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Birmingham vendors owed millions after World Games
Posted on 8/16/22 at 8:55 am
Posted on 8/16/22 at 8:55 am
Birmingham vendors owed millions after World Games leaders say event left $14M deficit
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Birmingham city leaders say more than a dozen local businesses and vendors have not been paid for their work during The World Games.
Event officials tell WBRC that the massive 11-day competition left behind a $14 million deficit. That’s after costing $65 million to produce.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin asked City Council on August 15 for another $five million to help pay this debt. The World Games CEO, Nick Sellers, tells WBRC if City Council approves the money, it would go directly to their outstanding debt with local businesses.
“We don’t need any Birmingham businesses failing,” City Council member Darrell O’Quinn said. “We cant leave these vendors hanging. I mean some of them are owed very substantial amounts of money. I know one vendor in particular, it’s an excess of $1million that they are owed.”
O’Quinn said World Games officials met with council members last week to share their plans to get the vendor’s their money. He said Mayor Woodfin also discussed the multiple different options from where the city can pull the money from.
“Their plan is have the city of Birmingham cover one portion,” O’Quinn said. “Then, the Jefferson County Commission cover another big chunk, and then talk to the Convention and Visitors Bureau to have them cover a portion as well. Then, the remaining balance, I believe is about $3 million, they would raise from private sector. That’s the plan.”
LINK
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Birmingham city leaders say more than a dozen local businesses and vendors have not been paid for their work during The World Games.
Event officials tell WBRC that the massive 11-day competition left behind a $14 million deficit. That’s after costing $65 million to produce.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin asked City Council on August 15 for another $five million to help pay this debt. The World Games CEO, Nick Sellers, tells WBRC if City Council approves the money, it would go directly to their outstanding debt with local businesses.
“We don’t need any Birmingham businesses failing,” City Council member Darrell O’Quinn said. “We cant leave these vendors hanging. I mean some of them are owed very substantial amounts of money. I know one vendor in particular, it’s an excess of $1million that they are owed.”
O’Quinn said World Games officials met with council members last week to share their plans to get the vendor’s their money. He said Mayor Woodfin also discussed the multiple different options from where the city can pull the money from.
“Their plan is have the city of Birmingham cover one portion,” O’Quinn said. “Then, the Jefferson County Commission cover another big chunk, and then talk to the Convention and Visitors Bureau to have them cover a portion as well. Then, the remaining balance, I believe is about $3 million, they would raise from private sector. That’s the plan.”
LINK
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Posted on 8/16/22 at 8:57 am to djmed
It was a very poorly done event. I was thoroughly unimpressed.
The events were fun, but the way Birmingham did things was just bad. They must have blocked off 20 square miles around the BJCC. I can't imagine how any of the small businesses in that area made any money.
The events were fun, but the way Birmingham did things was just bad. They must have blocked off 20 square miles around the BJCC. I can't imagine how any of the small businesses in that area made any money.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 8:57 am to djmed
Woodfin is just a slightly more polished version of Latoya. The guy is a joke.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 8:58 am to djmed
quote:
“Their plan is have the city of Birmingham cover one portion,” O’Quinn said. “Then, the Jefferson County Commission cover another big chunk, and then talk to the Convention and Visitors Bureau to have them cover a portion as well. Then, the remaining balance, I believe is about $3 million, they would raise from private sector. That’s the plan.”
That's a pretty crappy plan.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:00 am to djmed
Who didn't see this coming? Seriously?
There's a reason why the over-the-mountain communities stay separated.
There's a reason why the over-the-mountain communities stay separated.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:01 am to idlewatcher
You mean just pointing at random organizations and say “you pay part of this” isn’t a great plan?
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:13 am to djmed
Only an idiot couldn’t see this coming
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:18 am to djmed
quote:
“Their plan is have the city of Birmingham cover one portion,” O’Quinn said. “Then, the Jefferson County Commission cover another big chunk, and then talk to the Convention and Visitors Bureau
So, tax dollars for the most part...
This is not really surprising... Events like the world games and Olympics are normally losing propositions for their hosts...
Apparently this one is a losing proposition for the hosts and the vendors... I wish they would publish how much B'ham lost on this as well...
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:25 am to The Maj
quote:
Apparently this one is a losing proposition for the hosts and the vendors... I wish they would publish how much B'ham lost on this as well...
