However, there really is nothing "public" about how much taxpayers are paying to make this kind of event happen.
Super Bowls are, of course, sought after by every city with a stadium, so the competition is tight. But given the fact that the NFL wants exemptions from many of the taxes the local community might benefit from; the fact that the game doesn't provide all that big of economic boom in the eyes of leading economists; and the fact that the major taxpayer-funded concessions made to the NFL are generally kept secret, maybe cities shouldn't be willing to write blank checks to land the game.
It's that last link, from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, that pulled back the curtain just a hair on how much the NFL demands from the cities already forking over hundreds of millions to its franchises:
Free police escorts for team owners, and 35,000 free parking spaces. Presidential suites at no cost in high-end hotels. Free billboards across the Twin Cities. Guarantees to receive all revenue from the game's ticket sales — even a requirement for NFL-preferred ATMs at the stadium.I mean, it isn't much more than Hillsborough Co. taxpayers already give the Bucs for a regular-season game...so don't expect much of a fight from Tampa city councilmembers tomorrow when they're asked to give their blessing for another blank check.
Those requirements and many others are detailed in 153 pages of NFL specifications for the game. An official on the host committee that successfully sought the game — Minneapolis beat out Indianapolis and New Orleans — said the panel had agreed to a majority of the conditions but would not elaborate.
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Reminds me of the quote from the Simpsons episode when Bill Gates showed up and his goons wrecked Homer's internet business.
ReplyDelete"Oh I didn't get rich by writing a lot of checks" followed by evil/nerdy laughter.
Sure, your average taxpayer will never see the inside of a presidential suite at a fancy hotel, but hey I'm a big rich dude that can actually afford it, but no, I'd still prefer not to pay.
Either ALL of the governed cities that bid & host big events like Super Bowls are really dumb to always lose money OR a conservative blogger with limited economic evidence doesn't understand...
ReplyDeleteI love being called conservative on the same day I'm bashed for being too liberal...
DeletePS - I think there's only been one person with any sort of economic background who has ever identified him/herself on this site to present criticisms of my posts. I don't put much stock in the anonymous criticisms.
DeleteAwa, thanks for the rep Noah, lol. Anon has a point, why would a city like New Orleans crawling back from mass destruction host a Super Bowl & 2 NBA ASG's, and a city like Detroit in bankruptcy host a Super Bowl as well, just to "lose" money, it makes absolute no sense. Unless they know a lot more then you do?
DeleteAlso, I was in downtown Tampa Sunday, and couldn't help notice all the Cowboy fans at the hotels, probably spending lots of money. I guess though one would say they would of vacay'd here anyways, and ALL the hotel rooms they bought probably would of been filled by others instead, lol.
Your theories defy logic!
In short, elected officials sometimes chase events that make them personally look good (photo ops, press conferences, etc), even if the events may not be the best for their constituents
DeleteReally, whata political answer (lol), the ones where the politician is wrong so they give some favorable spin on their answer to sound right at the time...
DeleteIt's almost as if the "owners" now feel as if they are royalty. It's pathetic that professional sports has such a grip on the common sense of society. It's only going to get worse.
ReplyDeleteDeath by a thousand wealth transfers. The revolution will be messy, but that's why it is so important to offshore that wealth quickly. Step 1: Inherit wealth. Step 2: Offshore the wealth. Step 3: Flee country. Step 4: Continue enjoying wealth.
ReplyDeletesaid Vinik, "A big-league area needs big-league baseball. … If we lose baseball, dozens of conversations I have with companies COMPLETELY change."
ReplyDeleteSince MLB will be in Tampa Bay until at least 2027, this is a statement that Jeff Vinik did not need to make.
DeleteA recent post from the blog "Sunshine of the Stadium" about Raymond James stadium cost to attend a game. Want to make more money? Charge more...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/top-5-cheapest-football-stadiums-5.aspx
Can't charge more without more demand for tickets.
DeleteWhich why a stadium upgrade, like what Amalie gotten & is getting, is much needed. Plus winning games!
Delete