What's your thoughts on pro teams threatening to leave?

[KingOfBBN]

What's your thoughts on these pro teams threatening to leave unless the city/tax payer's pay for a new stadium? I would gladly tell them to touch off. Billionaire owners should pay for it themselves considering they own the team and in 90% of these situations, there is nothing wrong with these stadiums.

 

[FutureCityCats]

Hit the road jack. FCC.

 

[GYERater]

Large businesses do this sort of thing all the time and it is a smart move by the owner. There is a market in other cities to lure a NBA/NFL/MLB team and it is a huge coup to get one. Gotta pay up if you want to keep a team.

This post was edited on 3/2 4:18 PM by GYERater

 

[ymmot31]

I'm happy for it. We have a nice new pro arena right here in Louisville that's going to waste.

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

Originally posted by ymmot31:

I'm happy for it. We have a nice new pro arena right here in Louisville that's going to waste.

I don't think it's ever going to happen...but i would love for an NBA team to set up shop in the Yum. I would enjoy going to a handful of the games every year but the coup de grace is that it would drive Pitino and Tommy insane.

 

[Tskware]

Originally posted by GYERater:
Large businesses do this sort of thing all the time and it is a smart move by the owner. There is a market in other cities to lure a NBA/NFL/MLB team and it is a huge coup to get one. Gotta pay up if you want to keep a team.


This post was edited on 3/2 4:18 PM by GYERater

Much as I want to agree with the OP, have to say you make a valid point. There are only so many pro teams to go around, and literally a dozen major cities would be interested in taking nearly any franchise wanting to move. What happens to the Ohio River front if the Reds/Bengals moved from Cincy? Would be a huge blow to the local economy of Cincy and N Ky and to city prestige.

OTOH, common sense has to prevail on both sides. There is a limit to what pro teams are worth, both in dollar bills and in civic pride, and at some point, you have to shake hands and wish them well in their next hometown.

 

[CAT Scratch FVR]

Agree TSK. It means more to be known as a big league city, to attract visitors, conventions, etc. To be able to offer over 100 game days over the course of the year is a boon to hotels, restaurants, museums, and other attractions.

In these times however, you are seeing public pushback on publicly financed endeavors. Given Louisville's poor track record with the truth on these items, it will be a tough sell.

 

[HossCat73]

Guess this is why they sold Hollywood Park ten years ago..



Hollywood Park NFL stadium?

 

[Beavis606]

I agree with what Tony Kornheiser said the other day. He pointed out NYC used to have 3 baseball teams and LA is possibly going to have 3 NFL teams soon. As long as they keep their same names, let half of the teams move to NY and the other half to LA. The only games I care to attend in person are Reds games at this point. And I've only been to 1 game in the last 2-3 years.

 

[LineSkiCat]

Some markets are just going to be more lucrative and more of a draw. Business is business. I do feel bad for some of the fan bases. Ralph Wilson always toyed with the idea of moving the Bills. I can't tell you how many times that topic would get brought up. Those are damn loyal fans, probably a top5 pro football fanbase in the country. And every year they had to wonder "Are they moving the Bills to LA? Toronto?"

That's pretty crappy to go through. And sometimes these less-than-favorable markets have the best fanbases.

 

[KMKAT]

The only arguments I can make are the ones recently involving Seattle and how they lost a viable basketball team because of their owner. It gave Oklahoma City a huge influx of disposable income and not knowing the impact, I am sure it is of major proportions, while Seattle simply puts their disposable income into the Seahawks.

Sacramento was very close to losing their only pro team as well, and that would have been bad for the city as a whole. There should be some legal process that allows a team who supports said franchise to be able to replace that franchise within a period of time, whether its 5 or 10 years.

Charlotte lost their team because of an incompetent owner (Shinn), and were fortunate enough to get a replacement franchise.

I don't condone owners holding taxpayers hostage, as it should be based on a referendum for the citizens to decide. We saw how the Atlanta hockey franchise was simply dumped and even though they had a supporting fan base, this ownership group that has been anything but a model group still reaps the benefits and the city will not get another hockey team.

 

[WayneDougan]

I am a pretty conservative dude, but in this case I'm all for government intervention. I think there should be a federal law that dictates sports teams either a) own their own stadiums or b) pay market rents for municipal stadium usage or c) if provided a stadium by the tax-payers, pay that fee back to the tax-payers. This will prevent one group of idiot local commissioners from screwing over their voters for eternity (see the Miami Marlins).

While we're being fair, it's time to abolish the draft, rookie pay scales and all salary caps. What the hell? Imagine if you were a finance wizard in college and you couldn't go to work at Goldman Sachs because Sun Trust Bank drafted you to be their retail mortgage specialist.

 

[ram1955]

I have no problem with owners doing what is best for their businesses. Likewise, I have no problem with city leaders doing what is best for their cities. If a city's leaders don't think a pro franchise is worth the investment of a stadium, they are stupid to agree to give a new stadium.

As for an nba team in louisville. IMO, the nba would not be successful in Ky as, again IMO, Kentucky folks are not basketball fans....they are fans of UK and ul.