Although we'll attended, it didn't bring near as much as was expected.
The city had several years to plan it, and it was still organized and run horribly. Nothing was on time. Some events were hours late and some events changed locations with little notice. It was a joke.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:27 am to djmed
Prior to the event, which I had never heard of, what was the plan for all these businesses to get paid?
What happened that that plan didn't work?
Was the plan for vendors to just show up, provide some services and hope for a payday on the back end?
What happened that that plan didn't work?
Was the plan for vendors to just show up, provide some services and hope for a payday on the back end?
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:29 am to BayouBlitz
I wouldn’t expect anything less from my hometown. Well, just outside of Bham. I don’t actually want to be associated with that political cesspool.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:32 am to djmed
I guess im out of the loop… wtf are World Games?
And why arent they paying their debts
ETA:
Ah ok, olympic-lite.
And why arent they paying their debts
ETA:
quote:
The World Games is an 11-day international multi-sport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee. Held the year following the Summer Olympic Games, The World Games 2022 will showcase a New Generation of Global Sports in Birmingham from July 7-17. An anticipated 3,600 elite athletes from over 100 countries will compete for gold in more than 30 of the fastest growing sports in the world.
Ah ok, olympic-lite.
This post was edited on 8/16/22 at 9:50 am
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:33 am to The Maj
About the only money-making games in the last 50 years have been the US ones and a lot of that goes with using existing venues or only building what will be needed after the games.
Ex - the Los Angeles Games made money hand over fist and part of that was because they reused a lot of venues built for the first time they hosted in the 30s.
By contrast, most foreign games were major losers like the Montreal games.
Olympic Stadium, where the Expos played, was a white elephant. Too expensive and the design was so shitty that it was falling apart and the surface helped shorten the careers of guys like Andre Dawson who were stuck there.
Ex - the Los Angeles Games made money hand over fist and part of that was because they reused a lot of venues built for the first time they hosted in the 30s.
By contrast, most foreign games were major losers like the Montreal games.
Olympic Stadium, where the Expos played, was a white elephant. Too expensive and the design was so shitty that it was falling apart and the surface helped shorten the careers of guys like Andre Dawson who were stuck there.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:34 am to djmed
these things never make money. The cities/countries that host the olympics always lose money. The cost of infrastructure outweigh the profits.
This is why there is a push to only have the olympics in one place permently.
This is why there is a push to only have the olympics in one place permently.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:37 am to djmed
The city of Birmingdump is a joke.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:38 am to LSUnation78
This is also the first time I’ve ever heard of World Games in my life
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:38 am to djmed
What games?
Seriously, I never heard anything about this.
Seriously, I never heard anything about this.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:44 am to imjustafatkid
quote:
It was a very poorly done event. I was thoroughly unimpressed.
The events were fun, but the way Birmingham did things was just bad. They must have blocked off 20 square miles around the BJCC. I can't imagine how any of the small businesses in that area made any money.
In the end, it looked like around 6 blocks were cordoned off around BJCC [and Boutwell], so it wasn't quite that bad. But your point is valid.
Some of what was done to prepare for the event is still amazing, I can see why they are in debt.
I saw 5 trucks on the scaling side of Red Mountain one day removing foliage.
The work they did to the interstates downtown was impressive , and they moved quickly... unlike the normal maintenance. They must have had large 'finish early' bonuses in their contracts.
Potholes were filled as if Obama were coming to town again.
The lack of big food vendor support really hurt this [at least downtown]. Every event I attended had the same concessions for the public, $5 drink, $5 pretzel, $5 hotdog. We are the South, known for our food. Having a couple of food trucks [mexican vs burgers] didn't help show anyone what we are known for.
Also, it didn't help that we were hit with the 'heat wave' about that time.
Friends who volunteered all stated it was chaotic, as if it had never been down before.
In the end, as 'rinky-dink' as the settings were, we still enjoyed our time; we weren't mugged and didn't have our windshield busted [like days of yore attending Legion Field events] and spent a good deal of money for multiple events.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:48 am to djmed
All of that money should have gone to the police force in bham
Posted on 8/16/22 at 9:50 am to JackieTreehorn
quote:
The city of Birmingdump is a joke.
Not really, some very good things have happened in the past couple of years. Overall the city does a good job, despite being run by Dems making some stupid decisions
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