ideas as impractical. “The Bucks took control of the strategy from the start,” said Bob Connolly, a member of Common Ground. “They pushed the referendum idea right to the side.” Months later, when Common Ground leaders turned to usually friendly local foundations for more funding, they found themselves turned away. You are, they were told several times, too political.

 

The lesson is clear: It is incredibly difficult to fight these projects. And Milwaukee is not alone. In St. Louis, for example, a judge recently struck down a city ordinance requiring voters to approve public spending on a new stadium for the Rams. Back in June, when Glendale, Arizona, tried to back out of its atrocious dealwith the National Hockey League’s Coyotes, the team quickly slapped the city with a lawsuit. Meanwhile, in building a new billion-dollar home in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Vikings found a loophole around a state law mandating that all public spending on sports teams be put to a vote.

 

Not surprisingly, publicly funded stadiums face the least opposition in cities with strong growth coalitions, which Eckstein and Delaney define as the “institutionalized relationship between headquartered local corporations and the local government.” A coalition can claim to represent the interests of a community—not an outrageous claim on its face, since it comprises the powerful and prominent local leaders—while shielding team owners from both direct criticism and grassroots opposition. This is precisely what’s happening in Milwaukee. Here’s the Times’ Powell again:

 

The hedge fund owners proved deft with ownership shares, handing these out to prominent Wisconsin businessmen and Republicans, including the developer Jon Hammes. Hammes has become national finance co-chairman for Walker, a Republican presidential candidate. The Capital Times recently reported that a political action committee connected to Hammes contributed $150,000 to the governor in late spring. 

 

Economists have proposed antitrust lawsuits against leagues and stricter naming rights for teams, as Slate suggested in March, but neither idea has gained much traction. Florida proposal would have shared team revenues with the public—a somewhat radical idea that Deadspin boldly declared “The Best Idea for Stadium Financing We’ve Ever Heard“—but it was quickly deemed illegal.

Sharing revenues with the taxpayers funding the stadium: Illegal.

Blatantly corrupt private-public partnership cartels: Perfectly legal.

Two words: Banana Republic.

In case you forgot the ultimate casino-gulag partnership of them all…

America in 2013: Florida Football Stadium Named After a Private Prison Company

Now here’s the always brilliant John Oliver on the issue. Enjoy:

 

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Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:02 | 6511777 cossack55
cossack55's picture

After last nights game at Lucas Oil Stadium, they are thinking of changing the Colts to the Bolts.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:35 | 6511857 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Beisbol ben beddy beddy goo tu mi.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 23:20 | 6512248 JPM Hater001
JPM Hater001's picture

This was the 2014 Libertarian Candidate for Governor's position...

It’s official.

Our current legislators and the presidential candidate Scott Walker chose to take $250 million from the University of Wisconsin System and give it to the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. Congratulations on saving part time jobs for hotdog vendors and security who will never be able to afford to actually watch a game at those wages and ticket prices.

The idea of giving one dime to a recreational organization, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is repulsive. Had I been governor, I would have courteously called the owner and thanked him personally for his request and ensured that I would work diligently to make this the best state for his team to be located through free markets, greater employment freedom and as prosperous a community as liberty will provide to buy their tickets. But, under no circumstances would any taxpayer money be transferred to an account belonging to the team.

Why don’t politicians focus on helping farmers through hemp nullification or the sick through marijuana legalization. Oh, that’s right, they can’t move their team or donate $150,000 to Gov. Walker’s presidential PAC.

You folks on the red team are still headed in the wrong direction.

Editor’s note: Burke was a 2014 Libertarian candidate for governor.

 

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:06 | 6512771 Save_America1st
Save_America1st's picture

it's not just stadiums...Bernie Ecclestone forced Austin, Texas tax payers to pony up 290 Million dollars to build a fucking race track that he gets to own privately!!!  Why the fuck did they do that??  That douche bag is worth Billions and he has forced tax payers to pay for every track he's built all over the world.  He's a fucking scumbag and then he gave his scank daughters like 5 Billion dollars and they immediately spent every bit of it! 

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:36 | 6512816 duo
duo's picture

When Jerry Jones had Jerry World built, there were a few homeowners that wouldn't take his low-ball offer for their houses.  A few city bulldozers fixed that.  "What house? I don't see any house".

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:34 | 6512815 duo
duo's picture

I was up in WI over the summer.  I heard TV commercials that stated that the NBA was going to force the Bucks to move if they didn't get a new stadium.  Clearly this was BS but somehow added legitimacy to Walker and his cronies.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 13:58 | 6513620 cowdogg
cowdogg's picture

Scott Walker is a Fascist, not a Conservative. What would you expect from someone like that?

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 14:27 | 6513673 TBT or not TBT
TBT or not TBT's picture

How would you describe the behavior of Wisconsins public sector unions and their public enforcers?

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 02:48 | 6512519 putaipan
putaipan's picture

while i was watching it i couldn't help asking my self which is worse "bread and circus's" or all 60 hours of bread and circus's dipped in cgi spurrting blood and blows in slo'mo austrailian cable tv renderered or the real thing. end times debate i s'posse.

 

 

i am robert david steeele! ( don;t make me resurect the ROCKY ROCKY ROCKY  campaign of 2012. he is on the ballet tho')

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 07:28 | 6512734 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

this is old shit, the one word to describe all our problems could just be: criminal...gov is the biggest crime organization on the planet, bribes and pay offs all around, everybody gets a piece, except those outside of .gov and corrupt business. (my appology to honest businessmen they do exsist.)

