Reply #68: Who cares why Pohlad wants the stadium? [View All]

[Sorwen]

Of course he wants it so he can make money off of it. But the fact is that thousands of Minnesotans who don't care one bit about Pohlad's pockets also want it. If the Pohlads were the only ones benefiting from this, then this issue would have been dead long ago.

And let me just add that I don't think the economic benefits SaveElmer is arguing really matters that much. You might be right that the increased economic activity and tax revenue resulting from the stadium might not pay for the cost, but 1) it at least reduces the real cost of the stadium, and 2) it doesn't really matter (as long as the costs aren't too ridiculously high, which I don't think they are). The point is to provide a ballpark where people can go and have a good time.

You are right about Turner Field being funded privately, but that's a special case. The Atlanta Braves actually paid very little for that. The stadium was built for the Olymipcs and was funded by the local Olympic committee. The Braves really only paid for upgrades and modifications.