The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arch...rs/309448/

Quote:CenturyLink Field, where the Seattle Seahawks play, opened in 2002, with Washington State taxpayers providing $390 million of the $560 million construction cost. The Seahawks, owned by Paul Allen, one of the richest people in the world, pay the state about $1 million annually in rent in return for most of the revenue from ticket sales, concessions, parking, and broadcasting (all told, perhaps $200 million a year). Average people are taxed to fund Allen’s private-jet lifestyle.

Quote:The NFL asked Congress to grant pro football a waiver from the disclosure rule. During the lobbying battle, Joe Browne, then the league’s vice president for public affairs, told The New York Times, “I finally get to the point where I’m making 150 grand, and they want to put my name and address on the [disclosure] form so the lawyer next door who makes a million dollars a year can laugh at me.” Browne added that $150,000 does not buy in the New York area what it would in “Dubuque, Iowa.” The waiver was denied. Left no option, the NFL revealed that at the time, Browne made about $2 million annually.

LOL. We're living this in Atlanta as we speak. And everyone is in on the caper. State, city, everyone.

(09-26-2013 06:34 AM)panama Wrote:  LOL. We're living this in Atlanta as we speak. And everyone is in on the caper. State, city, everyone.

Not exactly but everyone has their opinion.

(09-26-2013 06:54 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:34 AM)panama Wrote:  LOL. We're living this in Atlanta as we speak. And everyone is in on the caper. State, city, everyone.

Not exactly but everyone has their opinion.

No?

(09-26-2013 07:05 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:54 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:34 AM)panama Wrote:  LOL. We're living this in Atlanta as we speak. And everyone is in on the caper. State, city, everyone.

Not exactly but everyone has their opinion.

No?

You are entitled to your opinion, I'm not here to try to change it, but the facts are readily and easily available. But people will manipulate the facts to fit their opinions, therefore having constructive conversation about such complicated issues tend to be impossible.

The fleece comes out at night, the fleece comes out at night.

Welfare is ok for private enterprises, just not black people.

(09-26-2013 07:30 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:05 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:54 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:34 AM)panama Wrote:  LOL. We're living this in Atlanta as we speak. And everyone is in on the caper. State, city, everyone.

Not exactly but everyone has their opinion.

No?

You are entitled to your opinion, I'm not here to try to change it, but the facts are readily and easily available. But people will manipulate the facts to fit their opinions, therefore having constructive conversation about such complicated issues tend to be impossible.

So are you saying the whole article is crap or the fact that it is also Atlanta's situation.

(09-26-2013 08:36 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  Welfare is ok for private enterprises, just not black people.

Welfare is ok for everybody if the ultimate goal is to get a better situation in the future

(09-26-2013 08:41 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:30 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:05 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:54 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:34 AM)panama Wrote:  LOL. We're living this in Atlanta as we speak. And everyone is in on the caper. State, city, everyone.

Not exactly but everyone has their opinion.

No?

You are entitled to your opinion, I'm not here to try to change it, but the facts are readily and easily available. But people will manipulate the facts to fit their opinions, therefore having constructive conversation about such complicated issues tend to be impossible.

So are you saying the whole article is crap or the fact that it is also Atlanta's situation.

I didn't comment on the article.

(09-26-2013 08:36 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  Welfare is ok for private enterprises, just not black people.

Black people AREN'T the only ones who receive welfare. nor do they make up the majority of the recipients. I get your point but it seems to perpetuate the stereotype of welfare recipients.

ALL professional sports rely on benevolent tax policies to keep them going. NASCAR, for instance, claims large tax breaks by posing as an automotive research operation. The NFL owners at one time could claim tax breaks by claiming "accelerated depreciation" where a large money player contract could be "written off" in 1/3 or so of its actual term. When the contract was no longer subject to such tax breaks, the player was often traded, cut or the contract was renegotiated to start the depreciation all over again. You might say pro sports makes money "coming and going".

(09-26-2013 09:42 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 08:41 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:30 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:05 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 06:54 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  Not exactly but everyone has their opinion.

No?