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:59 | 6511928 JungleCat
JungleCat's picture

Did you mean "the Dolts"?

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:37 | 6512018 RebootCongress
RebootCongress's picture

Missouri's free-market think tank, the Show-Me Institute, did a short video about the effort to build a new stadium for the Rams in Saint Louis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj7S6kxtep4

 

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:17 | 6513029 doctor10
doctor10's picture

this of itself is a "bread and circuses" shell game.  Look everywhere but at the banking-congress, big business-congress collusion.

 

"Privatize the profits" -"Socilaize the losses" onto the taxpayer.

 

As things begin to detonate those crooks will all be pointing their fingers every which way desperately  hoping the taxpayers won't see them in all chaos.

 

This crap is only the beginning-and is absolute peanuts relative to the trillions in NYC/Wall St.

Mon, 09/07/2015 - 01:52 | 6517596 garypaul
garypaul's picture

It's the same thing here in Canada.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:06 | 6511784 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

Feed them toxic GMO foods, and fluoridated water to lower IQ and lower will and resolve, brainwash them with a lying media, induce temporary torpor with massive servings of fast foods, and keep them entertained with sports round the clock to make the perfect slaves for the fascist police state.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:11 | 6511799 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

San Diego nearly went bankrupt funding a stadium for a very rich team owner.  Like all such projects the public was told it would pay off handsomely.  It did ... for the owner of the team. For San Diegans, most can't afford to go to the ballpark, the massive union payoffs went unfunded, and for unlucky owners of land nearby their property was stolen by eminent domain for a song.  Streets are unpaved, services terminated, and taxes and fees have skyrocketed.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:17 | 6511808 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

The rich get richer in America as they own the government and the Fed

The Fed Won: America's 0.1% Are Now Wealthier Than The Bottom 90%

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-11-11/fed-won-americas-01-are-now-wea...

In Stadium Building Spree, U.S. Taxpayers Lose $4 Billion

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-09-05/in-stadium-building-sp...

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:43 | 6511880 Cornfedbloodstool
Cornfedbloodstool's picture

The number one best thing about Las Vegas is that tax increase and publically funded stadiums are always voted down. Although, it did not stop the RINO governor of Nevada from ramming through the largest tax hike in state history,

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:00 | 6511933 falconflight
falconflight's picture

It's uneffing believeable, and the GOProg Georgia legislature and governor just passed a .20 cent plus add'l tax to gasoline purchases.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 00:38 | 6512378 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

Speaking of shoving a project down people's throats:

 

Texas high speed rail passes major milestone with first fundraising announcement

 

http://www.chron.com/news/transportation/article/Texas-high-speed-rail-p...

 

No one I know in Dallas or Houston, or for that matter, no Texan I know wants this costly money-losing monstronsity. Yet, they are pushing it down landowners' throats down there.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 09:23 | 6512884 Save_America1st
Save_America1st's picture

same thing happened in Oregon.  The lib-tards from California took over Portland and turned it into a hippie haven of FSA shitbags who now control the state.  They're doing it to Texas now too.  I left Oregon partially for that reason.  90% of Oregon is rural farming, hunting, fishing, forests, farms, desert, etc.  But now Portland is the S.F. of the Pacific Northwest...full of relocated Californi-tards who have taken control of the state legislature and turned Oregon into a major tax slavery state.  Salem and Eugene are just as bad.  I will never move back to my home state.  It's been destroyed by these scumbags and now after the last 30 years or so they've been able to indoctrinate all new fresh generations of lib-tards to perpetuate the unending cycle.  Luckily, Oregon doesn't have a bunch of large cities like Florida where all these scumbags can massively take over.  Portland is about it, but it's a fairly spread out area.  But due to the geography of mountains, coast, desert and farming, most FSA libtard scumbags can't spread out too far into those areas or reality sets in and they die on the vine.  So they mostly congregate in the Portland metro area where they can live in their bubble, smoke out, bitch about stupid shit, suck life from the rest of the tax payers, and rot the town from the inside out like typical socialist, marxist shitbags do in every other major city.  Seattle is even worse.  2 amazing states full of potential, and yet just those 2 main cities over-run by retards dictate socialist bullshit over the rest of the entire population of the states.  It's a fucking travesty.  Now even more and more millions will leave California for Texas like rats jumping from a sinking ship and they will eventually turn Texas into another psycho-socialist, marxist, hell hole.  Look at what they've already done to the city of Austin.  And with our treasonous government allowing illegals from all over the world to cross the southern border there isn't much that Texas can do regardless of it's strong heritage.  It's all about "racism" and bullshit like that now if Americans try to fight back and stand up for the Constitution.  It's sickening

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 14:36 | 6513694 TBT or not TBT
TBT or not TBT's picture

Texas' FSA problem is of hispanic and other south of the borders origin(indians who arent literate in Spanish), and of course lefties, homegrown and from out of state gleefully expect to use them electorally as they already do the black FSA and not insignificant white trash FSA.     

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:25 | 6513049 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

Nobody uses the train. Look at an Amtrak train sometimes. Always almost empty.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 14:24 | 6513659 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

These are total pork barrel politics for a small group of businesses. The metro rail that heads north out of Austin, Tx to leander is 95% empty almost all the time even during rush hour. Their public buses run deficits in the millions and yet they want to expand.

 

I read that Texas rail from Dallas and Houston is a total waste and will destroy thousands of good acreage so a handful of construction companies can rape the public. That wealthy neighborhood, The Woodlands, fought hard to prevent that crap from going right through it. Those people saw what Dallas' DART system did to those subrubs; turned them into ghettoes.

