http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index....iver_index
Here's what Woodfin had to say:
"I do support the city's participation in a stadium, however, the city will not pay for it alone. I fully expect the county, UAB, and our corporate community to provide additional funding for the stadium as well as substantial community development for neighborhoods impacted by the project."
Of course the city won’t pay for it alone. They never were going to in the first place.
Not sure what he means by substantial community development, the "neighborhood" impacted by the project is four already empty lots
(09-19-2017 06:42 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: [ -> ]Not sure what he means by substantial community development, the "neighborhood" impacted by the project is four already empty lots
when you build a stadium people open businesses near by. those businesses hire people. hotels get built. shops open.
(09-19-2017 07:18 PM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ] (09-19-2017 06:42 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: [ -> ]Not sure what he means by substantial community development, the "neighborhood" impacted by the project is four already empty lots
when you build a stadium people open businesses near by. those businesses hire people. hotels get built. shops open.
That is the opposite of needing "community development funds"
(09-19-2017 07:20 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: [ -> ] (09-19-2017 07:18 PM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ] (09-19-2017 06:42 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: [ -> ]Not sure what he means by substantial community development, the "neighborhood" impacted by the project is four already empty lots
when you build a stadium people open businesses near by. those businesses hire people. hotels get built. shops open.
That is the opposite of needing "community development funds"
infrastructure and job training
(09-19-2017 07:24 PM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ] (09-19-2017 07:20 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: [ -> ] (09-19-2017 07:18 PM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ] (09-19-2017 06:42 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: [ -> ]Not sure what he means by substantial community development, the "neighborhood" impacted by the project is four already empty lots
when you build a stadium people open businesses near by. those businesses hire people. hotels get built. shops open.
That is the opposite of needing "community development funds"
infrastructure and job training
The city needs to train people how to work in a hotel? I'm not saying that the city shouldn't be funding education, but I hope to christ they are spending it on something better than training hotel maids and line cooks
When Woodfin says community development money, he's talking about handouts to local political groups. He's lining up the gravy train just like everyone who has ever come before him
"fully expect the county, UAB, and our corporate community to provide additional funding for the stadium as well as..."
To be honest, if he says that and people donated on behalf of UAB, that means UAB would have some controlling interest or say so in the building and use of the new stadium. I'm I thinking right.
UAB contributes x amount and in turn gets full gate and x% of parking revenue on game days or UAB sponsored events. Why invest money with no return?
Good luck getting UAB funding for the BJCC stadium out of Ray Watts and the BoT.
They had rather spend it on more Tuscaloosa frat houses.
(09-19-2017 08:13 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote: [ -> ]Good luck getting UAB funding for the BJCC stadium out of Ray Watts and the BoT.
Exactly. Our commitment is the long-term lease that's already been agreed to and approved by the BOT.
If UAB contributes money towards the construction, then UAB needs to collect money from parking, concessions, etc.
No way UAB should help fund a stadium run by the BJCC. If it includes a guarantee of no rent, then maybe.
If we sign a long term lease, wouldn’t that be considered a capital investment
Its pretty easy to say what you think, but when you see the actual contracts and other details you haven't previously been knowledgeable of things change...
It is going to take a lot of money to build that stadium we have seen in sketches. That money will have to come from the parties that are expected to benefit from from events held in the facility. Possible contributors are B'ham, Jeffco, the state (4% sales tax to start with), the Bowl game, the MCC schools, pro soccer team, etc. Make that list and send out the invoices for expected commitment of funding and see if it all adds up to what is needed to get ground breaking underway.
(09-19-2017 11:35 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: [ -> ]It is going to take a lot of money to build that stadium we have seen in sketches. That money will have to come from the parties that are expected to benefit from from events held in the facility. Possible contributors are B'ham, Jeffco, the state (4% sales tax to start with), the Bowl game, the MCC schools, pro soccer team, etc. Make that list and send out the invoices for expected commitment of funding and see if it all adds up to what is needed to get ground breaking underway.
In this scenario, who owns and/or controls the stadium and its potential profits. The city? Or all of the shareholders in that consortium you listed?
That has cluster**** written all over it.
(09-20-2017 08:47 AM)Blazing Saddles Wrote: [ -> ] (09-19-2017 11:35 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: [ -> ]It is going to take a lot of money to build that stadium we have seen in sketches. That money will have to come from the parties that are expected to benefit from from events held in the facility. Possible contributors are B'ham, Jeffco, the state (4% sales tax to start with), the Bowl game, the MCC schools, pro soccer team, etc. Make that list and send out the invoices for expected commitment of funding and see if it all adds up to what is needed to get ground breaking underway.
In this scenario, who owns and/or controls the stadium and its potential profits. The city? Or all of the shareholders in that consortium you listed?
That has cluster**** written all over it.
The BJCC and the government entity that created that owns the stadium. Thr government investors will have to get a percentage of the event rental fees, parking, and contracted concession stands. The private investors (and UAB) will have to get revenue from ticket sales.
People see tax dollars going into a fancy project that doesn't directly benefit them, and most people see life as zero sum (what do I get now for money I pay now).
I am not in Birmingham so I don't know the political climate, but I suspect that in order to appeal to Woodfin's supporters, the stadium construction needs to have concrete plans for creating higher wage jobs for low and no-income Birmingham citizens. Even if it is temporary, it is money that is seen immediately. This might increase construction costs, but it does keep money local. I'd also suggest a scholarship program to train Birmingham residents to be managers of the facility when it is built (that's a benefit that costs UAB practically nothing to provide, but looks like a real $dollar value).
How many people can manage a stadium? Probably not enough to start a program to train cohorts of people to do it
To understand Woodfin's comments, you have to think about his mindset. He isn't talking to anyone other than Birmingham voters right now. He can't do anything unless he is elected!
He knows he will support the project, and he knows what the other stakeholders will commit to. He is telling voters that he will not let the city and its residents get run over by UAB, the BJCC, Jefferson County, or any other group. Of course, he knows those groups aren't hurting Birmingham, but his comments appease those voters who may be worried about those groups.