You are entitled to your opinion, I'm not here to try to change it, but the facts are readily and easily available. But people will manipulate the facts to fit their opinions, therefore having constructive conversation about such complicated issues tend to be impossible.

So are you saying the whole article is crap or the fact that it is also Atlanta's situation.

I didn't comment on the article.

Ok so youre saying my assertion that the article also applies to Atlanta is erroneous.

Well I live here and I can tell you the facts ARE readily available.

1)The Commissioner of the National Football League appeared here on a 1)Thursday Night (miraculously) and just happened to be interviewed on national TV. He stated that if Atlanta ever wanted another Super Bow; they needed a new stadium. Apparently the Georgia Dome built in 1992 and renovated twice since then is substandard but the Super Dome is just fine. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium

2)Then Mayor Kasim Reed states publicly that the Falcons would not be leaving Atlanta on his watch. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium.

3)The Governor of the State of Georgia Nathan Deal (great surname) states on TV that he didnt want this coming to a vote in the Legislature because he didnt want legislators to have to deal with the backlash from constituents back home. Huh? Did the constituents realize we dont need a new stadium?

4) So then someone gets the bright idea because of 2 and 3 above to use $200M from a city motel tax to fund the stadium. Its ok that its public money because its not being paid by Atlanta residents.

5) Two sites are proposed. The South site is preferred but requires making two historic churches move. To shield the Falcons and their owner negotiations with one church are handled by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (the state) and the other by the Mayor (the city)

6) The remaining $800M of the $1B cost of the stadium is being financed through the NFL. Meaning Blank isnt paying anything up front for the stadium at all. The stadium will be owned by the state but managed by the Falcons who will keep the majority of the revenue from all events held there including the SEC Championship, MLS Soccer (proposed), Chik Fil A Kickoff and Bowl Game etc. That revenue will be used to pay off the financing.

I am sure I am forgetting a couple but the bottom line is that a stadium was not needed as evidenced by the tweets from reporters at the Final Four ("They are tearing THIS place down????"). But this stadium is going to get built whether we like it or not an the NFL, the city and state have colluded to ensure that it happens no matter what.

How much did Seattle still owe on the Kingdome when they imploded it?

If memory serves, it was an appalling amount of money.

(09-26-2013 10:01 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 09:42 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 08:41 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:30 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:05 AM)panama Wrote:  No?

You are entitled to your opinion, I'm not here to try to change it, but the facts are readily and easily available. But people will manipulate the facts to fit their opinions, therefore having constructive conversation about such complicated issues tend to be impossible.

So are you saying the whole article is crap or the fact that it is also Atlanta's situation.

I didn't comment on the article.

Ok so youre saying my assertion that the article also applies to Atlanta is erroneous.

Well I live here and I can tell you the facts ARE readily available.

1)The Commissioner of the National Football League appeared here on a 1)Thursday Night (miraculously) and just happened to be interviewed on national TV. He stated that if Atlanta ever wanted another Super Bow; they needed a new stadium. Apparently the Georgia Dome built in 1992 and renovated twice since then is substandard but the Super Dome is just fine. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium

2)Then Mayor Kasim Reed states publicly that the Falcons would not be leaving Atlanta on his watch. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium.

3)The Governor of the State of Georgia Nathan Deal (great surname) states on TV that he didnt want this coming to a vote in the Legislature because he didnt want legislators to have to deal with the backlash from constituents back home. Huh? Did the constituents realize we dont need a new stadium?

4) So then someone gets the bright idea because of 2 and 3 above to use $200M from a city motel tax to fund the stadium. Its ok that its public money because its not being paid by Atlanta residents.

5) Two sites are proposed. The South site is preferred but requires making two historic churches move. To shield the Falcons and their owner negotiations with one church are handled by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (the state) and the other by the Mayor (the city)

6) The remaining $800M of the $1B cost of the stadium is being financed through the NFL. Meaning Blank isnt paying anything up front for the stadium at all. The stadium will be owned by the state but managed by the Falcons who will keep the majority of the revenue from all events held there including the SEC Championship, MLS Soccer (proposed), Chik Fil A Kickoff and Bowl Game etc. That revenue will be used to pay off the financing.

