Washington "Nationals" DC baseball on brink of collapse

[underpants]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1946925

NEW YORK -- Washington's new baseball team shut down business and promotional operations indefinitely Wednesday as its move to the nation's capital teetered on the brink of collapse.


The decision by Major League Baseball followed the District of Columbia Council's decision Tuesday night to require private financing for at least half the cost of building a new stadium. The September agreement to move the Montreal Expos to Washington called for a ballpark fully financed by government money.

He did not address where the team would play its 2005 home schedule if the deal with Washington falls through. It remains unclear whether baseball would move the franchise to RFK Stadium on a temporary basis, remain at Montreal's Olympic Stadium or go to another city.

[Bertha Venation]

1. I'll be disappointed, but by god, I'm sick and tired of sports franchises

building their worlds on the backs of taxpayers.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Read Wilbon in the WaPo today.

He BLASTS Cropp and those of her ilk.

[Zuni]

3. Funny, the RW talk radio was all about using public money to build the

stadium
I guess our tax dollars are fine to spend on something they want

[SkipNewarkDE]

4. Well at least they aren't blaming the gays...

...yet. An entire area of rather seedy but raucously fun gay clubs will be destroyed to make way for the new stadium.

[SaveElmer]

5. This stadium is not publicly financed

That is the misconception of this deal. Not one cent of general revenue money goes into this. The stadium is being financed by a gross recept tax on the largest 11% of businesses in DC, companies btw that are in total agreement with as they know it is good for business. Also, rent on the stadium, on tickets and merchandise complete the package, and on players salaries

In DC unlike other cities this is an even better deal, because 75% of the seats will be sold to people outside the boundaries of the city, in the burbs of MD and VA. That is in effect a commuter tax windfall to the city.

There is very little retail business in DC that meets the revenue requirement to be taxed, so there will be no pass along to residents as the result of that tax hike.

Meanwhile the city gets to revitalize a blighted area of the city bringing in further tax dollars and tourism.

It is a win for everyone involved except Linda Cropp who thinks she can win the mayors office by killing the stadium.

[northzax]

9. er, well that's the sunny side up version

of course, I am certain that my electric company won't pass on the GRT as part of a rate increase, they'll just pay it. And my landlord? they'll just pay it, no problem. I'm sure the cablesystems won't charge anything else for Peter Angelos' regional sports network (which will hav eexclusive broadcast rights to the Nats' games, estimated cost $3/month/television, with $2 going to Angelos) Right there you just implemented a $36 a year tax on anyone who wants to have cable, whether or not they want baseball. It's not the top 11% of businesses, by the way, it's any business that grosses more than $2,000,000/year. You can barely run a restaurant in DC if you groos less that $2,000,000/year. but I'm sure they won't pass on the tax.

Look, under this plan, the city has to levy a GRT that brings in $11m/year. That is $11m taken out of the city's economy. And for what?

arguement 1: the stadium will create jobs. The mayor's proposal claims that the stadium will create 360 jobs worth $94m a year. First off, you have to assume that every single one of these workers lives in DC propoer (there is no commuter tax, so if you live in Virginia or Maryland, you pay taxes to that entity, not DC) That is an average of $290,000 per job! those are some mightly well paid peanut vendors, huh?

Arguement two: the stadium will spur development along the Anacostia Waterfront, thereby increaing the city's tax base. Ok, this I might buy, after all, FedEx field has created tons of development out in Landover, why just last week, I could barely find a parking spot at the Mall there (of course, the mall was there before hand and all the spots were full of people going to FedEx for a game, but let's not count that) I mean look at the great development around SafeCo field in Seattle! I've never seen so many empty warehouses so close to a city. The Anacostia Waterfront is the leading edge of development in DC. It has a metro stop and is close to downtown. Within ten years, it will be undergoing redevelopment. it's the only place left. People point to Camden Yards as an example. It took 10 years for the Yards to show a development affect around Baltimore. And then the stadiums were paid for by a dedicated revenue source (lotto)

Arguement Three: the revenue generated by taxes on tickets will pay for the stadium. Sure thing, in 30 years, if the Nats get 90% attendance, the ticket tax (see? tax money) will generate enough money to pay the stadium's share of the $350m tab. Of course, no one actually thinks the stadium will cost $350million, more like 550-600, so that means we need 60 years of 90% attendance.

Arguement four: the extra dollars spent by suburbanites in DC will add to the bottom line of the city. This is the only arguement that makes much sense, actually. However, will the additional tax revenue pay for the additional costs (police, security, roads) needed for such an event? dunno, no one who has actually looked at the effect of baseball stadiums on cities thinks so.

This is an incredibly risky investment. DC would be taking on a tax burden of $534/taxpayer to build the stadium. People like to think that the money is coming from 'large corporations' but then seem to forget where these corporations get the money to pay their taxes. DC already has he higest tax burden in the United States, why is adding to that burden going to attract anyone or any company to move here, when it's just as easy (easier given the fact that only one metro line runs near the stadium site) to drive in from the burbs to watch baseball? What advantage from this stadium do I get, as a DC resident and taxpayer, that a resident of Virginia or Maryland does not get? I assume the burden of the stadium and we pay the same rates to use the facility. I guess I could go get one of the bartending gigs from the new sports bars?

Don't tell me this is a communter tax, the taxes on tickets can only be used to pay for the stadium, who's owners, players and employees will also be at leat 75% suburbians. A commuter tax comes into play if you waive the per ticket tax to residents of the District. I walk up and show my DC license and my ticket is tax free. That'sa commuter tax, the way it is now it's just a tax.

[WMliberal]

6. only to be taken up by huge MNC

and given another sterile team name.

[WoodrowFan]

7. (picture the steaming mad red face icon here)

I love DC and I love working in DC but damn, sometimes I think this city government couldn't run a 1 float parade without screwing it up.

Maybe if they offer to let Council Chair Cropp put a "CROPP FOR MAYOR" billboard in Centerfield she'll stop screwing over DC!

[KamaAina]

8. Keep 'em in Montreal!

I have a feeling that tens of thousands of USAmerican baseball fans will soon be arriving up there, courtesy of the former part-owner of the Texas Rangers. It'd be a shame if the team got away the year before all those new potential season ticket holders arrived.