 

 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:58 | 6511919 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

@ Just Observing, thank you for your cery informative posts.

Here's the "Kicker" no pun intended. The NFL No Fun League is a Not For Profit Organization that pays absolutely NO taxes.

The National Football League is not formally a business. Technically, it is a nonprofit organization that funnels money back to the individual teams that make up the league. As a whole, the NFL’s revenue is estimated to be about $9.5 billion per year. The overall market value of the 32 teams that make up the league is estimated to be $46 billion.

So if the NFL were a real company—let’s say, for the sake of argument, with a market capitalization of $46 billion, based on its teams’ total value and annual revenues of $9.5 billion—which companies would it most resemble? Looking at the 14 Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index 500 companies with the most comparable revenue numbers (from $9 billion to $10 billion), the NFL has, by far, a higher market cap than any of them:

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-09-12/if-the-nfl-were-a-real-b...

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:37 | 6512017 willwork4food
willwork4food's picture

And they don't pay a dime in taxes-because they are "non-profit".

lmfao.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 14:40 | 6513701 TBT or not TBT
TBT or not TBT's picture

Well that proves their virtue, every last a selfless contributor to our civilisation.   

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:14 | 6512124 Realname
Realname's picture

501-C-3...same as churches...

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:44 | 6513108 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

Every check mark I see on a uniform makes me throw up a little....

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:38 | 6511863 Amy G. Dala
Amy G. Dala's picture

No point in letting bankruptcy get in the way of PROGRESS!

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:16 | 6511970 MissCellany
MissCellany's picture

You sound like Donald Trump.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:53 | 6511904 Hitlery_4_Dictator
Hitlery_4_Dictator's picture

Fuck the NFL and sheep who watch it...

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:10 | 6511951 falconflight
falconflight's picture

I haven't watched a single game or read a single sports page in about 18 months.  A small sacrifice in the name of personal secession.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:37 | 6512019 Hitlery_4_Dictator
Hitlery_4_Dictator's picture

Respect. It's been 5-6 years for me. Last game I watched was Vikings vs. Katrina - Favre's last game

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:01 | 6512088 falconflight
falconflight's picture

I really appreciate hearing that you and others are similarly reacting.  I stopped watching the NCAA as well.  As an aside, watching 95% black players on these farm teams is kinda creepy to me.  

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 02:18 | 6512491 Sokhmate
Sokhmate's picture

WTF is NCAA?

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:30 | 6512810 messymerry
messymerry's picture

I upvoted all you guys, I don't support big money sports either!!!

;-D

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:54 | 6513139 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

I rarely watch an NFL game anymore and it takes quite a bit of will power for me to watch even one during a season if I can last the entire game.  I used to play football and loved the sport, my sentiments about football and the sport have continued to decline with corporate named stadiums all around the country, check marks on the fucking uniforms with over the top hype before, during and after a game.... no thanks ... fuck you NFL for destroying the value of the sport and your allying yourself with corporations all over the place instead of being allies with the people.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:01 | 6512090 Freddie
Freddie's picture

The NCAA and their stadiums plus dumb whites cheering Trayvons is just as bad.   This insane and stupid tribal loyalty of alumni and illiterate morons who cheer on universities.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:08 | 6512112 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Most of them never even attended these universities.  

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:52 | 6512835 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

True. Back in the day those blue collar fans could afford to go to the games. Those fans made LSU's Death Valley a legendary place to play. They actually gave a shit.

Now the tickets are approaching NFL prices. Parking has been restricted to pay only, TSA style checkpoints at stadium entrances (where there were once about 20 entry gates for Tiger stadium PRE TSA, the last game I attended in '07, there were four. That meant 90K plus people had to pass through those 4 gates. a 1 hour wait to get in and get groped is a real buzz kill.

And what you might not know is just how much money alumni spend on season tickets, parking passes, membership dues, et al. It amounts to thousands of dollars per year. Luxury suites are going for #$100k per season.

I stopped going because of several reasons:  gentrification, over commercialization, ridiculous regulations, and piped in rap music in favor of the Golden Band from Tigerland.

Simply put, they're turning NCAA football into the NFL.  The two Saints games I attended in the 90s were absolutely horrible. The blasting rap music, commercials, and constant TV timeouts made it a miserable experience. It was a different experience from college ball. But college ball started changing around the year 2000. I don't even recognize it any more.

They took the fun out of it so I no longer pay attention.  And I was a serious fan for a long time -- never invested a lot of money though, always bought tix outside the stadium for a few bucks. But I did watch it on TV and read about the team quite a bit.

Now I split wood, shoot guns, grow food, and read ZH.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:57 | 6513147 rosiescenario
rosiescenario's picture

You might also ask how much these colleges are paying their coaches.....incredible.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 11:06 | 6513178 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

They're piping in rap music now?  Oy... that's enough to inspire me not to go if I was inclined to go.  Motown music produced something worth listening to ... now its just a museum literally and figuratively.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 14:26 | 6513672 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

The best place to get the crap beat out of you is outside the stadium in the parking lot where thugs await.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:19 | 6513031 risk.averse
risk.averse's picture

Streets are unpaved, services terminated, and taxes and fees have skyrocketed.