I am sure I am forgetting a couple but the bottom line is that a stadium was not needed as evidenced by the tweets from reporters at the Final Four ("They are tearing THIS place down????"). But this stadium is going to get built whether we like it or not an the NFL, the city and state have colluded to ensure that it happens no matter what.

Well, I live here too.

(09-26-2013 10:21 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 10:01 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 09:42 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 08:41 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 07:30 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  You are entitled to your opinion, I'm not here to try to change it, but the facts are readily and easily available. But people will manipulate the facts to fit their opinions, therefore having constructive conversation about such complicated issues tend to be impossible.

So are you saying the whole article is crap or the fact that it is also Atlanta's situation.

I didn't comment on the article.

Ok so youre saying my assertion that the article also applies to Atlanta is erroneous.

Well I live here and I can tell you the facts ARE readily available.

1)The Commissioner of the National Football League appeared here on a 1)Thursday Night (miraculously) and just happened to be interviewed on national TV. He stated that if Atlanta ever wanted another Super Bow; they needed a new stadium. Apparently the Georgia Dome built in 1992 and renovated twice since then is substandard but the Super Dome is just fine. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium

2)Then Mayor Kasim Reed states publicly that the Falcons would not be leaving Atlanta on his watch. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium.

3)The Governor of the State of Georgia Nathan Deal (great surname) states on TV that he didnt want this coming to a vote in the Legislature because he didnt want legislators to have to deal with the backlash from constituents back home. Huh? Did the constituents realize we dont need a new stadium?

4) So then someone gets the bright idea because of 2 and 3 above to use $200M from a city motel tax to fund the stadium. Its ok that its public money because its not being paid by Atlanta residents.

5) Two sites are proposed. The South site is preferred but requires making two historic churches move. To shield the Falcons and their owner negotiations with one church are handled by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (the state) and the other by the Mayor (the city)

6) The remaining $800M of the $1B cost of the stadium is being financed through the NFL. Meaning Blank isnt paying anything up front for the stadium at all. The stadium will be owned by the state but managed by the Falcons who will keep the majority of the revenue from all events held there including the SEC Championship, MLS Soccer (proposed), Chik Fil A Kickoff and Bowl Game etc. That revenue will be used to pay off the financing.

I am sure I am forgetting a couple but the bottom line is that a stadium was not needed as evidenced by the tweets from reporters at the Final Four ("They are tearing THIS place down????"). But this stadium is going to get built whether we like it or not an the NFL, the city and state have colluded to ensure that it happens no matter what.

Well, I live here too.

Oooookay...LOL


Honestly I hope that GSU can jump in on the fleecing and get the same kind of "deal" for an OCS

(09-26-2013 10:23 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 10:21 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 10:01 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 09:42 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 08:41 AM)panama Wrote:  So are you saying the whole article is crap or the fact that it is also Atlanta's situation.

I didn't comment on the article.

Ok so youre saying my assertion that the article also applies to Atlanta is erroneous.

Well I live here and I can tell you the facts ARE readily available.

1)The Commissioner of the National Football League appeared here on a 1)Thursday Night (miraculously) and just happened to be interviewed on national TV. He stated that if Atlanta ever wanted another Super Bow; they needed a new stadium. Apparently the Georgia Dome built in 1992 and renovated twice since then is substandard but the Super Dome is just fine. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium

2)Then Mayor Kasim Reed states publicly that the Falcons would not be leaving Atlanta on his watch. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium.

3)The Governor of the State of Georgia Nathan Deal (great surname) states on TV that he didnt want this coming to a vote in the Legislature because he didnt want legislators to have to deal with the backlash from constituents back home. Huh? Did the constituents realize we dont need a new stadium?

4) So then someone gets the bright idea because of 2 and 3 above to use $200M from a city motel tax to fund the stadium. Its ok that its public money because its not being paid by Atlanta residents.

5) Two sites are proposed. The South site is preferred but requires making two historic churches move. To shield the Falcons and their owner negotiations with one church are handled by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (the state) and the other by the Mayor (the city)

6) The remaining $800M of the $1B cost of the stadium is being financed through the NFL. Meaning Blank isnt paying anything up front for the stadium at all. The stadium will be owned by the state but managed by the Falcons who will keep the majority of the revenue from all events held there including the SEC Championship, MLS Soccer (proposed), Chik Fil A Kickoff and Bowl Game etc. That revenue will be used to pay off the financing.

I am sure I am forgetting a couple but the bottom line is that a stadium was not needed as evidenced by the tweets from reporters at the Final Four ("They are tearing THIS place down????"). But this stadium is going to get built whether we like it or not an the NFL, the city and state have colluded to ensure that it happens no matter what.

Well, I live here too.

Oooookay...LOL


Honestly I hope that GSU can jump in on the fleecing and get the same kind of "deal" for an OCS

Since GSU now plays in the GA Dome, would they not expect to play in whatever "Dome" that exists after 2017?

(09-26-2013 10:23 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 10:21 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 10:01 AM)panama Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 09:42 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-26-2013 08:41 AM)panama Wrote:  So are you saying the whole article is crap or the fact that it is also Atlanta's situation.

I didn't comment on the article.

Ok so youre saying my assertion that the article also applies to Atlanta is erroneous.

Well I live here and I can tell you the facts ARE readily available.

1)The Commissioner of the National Football League appeared here on a 1)Thursday Night (miraculously) and just happened to be interviewed on national TV. He stated that if Atlanta ever wanted another Super Bow; they needed a new stadium. Apparently the Georgia Dome built in 1992 and renovated twice since then is substandard but the Super Dome is just fine. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium

2)Then Mayor Kasim Reed states publicly that the Falcons would not be leaving Atlanta on his watch. We will just ignore that we dont need a new stadium.

3)The Governor of the State of Georgia Nathan Deal (great surname) states on TV that he didnt want this coming to a vote in the Legislature because he didnt want legislators to have to deal with the backlash from constituents back home. Huh? Did the constituents realize we dont need a new stadium?

4) So then someone gets the bright idea because of 2 and 3 above to use $200M from a city motel tax to fund the stadium. Its ok that its public money because its not being paid by Atlanta residents.

5) Two sites are proposed. The South site is preferred but requires making two historic churches move. To shield the Falcons and their owner negotiations with one church are handled by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (the state) and the other by the Mayor (the city)

6) The remaining $800M of the $1B cost of the stadium is being financed through the NFL. Meaning Blank isnt paying anything up front for the stadium at all. The stadium will be owned by the state but managed by the Falcons who will keep the majority of the revenue from all events held there including the SEC Championship, MLS Soccer (proposed), Chik Fil A Kickoff and Bowl Game etc. That revenue will be used to pay off the financing.

I am sure I am forgetting a couple but the bottom line is that a stadium was not needed as evidenced by the tweets from reporters at the Final Four ("They are tearing THIS place down????"). But this stadium is going to get built whether we like it or not an the NFL, the city and state have colluded to ensure that it happens no matter what.

Well, I live here too.

Oooookay...LOL


Honestly I hope that GSU can jump in on the fleecing and get the same kind of "deal" for an OCS

lol, lmao, omg, smh, and all the other texting lingo. You are the one that tried to position yourself as being qualified to speak for the entire city because you live here. I simply informed you that I live here too and you don't speak for me. Get it? Most people I know love it.

(09-26-2013 10:05 AM)Smaug Wrote:  How much did Seattle still owe on the Kingdome when they imploded it?

If memory serves, it was an appalling amount of money.

It was $80 million. Not really appalling, considering the cost of the new stadium was probably close to half a billion. But you do wonder why they stretch it out over such a long period, it had been around a long time when they tore it down.

This article makes it sound like the state is just helping to hand Allen 200 million in profits every year b/c they love rich people. Not true. Out of that 200 million number they are throwing around must come all of the operating expenses associated with running an NFL franchise. Most notably, the 120 miillion (roughly) in player salaries. A small market NFL franchise that averages (not just in the years the team is good) an annual a 10% ROI is rare.

A NFL team also generates a huge economic impact on an area. A home game typically draws 25,000 out of town guests who spend tens of millions anually (all of which is very heavily taxed). I am not saying the article is total BS, but it can mislead the reader if it isn't taken with a grain of salt.