tailgater
Sunday, July 19, 2015 12:51:01 PM
That may generally be true.

It's not the case in Foxboro MA.

zerohourhero
Sunday, July 19, 2015 12:54:27 PM
Here in the Lehigh Valley they've opened two stadiums, one baseball, one hockey in the last decade, and there have been next to no increase in jobs, and the Hockey Arena downtown has actually caused a gentrification effect which has effectively chased out residents in lower income housing, due to the rents skyrocketing in a 5-7 block radius around the arena.

Meanwhile the arena has a high turnover rate as they pay minimum wage for most of the positions, while only allowing employees 7-15 hours/week.

That being said, while the arena itself has had no noticeable direct impact in the way of itself hiring, it has attracted a slew of restaraunts and other businesses to open up shop in and around it, which has increased employment, and most of those establishments do offer more hours, and decent wages.

Just not enough to match the increase in housing costs.

tailgater
Sunday, July 19, 2015 1:00:31 PM
I find it abhorrent that public funds build sports stadiums.

At the very least, it should guarantee a team stay for a number of decades, but it doesn't.

When Kraft was going to build his new stadium there were a lot of options explored.

Boston was shot down, and Kraft used Hartford to get a sweeter deal in Foxboro in terms of infrastructure. Not dissimilar to what happens whenever a commercial venture is introduced to an area (such as a mall).

Anyway, Kraft knew he needed to use private funding for the stadium itself, and considered using PSLs (Personal Seat Licenses). As a season ticket holder, I was against this for obvious reasons.

He ended up getting the money without the PSL.

He kept the team in Massachusetts, after saving the team from moving to St. Louis 7 years earlier when he bought the team. He might get tax breaks from the local town (I'm not sure about this, but it's probably true), but the net effect of the overall taxes paid to the town are overwhelmingly higher WITH the team then without.

It's not corporate welfare, it's simply a wise investment by the town to offer incentives.

What the other 31 owners do doesn't really concern me, and is not the subject of our (yours and mine) disagreement.

I thought that was obvious.

tailgater
Sunday, July 19, 2015 1:06:18 PM

Here in the Lehigh Valley they've opened two stadiums, one baseball, one hockey in the last decade, and there have been next to no increase in jobs, and the Hockey Arena downtown has actually caused a gentrification effect which has effectively chased out residents in lower income housing, due to the rents skyrocketing in a 5-7 block radius around the arena.

Meanwhile the arena has a high turnover rate as they pay minimum wage for most of the positions, while only allowing employees 7-15 hours/week.

That being said, while the arena itself has had no noticeable direct impact in the way of itself hiring, it has attracted a slew of restaraunts and other businesses to open up shop in and around it, which has increased employment, and most of those establishments do offer more hours, and decent wages.

Just not enough to match the increase in housing costs.

zerohourhero wrote:

Here in Massachusetts, private hockey rinks and soccer fields are a goldmine for the owners of the venue and also for the surrounding towns.

As you said, hotels and restaurants are overwhelmed to the point where they build more. And more.

Used to be that certain sports were seasonal, but not anymore. The hockey rinks (over six at one complex in my old hometown) are booked out more than a year in advance. The soccer fields all have indoor facilities and are likewise booked solid year round.

Try getting a block of hotel rooms for a class reunion or wedding. Almost impossible.

The net effect is a steady influx of new tax dollars. Smart towns are hoping to get the next new complex built locally. I'm sure at some point there will be (gasp!) tax incentives!!

The horror.

zerohourhero
Sunday, July 19, 2015 1:07:01 PM
The city used "public bid" contracts for everything, which as of right now may not have been as public as they appeared. The Mayor of our town, and a town a bit away just had an investigation opened into them by the FBI for what appears to be "Pay-to-Play" going on with the bids, and allegations of embezzlement.

The city then gave the company that owns the arena (because even though we the taxpayers helped pay for it, the city doesn't even own it) "One City Center" guaranteed tax breaks for the next two decades.

One City Center then proceeded to open 6 other businesses in the Arena district of the city, to take full advantage of these tax breaks as they cover all property One City Center owns.

tailgater
Monday, July 20, 2015 9:04:07 AM
Sounds like your town has incompetent financial advisors.
frankj1
Monday, July 20, 2015 1:46:09 PM

Sounds like your town has incompetent financial advisors.

tailgater wrote:

you've been doing a beautiful job.

namadio
Monday, July 20, 2015 2:02:45 PM

Like where the Cowpies play?

banderl wrote:

Like the backseat of a volkswagen?