Way To Go Jerry!

[Dick Allen]

I saw some Cubs fans complaining about how New Comiskey was financed with public money and how Jerry is being a hypocrite, honestly I fail to see how that's the same thing. Yeah, it pissed a lot of people off at the time, but that investment's probably paid for itself a couple of times over by now, and plus it's an ACTUAL stadium, not a spring training facility. They're just b****ing for the sake of finding fault.

While I agree he should be opposed to this suggested surcharge, considering his team has spring training in a $200 million publicly financed facility where there is growing question how much this may bury the Glendale community, and a publicly financed stadium during the regular season financed by a tax on hotel rooms, where I cannnot see how that is fair to the hotel industry or their patrons, he is being a bit hypocritical. Is it fair the Mets pay a tax towards USCF when they come to town to play the Cubs? Or the Vikings do the same when they play the Bears? When publicly financed structures get built for private businesses, there are usually more than a few people who can say its unfair.

Edited February 7, 2010 by Dick Allen

[lostfan]

While I agree he should be opposed to this suggested surcharge, considering his team has spring training in a $200 million publicly financed facility where there is growing question how much this may bury the Glendale community, and a publicly financed stadium during the regular season financed by a tax on hotel rooms, where I cannnot see how that is fair to the hotel industry or their patrons, he is being a bit hypocritical. When publicly financed structures get built for private businesses, there are usually more than a few people who can say its unfair.

Whether Jerry is being a hypocrite or not (I actually think he is being one, personally) is beside the point. I still fail to see how this is relevant to what the Cubs are trying to do right now... because Jerry arm-twisted his way into getting a new stadium with public money 20 years ago (as if this was uncommon), some Cubs fans think that the Cubs should be given a pass to make fans of other teams pay for their stadium? Really? What the hell? I mean, I love the Sox and all, but if Jerry was trying to do the same thing to other fans I'd be with the "crying foul" crowd.

[Dick Allen]

Whether Jerry is being a hypocrite or not (I actually think he is being one, personally) is beside the point. I still fail to see how this is relevant to what the Cubs are trying to do right now... because Jerry arm-twisted his way into getting a new stadium with public money 20 years ago (as if this was uncommon), some Cubs fans think that the Cubs should be given a pass to make fans of other teams pay for their stadium? Really? What the hell? I mean, I love the Sox and all, but if Jerry was trying to do the same thing to other fans I'd be with the "crying foul" crowd.

Jerry moved to Glendale last year after they financed a $200 million complex. They were hoping to do some building in the area and make this all work with taxes from that. The economic downturn has put a damper on that project. It may never get done, and if it does, there are questions as to whether or not it can generate enough tax to keep Glendale from big trouble. How fair is that to a non baseball fan living in the community?

 

JR has every right to be opposed. I would be if I were him, but as far as public handouts, he has been on the receiving end of some beauties. The opposition needs a different spokesman. I wonder how much the surcharge is, and if it would do much to spring training ticket sales.

[Quin]

I saw some Cubs fans complaining about how New Comiskey was financed with public money and how Jerry is being a hypocrite, honestly I fail to see how that's the same thing. Yeah, it pissed a lot of people off at the time, but that investment's probably paid for itself a couple of times over by now, and plus it's an ACTUAL stadium, not a spring training facility. They're just b****ing for the sake of finding fault.

 

I think its a bit different because it's not making fans of every team in the AL increase their tickets to pay for it, and stadiums are a lot more costly than ST facilities (at least, I'd think so).

 

But also, this would damage all other teams spring training attendance. Part of the fun of ST is going to see a baseball game for cheap. You don't pay ballpark prices, but depending on how much Cubs would want to charge, you could be (and to see essentially scrimmages). So then, you'd only have the Cubs fans (supposedly) go to these games.

 

Wait, thats their plan.

 

Make every Cubs game a home game!

[Vote4Pedro]

Who cares let them go to florida and have them tax those teams to build a facility there for them. They wouldn't hurt my feelings any if they move its spring training. The sox would probably be better off without them around anyways.

[Jerksticks]

And who cares what is fair or not, or hypocritical. This is war; and in wars, important battles are fought. Right now, I smell blood in the water.

 

 

[HuskyCaucasian]

Didn't the Sox just get a new place with the Dodgers? How did that work financially? (I really have no idea how it worked, didn't pay that much attention).

I think Camelback Ranch was funded through bonds, but I cant find it on Google.

This is the best I could find:

Glendale is banking on commercial development and funding from a Maricopa County-based sports agency to pay off the $200 million it borrowed for Camelback Ranch-Glendale, the spring training ballpark for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.

 

But the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority is grappling with deficits, and the commercial project called Main Street has yet to break ground.

 

That raises questions about whether Glendale will have the revenue it needs to pay off its third professional sports venue without dipping into operating revenues that pay for city services from public safety to parks.

....

Commercial development is just one revenue generator for Glendale to pay off the ballpark. The city inked a deal to have the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority put $60 million toward the ballpark.

 

The sports authority has reduced funding this year to other Cactus League projects due to shrunken revenues.

Edited February 10, 2010 by Athomeboy_2000

[Jerksticks]

Is that Main Street area supposed to be next to Camelback? If so, I want in on building it. Anybody know the contracting company that won the bid?

[The Ginger Kid]

Hmmm....

 

If the Cubs move to Naples...

 

I wonder what team all those Chicago-area transplants and snowbirds in the Phoenix area will go watch during spring training.

Yeah, I agree. My first reaction was like everyone else, f*** them. But I've been going to Phoenix/Tucson for several years now and the truth is no team brings in the fans like the Cubs do, not just from Chicago but all over the country. It's a pretty savvy move on their part to ask for it and I'm not so sure they don't deserve it.

[RockRaines]

Yeah, I agree. My first reaction was like everyone else, f*** them. But I've been going to Phoenix/Tucson for several years now and the truth is no team brings in the fans like the Cubs do, not just from Chicago but all over the country. It's a pretty savvy move on their part to ask for it and I'm not so sure they don't deserve it.

 

Alot of those people live in AZ as well though. They do have alot of fans in Mesa watching their games, but not so sure every other team benefits from it as much as Mesa does.

[The Ginger Kid]

Alot of those people live in AZ as well though. They do have alot of fans in Mesa watching their games, but not so sure every other team benefits from it as much as Mesa does.

i went to 4 or 5 sox games last year at Camelback. The Cubs game was sold out, the others not even close (actually, the Giants brought a lot of fans, but not like the Cubs). Plus I went to Mesa for a Cubs game against the Mariners and there wasn't even any room in the grass. It's crazy how many people love that team.

[lostfan]

Yeah, I agree. My first reaction was like everyone else, f*** them. But I've been going to Phoenix/Tucson for several years now and the truth is no team brings in the fans like the Cubs do, not just from Chicago but all over the country. It's a pretty savvy move on their part to ask for it and I'm not so sure they don't deserve it.

Honestly the Cubs do kind of have a point... but I'm sure they weren't so naive to think that when they asked the 14 other owners to basically build them a new stadium that they wouldn't get resistance.

[The Ginger Kid]

I would think the city of Mesa would do whatever it takes to raise the money and keep them, it's a huge boost to their local economy.

[kgelso]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4921497

 

Bud Selig opposes the Cubs ticket surcharge.

[Pants Rowland]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4921497

 

Bud Selig opposes the Cubs ticket surcharge.

 

Article mentions Selig's opposition to charging extra for games that do not include the Cubs. Now that makes more sense. Surcharge for games versus the Cubs but not between other teams. Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me.

 

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Article mentions Selig's opposition to charging extra for games that do not include the Cubs. Now that makes more sense. Surcharge for games versus the Cubs but not between other teams. Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me.

 

Yeah, I agree. Games vs. The Cubs sounds fair to up the charge, but not a game vs. 2 non-Cubs teams.