I should NOT have to pay (rant)

[AustinBoston]

For a ONE BILLION DOLLAR football stadium complex.

I live in Anoka County, MN.  They new Minnesota Vikings stadium is likely to be built here.  It is likely to be built with a combination of state and county funds.  Both would be raised with sales tax increases.

The complex, as I understand it, will include a stadium, some office space, some convention space, and some retail space.

I am convinced:

• If the fans are not willing to pay the necessary ticket prices, that tells you what it is worth.
• If the tenants are not willing to pay rental prices, that tells you what it is worth.
• If the players can't win football games, that tells you what they are worth.
• Minnesota taxpayers should not have to pay for this.
• Anoka County taxpayers (who also pay the state tax) should not have to pay twice for this.
• Anoka county retailers (who will loose business to other nearby counties) should not have to pay three times (due to lost business).

I should not be subsidizing (with taxes) players paid up to eight million dollars a year to LOOSE.

At the very least, the team should be named for those who pay for the stadium.  So if they change to the Anoka County Vikings, please think of me, and how I will be driving to Forest Lake (not in Anoka County) to shop.

Austin

[Kelly]

Absolutely Not (Yes I voted).  Mostly for the first 4 reasons ... but definitely for the last 2 as well.

Forest Lake is a fine place to shop, AB.  (Washington County appreciates your tax dollars )[/FONT]

[wavery]

Absolutely Not (Yes I voted).  Mostly for the first 4 reasons ... but definitely for the last 2 as well.

Forest Lake is a fine place to shop, AB.  (Washington County appreciates your tax dollars )[/FONT]

I grew up in Anoka and graduated from Anoka HS. They grew corn and wrestlers there (and dinasour hunters). Never did see a football player .

[zamboni]

Hmmm... if a stadium is built with public funds, and YOU paid those funds via a focused tax (ie, proof you paid)... shouldn't that legally make you an OWNER of the stadium?

I agree; with the absurd salaries, public money should not be used to build private stadiums.  We're fighting that here in Sacramento with the Kings.  They have a decent, but older (1988) stadium, and wanted the city to build them a fancier one.  Meanwhile, the owners (Maloof brothers) are building a multi-billion-dollar casino in Las Vegas!

[Jeffrey]

Twice? Don't understand?

Need another choice in that poll.  For it !

Because it's coming... no stopping it now. The local gov, came to them with the first proposal.

[Kelly]

Twice? Don't understand?

Need another choice in that poll.  For it !

Because it's coming... no stopping it now. The local gov, came to them with the first proposal.

Jeff ~

I think he means once to the state and once to the county ...

Methinks there may be a few elected officials not invited to return next election time ...

[AustinBoston]

The mayor of Blaine (city where the stadium is being built) talked last night about how excited he was for this opportunity.

Fine.  If Blaine really wants the stadium, let them pay for it themselves.  Why should people 20 miles away in the far corner of the county have to pay for it?

He thinks it's a great idea because he can get someone else to foot the bill (or at least most of it).  I'll bet, though, when a game gets out and they need 50 extra police to handle the traffic, that he'll want help from the state police or the county sherifs; he's not going to want to hire an extra 50 officers!

Kelly - are there any nice houses for sale in your neck of the woods?  Washington County is starting to look like a nice place to live.

Austin

[TexasCamper]

Tax supported millionaires playing a kids game crying about their salary.

 :eyecrazy:

[griffsmom]

I read the title of this one quickly and thought it said "I should NOT have to rent.  AB, I thought you were going to move into the PU for good!:J

 
PS Happy Birthday! :cake: