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John Oliver on Taxpayer-Funded Stadiums
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:24 am
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:24 am
LINK
quote:
John Oliver is a self-professed sports fan. “I love sports,” he said on Last Week Tonight. “In fact, the only times I’ve cried as a grown man have been while watching actors playing coaches deliver inspirational speeches set to stirring music.” Oliver’s love of the game didn’t prevent him from making an impassioned plea to stop spending taxpayer money on lavish stadiums, though.
“The vast majority of stadiums are made using public money,” said Oliver, citing a report from 2012 that revealed the staggering statistic that “$12 billion [has been] spent on the 51 new facilities opened between 2000 and 2010.” And, as Oliver noted, most of them “look like they were designed by a coked-up Willy Wonka.”
Oliver had one question for these exorbitant expenses: Why are tax dollars being used to fund stadiums? “Sports teams are wealthy businesses with wealthy owners and they still get our help,” Oliver said. “Pretending you’re poor is wrong. It wasn’t okay when Mary-Kate Olsen went through her hobo phase, and it’s not okay now!”
16
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:26 am to Wally Sparks
Because the return cost makes up for it with hotel buys, etc.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:27 am to Wally Sparks
I haven't watched Oliver yet from this week, but it's because they can. If it wasn't paid for, the team would move elsewhere.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:27 am to VermilionTiger
quote:
Because the return cost makes up for it with hotel buys, etc.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:27 am to VermilionTiger
quote:
Because the return cost makes up for it with hotel buys, etc.
link?
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:28 am to TotesMcGotes
quote:
If it wasn't paid for, the team would move elsewhere.
And his point is that if we all agreed it was a bad move to fund these stadiums with tax money (which it is), then the teams would no longer be able to hold that over anyone's head.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:30 am to Wally Sparks
He's right, it's ridiculous. But politicians sell it as "creating jobs" and "economic developement". It is cronyism at it's worst.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:32 am to Wally Sparks
Whether he's right or wrong, I don't care about his opinion because he's British.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:32 am to VermilionTiger
quote:
Because the return cost makes up for it with hotel buys, etc.
But see it doesn't. Politicians sell that crap, but study after study after study has show that the economic impact is neglible at best.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:33 am to Wally Sparks
I am quickly becoming a John Oliver fan.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:38 am to Wally Sparks
I would love to see a city call a team's bluff. 6 teams can't move to LA.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:39 am to FalseProphet
Well what are you going to do, make it illegal? If essentially everyone agreed to stop paying for stadiums using tax payer money, and one place said they would pay 10% or so, then that place will get a team.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:41 am to Wally Sparks
quote:
Why are tax dollars being used to fund stadiums?
Because unless nowhere does it, the teams will go/stay with places that will.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:43 am to Wally Sparks
I kind of like how ATL is using the hotel tax to help fund the new stadium. The locals aren't paying for it.
This post was edited on 7/13/15 at 9:53 am
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:45 am to LSUBoo
You just made his point. That's what the entire bit is based around. The point is that NO place should be able to use tax payer money for upgrades, as it is not a benefit to the economy. Studies, that the show referenced, now show that there is little to no economic impact from these upgrades.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:47 am to H-Town Tiger
quote:
study after study after study has show that the economic impact is neglible at best.
I would like to read one of these. My only reference is when Sportscenter did a special on how much downtown Cleveland was suffering after LeBron left.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:50 am to undrafted
The aim of the studies referenced is strictly dealing with the economic benefits of upgrades. Obviously teams and players affect the economy to a great extent. But pitching these upgrades with job and economic growth is a fabrication. Or at least according to the show.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:52 am to undrafted
quote:
I would like to read one of these. My only reference is when Sportscenter did a special on how much downtown Cleveland was suffering after LeBron left.
That's not from a stadium, that's from a player that is the most popular player in the world and a local hero.
Lebron could play anywhere in Cleveland and sell it out.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:55 am to TheCaterpillar
quote:
That's not from a stadium, that's from a player that is the most popular player in the world and a local hero.
Well my point was I'm sure the impact would have been greater had an entire team left.
Posted on 7/13/15 at 9:56 am to TheCaterpillar
quote:
quote:
I would like to read one of these. My only reference is when Sportscenter did a special on how much downtown Cleveland was suffering after LeBron left.
That's not from a stadium, that's from a player that is the most popular player in the world and a local hero.
Lebron could play anywhere in Cleveland and sell it out.
Well clearly if one player can have that impact an entire team leaving can also.
It's part of the cost of having a sports franchise in your town. If you don't want to pony up, another city will. Ask the Sonics fans.
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