Situation in Sydney, Australia -- on the other side of the Pacific Ocean from San Diego -- is much the same. Premier (Australian equivalent to US's governors) Mike Baird announced a c ouple of days ago that he would spend A$1.6 billion of government (hah!! -- read "taxpayers'" !!) money on 3 new stadia. Sydney people are very infrequent spectators at big sporting events. In a city of over 4 miilon people, it's quite unusual for than 20,000 to go to premium sporting events.

There have been cases here where people have been given free tickets by sporting bodies to help fill huge stadia that were built for the SYdney 2000 Olympics. Masses of empty seats look embarrassing during the TV coverage. Rugby League football, Sydney's traditional game, is facing a battle with Soccer and Australian Rules football for the hearts and minds of Sydney-siders -- particularly young kids...and their mothers who increasingly are stopping their kids from playing what many of them consider a thuggish game.

And isn't going to outdoor sporting events now so VERY 20th Century??? Except for the diehard fans, who in their right minds wouldn't prefer to stay comfortable in their lounge room, a few metres from the fridge and other modcons? TV sports coverage is quite amazing with mutliple camera angles -- user selectable in some cases -- and skycam. Such technology is making live attendance at sports a very limited and poor altenative to watching them at home.

The last time I attended a Rugby league game I was deliberately sprayed with beer several times by the groups of drunken louts standing behind us. Who needs this -- I don't !! Never again.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:52 | 6511902 Fish Gone Bad
Fish Gone Bad's picture

Sugar does a pretty good job by itself. 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:59 | 6511921 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

Stadium food is the most toxic of all foodstuffs. Especially the hot dogs.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:08 | 6511794 Banjo
Banjo's picture

Hold on a moment. This piece of so called journalism is terrorism. We all know only corrupt Putin in Sochi does this type of thing.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:09 | 6511795 gdogus erectus
gdogus erectus's picture

Yes but have us pay for our own enslavement, poisoning and brainwashing. Now that takes some skill.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:11 | 6511800 Jersey_Mountaineer
Jersey_Mountaineer's picture

I'm just dumbfounded by how these local politicians can always make the public believe that their economy will be boosted by pouring a billion dollars into a football stadium that will be used 8x a year.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:37 | 6511860 Bay Area Guy
Bay Area Guy's picture

Hey!  Counting pre-season, it's 10!  And if they make the playoffs, it could go to 12!  And, and, and, don't forget all the ancillary benefits, like, uh, uh, uh, box seats for the politicians.

The City of Santa Clara (down by San Jose) just payed an atrocious amount of money to build a new stadium for the 49ers.  And the 49ers repaid them by firing the head coach that got them to three consecutive conference championships, and getting rid of many decent players in exchange for lower paid players.  So now, instead of a competitive team, Santa Clara is getting a stripped down version that will still line the owner's pockets, but as for the city?  Not so much.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:04 | 6511942 Jersey_Mountaineer
Jersey_Mountaineer's picture

The strangest part is that the Niners are only the 2nd closest team to San Francisco now.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:11 | 6511956 Bay Area Guy
Bay Area Guy's picture

LOL.  You can't count the Raiders as a real NFL team, at least not in the last decade or so.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:17 | 6511973 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Yes, but they were having to play in a disadvantaged venue, kinda like I have to endure about utes needing brand new, college like campuses for high school, or they won't be able to learn...

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:28 | 6511994 Jersey_Mountaineer
Jersey_Mountaineer's picture

Good point.  Cal or Stanford could probably kick their ass.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:06 | 6511944 falconflight
falconflight's picture

One of the reasons Scott Walker, is on my shit list as he's supported the TaxPayer rape for a new NBA palace in Milwaukee.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:20 | 6511980 Cornfedbloodstool
Cornfedbloodstool's picture

I was in Santa Clara in 1993. Nice place except for the hordes of gutter punks begging on the streets.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 23:38 | 6512289 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

That effing Bourbon Steak house.....$34 for Kagoshina Ribeye....per OZ. Better be dipped in silver....twice.

 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:37 | 6512162 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Pro sports and the NCAA crap is total garbage and nonsense for idiots.   I did like former 49er coach Jim Harbaugh because the guy goes bonkers at the drop of the hat.   I avoid TV and Hollywood but I remember seeing Harbaugh go nouts at a relative's house.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:41 | 6511873 ToSoft4Truth
ToSoft4Truth's picture

Ever notice past Olympic arenas? 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:54 | 6511907 Fish Gone Bad
Fish Gone Bad's picture

Cricket farms....

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:58 | 6511917 Jersey_Mountaineer
Jersey_Mountaineer's picture

I was just thinking, I hope the NY or Philly metro areas never, ever get the Olympics.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:53 | 6512839 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

How many NFL fans know it's considered a non profit and doesn't pay taxes?

I'd wager less than 10%

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 09:00 | 6512853 Jersey_Mountaineer
Jersey_Mountaineer's picture

They lost that status.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:11 | 6511802 Able Ape
Able Ape's picture

Atlanta is building a new football stadium right NEXT to the existing stadium that still looks brand-spanking NEW!  I mean you could literally spit from the old stadium and hit the new one!  All this for 8 games during a season?  Who loans these people money for this kind of SHIT?  

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:27 | 6511844 Jersey_Mountaineer
Jersey_Mountaineer's picture

That's what they were doing???  I went to the Georgia Dome last year.  The stadium was so new that it didn't even cross my mind that that's what they were building.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:20 | 6511977 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Future FEMA camps.

See the history of the New Orleans Superdome (?) and the Houston Astrodome after the hurricane wiped out New Orleans.

I'm amazed we had people here buying those shit encrusted seats from the dome at auction a few years ago....

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:12 | 6511804 Bitchin Bear
Bitchin Bear's picture

I love baseball and football as much as anyone but this trend is disgusting.  I've lived in Atlanta all of my life and the Braves and Falcons are gearing up for their third stadium. It's a fucking joke to say they are privately funded. I had season tix to the Falcons for over 20 years.  I spit on them and Arthur Blank.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 22:33 | 6514498 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Why didn't you support the Thrashers? Now those dickheads have infested my hood.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:24 | 6511809 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Municipal bonds deathtrap.

Dear The Cleveland Browns...

https://youtu.be/wGfLFmlU8zo

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:36 | 6511859 Amy G. Dala
Amy G. Dala's picture

What's the problem?  Just refi with brand new shiny negative coupon muni bonds!

Do I have to think of everything?

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 06:43 | 6512680 cossack55
cossack55's picture

B-17, is that you?

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:17 | 6511819 Rodent Free Corps
Rodent Free Corps's picture

To make it worse, the locals will never pay more than the interest, rolling over the debt. When it is time to tear it down, theyll still owe 10 times the original price. 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:33 | 6511854 Tsar Pointless
Tsar Pointless's picture

Here in Pittsburgh, we still owed nearly $30 million on Three Rivers Stadium when we blew it up 15 years ago. And, we still owed nearly $10 million on the Civic Arena when we blew it up.

And nobody cared. Three stadiums/arenas later, the citizens of Allegheny county are on the hook for hundreds of more millions for playgrounds for rich athletes and their team owners. But dare to say you want to spend a few more million on public education and, buddy, THAT'S where the line is crossed.

Idiot America!

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:29 | 6512002 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Does PNC still own one of the fields or did a new corporate entity rebundle the debt? This was maybe 2001-2003. Just remember we were in a corporate box, baseball field was shallow and the stadium backdrop was the river.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 11:16 | 6513204 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

just watched Idiocracy this morning ... yep I thought it was supposed to be a farcical statement on the deterioration of America instead of a documentary.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:18 | 6511820 countryboy42
countryboy42's picture

As a tax slave you (we, us etc.) are also on the hook for the demolition of the stadium when the "team" decides it need a new stadium, or when the stadium needs upgrades. The Alamo dome in SA just hit the locals for $100 million for some new things, not sure what.

They pay these sports figures stupid amounts to play a game. I can bounce a ball, or kick it.

To kinda quote George Carlin, "They say it's a war out there, fuck 'em! Let the fucking Red Cross go pick those assholes up!"

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:02 | 6511931 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Look up the history of the Houston Oilers and the Astrodome to see your future.

 

People, stop buying the tickets! Stop watching the games on TeeVee!

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:14 | 6511962 countryboy42
countryboy42's picture

Last time I was in the Astrodome was '86 for a rodeo, and I do not own a TV.

Don't get me wrong, when I was in Denver, I would go see the Rockies play about every 2 years. Hell, it was fun to get out, and watch people. But the whole concept of "allowing" the locals to pay for a bunch of rich bastards to make even more money is bullshit.  Your're rich, and want to own a sports team? Great! You want a stadium for them in our area, at your expense? Fucking awesome! Treat this shit like a business, and I'm good with it. Make all the money you want, just keep your grubby dick beaters off my wallet, unless I want to see your team play.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:14 | 6511963 falconflight
falconflight's picture

You're shouting into the hurricane named Babylon.  Merikans even if they are 'aware' of what we've become, will do absolutely nothing and lift not a finger to make it right because it would be at most an inconvenience or somehow take away from their habits and lifestyle.  It's getting hard not to wish for ugly things to happen.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 01:13 | 6512428 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Please don't blanket all of us in the same category like Dutchboy, aka Alfred Newman does. Our politicians are elected by Diebold and electoral college delegates paid off by PACs and lobbiests, the liberty minded citizenry hates that cancer thats growing in our society. There will be a trigger event I believe, sort of like what happened in the former Yugoslavia, where leeches, politicians, bankers, NFL owners, etc., will be dissappeared. Slowly but surely, like rust, which never sleeps.

An American political/ethnic cleansing if you will.....

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:48 | 6512055 azusgm
azusgm's picture

Awww Houston. Remember when Hakeem Olajuwan threatened to leave Houston if the Rockets didn't get the new basketball arena. Turned out he already had a 25% interest in the Four Seasons Hotel that was set to go up next door to the arena.

Poor, pitiful basketball oligarch.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:21 | 6511826 Hubbs
Hubbs's picture

While on a continuation of my argument concerning profits at Wal mart being subsidized by the government through EBT cards (which are used heavily at Wal Mart), don't EBT cards allow for people to spend their new found " discretionary" income on sports events rather than food? This would conceivably be yet another indirect subsidy by the tax payer for professional sports team owners.

I know that sports tickets and concert tickets are expensive, but are EBT card holders still able to afford football tickets? Any statistics available?

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:22 | 6511827 Amy G. Dala
Amy G. Dala's picture

Always blows me away how little money can buy so much influence.  I remember the kid who was with the secret service and hookers in Colombia, his dad basically bundled $40K for Obama.  For this, you get to hang with the ss, go international for hookers, and when busted, get a cherry appointment to a Human Rights Commission at the Hague.  Looks pretty good on the resume of a 25 year old.  For only $40 grand!

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:28 | 6511845 Redart
Redart's picture

And then, you add up the cost of annual maintenances

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:33 | 6511846 Cabreado
Cabreado's picture

False wealth + Narcissism + enabling idiocy and ignorance doesn't work well forever,

but it sure tries...

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:30 | 6511849 Redart
Redart's picture

Some stadiums in europe built on remote areas are completely abandoned, they were just built to host the euro soccer and similar shit

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:31 | 6511851 Anonymous peon
Anonymous peon's picture

A few years ago the Green Bay Packers wanted a .5% sales tax to pay for renovations to their stadium. QUite a few of the locals were dumb enough to miss the decimal point and think it was a full 5%, and still support it. I actually had people threaten to kick my ass for being publically against the tax.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 01:45 | 6511922 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Bud Adams  fucked the city of Houston by demanding $50 million  in improvements to the Astrodome to keep the Oilers in town. Then promptly split to Tennesee. That's how you have the Tennessee Titans today.

Fucking theives!

I haven't intentionally watched a Houston Whatever game since Warren Moon threw the game against the Buffalo Bills in '92.

Those fucking Oiler/Titans ran the exact fuck the taxpayer gameplan described at the introduction of this thread.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:18 | 6511975 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Merikans love their particular iteration of the fascist state.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:35 | 6512013 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

Yeah, but merkins are kinda cool.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 06:52 | 6512689 cossack55
cossack55's picture

As the ONLY publically held NFL team, the GBPs are the only team I watch.  Doubt if it is perfect, but I like a team with 300,000 + owners.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:13 | 6513018 Hitlery_4_Dictator
Hitlery_4_Dictator's picture

I respect your position, but what did you expect you live in Green Gay. I'm originally from WI and you could not pay me to go back. People there are absolutely obsessed with the packers, it's like a cult but worse. They are like Mormons, if you say you don't watch the fudgepackers you are ostracized. Many fans would mortgage their own home to give the packers some extra money. Don't get me started on Miller Park. 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:32 | 6511853 nmewn
nmewn's picture

But but but...there are Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!...lol.

There are low skilled wage ticket taker jobs there, soda guys, popcorn & hot dog vendors at the concession stands and overweight Wakenhut security guys waiting to pounce on jihadists at a moments notice!

Whats not to love?! Its a brand new SERVICE ECONOMY brought to you by the NANNY STATE!

Enjoy and sign up for EBT ;-) 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:50 | 6511895 Baldrick
Baldrick's picture

yeah! get paid $7.50 an hr to sell a $10 hotdog. I hope the place I live in never gets stadium fever.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 07:05 | 6511915 nmewn
nmewn's picture

The government subsidized food, water, housing, education, sewer (long breath...) trash pick up, electricity, clothing, transportation, ObamaFaw-uns along with the normal fire & police more than makes up for any short term wage discrepancy.

So its a win-win for statists, isn't it? 

///////

OMG nmewn! You've touched that third rail again...lol.

Why is that "progressives" constantly clamor for more guilding for their cages anyways? ;-)

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:08 | 6512111 petroglyph
petroglyph's picture

I wonder if the hot dog vendors except ebt?

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 07:00 | 6512700 Ajax_USB_Port_R...
Ajax_USB_Port_Repair_Service_'s picture

Only if the hot dog is cold. Hot foods can't be purchased with an EBT.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:40 | 6511868 ToSoft4Truth
ToSoft4Truth's picture

Subsidized sports is an example of the High IQ fleecing the Low IQ.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:42 | 6511875 davelis
davelis's picture

Oliver has been a must see 90% of the time from FIFA, sports stadiums, civil foreiture, etc, etc, etc, etc, 

Should have link on him every week.

Much better analysis than the news media. 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:20 | 6511972 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

"Get the papers."

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:42 | 6511876 davelis
davelis's picture

Oliver has been a must see 90% of the time from FIFA, sports stadiums, civil foreiture, etc, etc, etc, etc, 

Should have link on him every week.

Much better analysis than the news media. 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:16 | 6511971 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

"I'm gonna go get the papers." 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:47 | 6511884 Bay Area Guy
Bay Area Guy's picture

The cities get me are the ones that line up to bid on the Olympics.  They always promise extreme wealth to the city that's awarded the games, and I don't know of any that have turned a profit.  And it's not just one venue you have to build.  You have to build an Olympic Stadium (which at least can double as a track and field arena), a swimming complex, a velodrome for bikes to run around in a circle, a gymnastics venue, a shooting venue, tennis, basketball, baseball and, now, golf, as well as countless other places for the plethora of bullshit events they have.

Brazil in general and Rio specifically, will be bankrupt before the games even start.  And don't even get me started on Tokyo, where they'll at least save on electricity since the athletes will glow in the dark with Fuku radiation.

The Olympics is just another in a long line of bullshit events that are designed to remove money from the pockets of the middle class and give it to the 0.1%.  And, on top of it, all the athletes are now professionals.  I at least had a modicum of interest in the Olympics when the participants were amateurs.  But now?  No way.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:54 | 6511908 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Right. Google some post-Olympics images of Athens.

See what a dream come true for that city the Olympics were.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:03 | 6511940 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Athen's & Atlanta...lol...what a cluster fuck.

Just happened to go through both this week, Atlanta going up and Athens coming back. Let me just state for the record, Atlanta is a shit hole surrounded by a six lane parking lot called The Perimeter which they advertise as a bypass around the city...lol.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:20 | 6511979 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Yeah but they got themselves a might fine MARTA (Moving Africans Rapidly Through Atlanta).

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:35 | 6511998 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Here's a little entertainment to ease your pain.....or not....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DrzCVAJtDw

 

A clear illustration that Atlanta is America's niggertown.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:55 | 6512078 falconflight
falconflight's picture

They're effing animals w/ nigger this motherfucker that with their babies in tow.  Filthy 

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:57 | 6512846 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Truck drivers call that parking lot the "Watermelon 500" or so I've been told by those in the know.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:56 | 6512200 BeerMe
BeerMe's picture

The athletes already glow in the dark from the performance enhancing drugs.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:49 | 6511891 Jay
Jay's picture

They tell voters the stadiums will "create jobs" and the voters are paralyzed by the logic. What they don't say is that the stadiums will kill jobs by taking money away from the real economy to build the fake economy stadiums. The net job creation is zero, but you have less money for the things you wanted to buy so the multimillionaire team owners can have your money for the things they want to buy.

It's crucial to have a strong understanding of broken window fallacy because most of the economic arguments that steal money from you are some variation of broken window fallacy.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:09 | 6511898 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

I have always resented that monstrosity that is Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Ugly as fuckin Hillary.

The fact that the Houston Texans football team's millionaire players get to have their venue paid for out of my pocket makes my blood boil and I've never seen a single game of theirs, in the stadium or on TeeVee. And we the taxpayer are STILL paying to maintain and air condition the dinosaur next door, the 8th wonder of the world, the Astrodome! I believe we voted to destroy it years ago, but we have this shithead County Judge Elliot that somehow keeps the pile of crap in existence, believing it can be made into a business park, indoor theme park, or whatever fantasy he dreams up. 

It's in a shit neighborhood, with shit streets leading up to it. Traffic snarled on 59 and 610 Loop anytime something interesting comes up, especially gun shows.

Fuck em. Fuck em ALL!

I wish just one of them NFL nigs would buy me a new truck, ladder rack and tool boxes. I'd be happy with just that....They OWE ME!!

Is the NFL still tax exempt? If so, WHY?

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:29 | 6512003 Cornfedbloodstool
Cornfedbloodstool's picture

Isn't it NRG stadium now. How cute.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:38 | 6512023 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Should be NGR stadium....

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 23:17 | 6512242 Catullus
Catullus's picture

For awhile there, it was Reliant Energy, an NRG Energy Company.  Say that 3 times fast and the you'll have an aneurysm

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:46 | 6512048 willwork4food
willwork4food's picture

Is the NFL still tax exempt? If so, WHY?

The are a "non-profit" organization by proxy.

Isn't life great?

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:48 | 6512054 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

its a religion isn't it?

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:54 | 6511906 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Kyle Shanahan's Cleveland Browns Exit Strategy - YouTube

I don't live there any longer. Cannot believe it's owned by a utility company. That stadium must be a hot potato.

Enjoy.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 20:59 | 6511923 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Give me an "F!"
Give me an "A!"
Give me an "S!"
Give me an "C!"
Give me an "I!"
Give me an "S!"
Give me an "M!"

What's that spell?! What?! Say it again! Goooooo teeeeam!

Zion is a scheme, not an ethnicity.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:03 | 6511939 Whodathunkit
Whodathunkit's picture

Yea The Braves be building a new stadium up north of town at the expense of the tax payers ( leaving the stadium built for the Olympics in 96) supposedly that is where the attendees mostly live. Bringing it home however it is at the confluence of two of the most congested highways I have ever seen. Good f'in luck filling those seats. And BTW they have to build parking a mile away and build a 'pedestrian' bridge to cart the people over said massive interstate to the ball park. Cart as in motorized for the fat asses and the stupid public accepted it.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:13 | 6511961 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Something else I noticed on the local TV stations of Atlanta, a propensity for reporters to call criminal suspects "persons of interest".

I was like WTF!...lol.

Oh yes Tyrone, just come on down to the station, we only want to talk to you and give you a Coke & a Twinkie. 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:26 | 6511991 falconflight
falconflight's picture

That Orwellian nomenclature crafted by the FBI when destroying Richard Jewel's life during the Atlanta Olympics.  Fcking jackbooted cacksuxers.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:34 | 6512010 Oldrepublic
Oldrepublic's picture

our classy British friends used to call it helping the police with their inquiries

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:13 | 6511953 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

One more, I miss Mike Polk. He's hilarious.

HARD KNOCKS CLEVELAND: Episode 1 (Pre-Draft Dealing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jcfqdiDnho

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:13 | 6511960 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

But...but...where else would I get to see Tebow pray like an Adonis prima donna?

 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:21 | 6511982 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

I stopped watching football years ago. The feminist will turn it into flag dykeball. Pink and purple flags to reach for.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:27 | 6511990 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

That's why Rollerball is necessary for the future of manly entertainment.

That and Jerry Jones is no John Houseman.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:59 | 6512851 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

I agree, but I'm more of the Deathrace persuasion.

Likes me some fast motors!

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 12:34 | 6513382 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

You get no argument from me on Death Race 2000. I particularly like the scoring system.

But don't forget, R-R...Rollerball incorporates slick, shiny motorcycles into the carnage.

Plus, Death Race cannot be played in a taxpayer-funded-boondoggle-stadium.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:28 | 6511995 Polymarkos
Polymarkos's picture

I was living in Arizona when they put it to the people to VOTE on levying a tax to build a stadium in Phoenix. TWICE it was put down by the voters with a resounding 74% or better NO. Yet they levied the tax and built it anyway.

 

Nothing at all happened to the city council of Phoenix for simply shitting on the voters, except one fatass bitch on the council got shot in the ass by a pissed off taxpayer. Fool should've raised his sights and killed the fatass.

 

This is when they learned they could do whatever the hell they wanted in Phoenix and nothing would happen to them. It's been a worse since.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:31 | 6512008 Polymarkos
Polymarkos's picture

One more thing: the PEOPLE paid for the stadium but you cannot bring your own food and drinks. It was over 8 bucks a beer last a bothered to look.

 

We pay for it, they make money off it, and it all adds up to FUCK YOU VOTERS.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:30 | 6512004 JamaicaJim
JamaicaJim's picture

Fuck the NFL. Anyone that supports any of these fat cat fuck NFL owners is a stupid ass.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:31 | 6512006 cornedmutton
cornedmutton's picture

I saw this exact play in Santa Clara. Hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars spent to finace a bond initiative to build a brand-new stadium for the San Franciso Giants that would not even change their name to represent their new host city.  Residents with no skin in the game (read: not property owners) all voted en mass to commit money they didn't have all for purposes of further enriching the private team owners. Oh, sure, they promised all these great paying jobs... how much money can a hot dog vendor possibly make. What a joke. We left in short order. These people are all delusional. Good riddance. Fuck CA.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:43 | 6512033 10mm
10mm's picture

Don't  forget the fat hairy man named  Rendell who orchorastred the Philly stadium  deal.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:43 | 6512038 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

There was a time when Scott Walker would be in prison for being the sociopathic criminal fuck he is. Are you really surprised he whored himself out to build a stadium? Shame on you.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 21:50 | 6512053 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

And just think; all these bloated, taypayer funded, hi-tech colsseums full of hypnotizing whirligigs for the unwashed masses can be easily converted into FEMA camps when the Walmarts are packed to capacity. They'll just be bread, sans circuses (unless you view human deprivation, depravity and detritus as a circus).

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 03:49 | 6512552 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

I never thought of that. The sheeple are building their own prisons. How ironic.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:12 | 6513010 Sockshow Puppethand
Sockshow Puppethand's picture

Ironic indeed, Roddy.

When you consider it, this is essentially what occurred in New Orleans during Katrina. Those who had the resources or were prepared either got out of dodge or hunkered down and rode it out. But the unprepared, useless feeders were taken on a cattle drive and corralled in the Superdome, where they begged and pleaded for FEMA relief. For some it did not arrive at all and were left for dead. For others, much suffering was endured before it finally came. The government also engaged in gun confiscation with the preppers and the entire horrible event was a SHTF beta test for the gov.

Katrina was an ominous harbinger of what awaits those who do not take steps to ensure even a modicum of self-reliance in the case of calamity.

“Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.”

Classic!

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 23:57 | 6514589 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

Also, Katrina in New Orleans was Darwinism In Action. People living 9 feet below sea level with just a pile of dirt between them and a category 4 hurricane? Why not get drunk and drive 100 mph with a bayonet welded to your steering wheel whhile closing your eyes?

City with a death wish.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:06 | 6512106 taketheredpill
taketheredpill's picture

Best Essay on Stadium subsidies :

 

See The Pyramids Along The Nile

 

By Economist Gene Callagan

 

Find it at Mises.org

 

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:20 | 6512139 Treason Season
Treason Season's picture

Sports are the opiate of the people.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 00:16 | 6512344 22winmag
22winmag's picture

"The only winning move is not to play."

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 10:38 | 6513083 Mayer Amschel R...
Mayer Amschel Rothschild's picture

It's one of them, no doubt. But, there is no greater opiate for the masses than democracy. PhD of statistics from Withita State, Beth Clarkson, says patterns are detectable in USA voting machines.

http://www.statslife.org.uk/significance/politics/2288-how-trustworthy-a...

'Ol Uncle Iosip Stalin told us, "It is enough that the people know there was an election...the people who count the votes decide everything."

Sorry for the interruption...back to your regularly scheduled sports talk.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 22:29 | 6512154 BeerMe
BeerMe's picture

Reminds me of my city.  It will bring in tourism.  These things always just become pet projects.  Private investment would cover the whole cost if it was worth it.

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 23:18 | 6512245 UniqueSnowFlake
UniqueSnowFlake's picture

Municipal Bonds are not tax payer money.
Seems there are a lot of holes in the story.
More interesting would be how are Big huge New fancy Hospitals funded?

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 23:30 | 6512269 fowlerja
fowlerja's picture

It's not just football...it is businessball! Also happening in baseball...do we really need $500 million dollar stadiums..just watch it on TV at home...anyway the beer cost less...

Fri, 09/04/2015 - 23:56 | 6512317 TrustbutVerify
TrustbutVerify's picture

Is there another side to this story?  Oh, like the public or various governments going to the 'billionaires' (implied as being evil in this story) begging/coercing them to bail out by (wait for it...? Giddy yet?) GIVING BACK! (..whatever the hell that means) the black hole of a costly team and stadium - an always a sentimental cause for the aways blindly 'caring' public that can no longer afford this take-me-out-to-the-ballgame sentimentality - but wants someone else to 'afford it' for them?  Um...Didn't see it in this article.

I don't know...just wondering.  

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 00:18 | 6512342 22winmag
22winmag's picture

I finally broke the chains that bound me to this filthy cesspool... I simply no longer watch the NFL or any major league "sports" even for a moment.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 00:22 | 6512349 falconflight
falconflight's picture

doubleplusgood, but I'm afraid you might be considered dangerously antisocial and even suspected of crimethought.  

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!