A lesson in shady stadium dealings

[Toast88]

Whether the Bears end up in Arlington Heights or on the Lakefront, I'm glad they're seemingly taking their time getting all stakeholders on board, holding plenty of public events, making themselves available to the media and community leaders, etc.

Here in Kansas City, the exact opposite is happening. The Royals are trying to ram through a downtown-ish stadium deal, announcing it and moving forward before getting a single local stakeholder or organization on board, and now they're paying for it.

It's moving extremely quickly. They have to get a referendum passed next week, and they just now are getting community assurances addressed with the local schools, public entities, affected businesses, etc. Lol, it's insane. They pulled a switcheroo on property taxes for local schools and released a non-binding contract while telling the public they had reached a community deal, and community leaders were like, "Da fuq you talking about?"

Point being, it does seem like Warren and the Bears are doing this methodically and correctly, and it's others around the country who are Bears-ing.

Also, @remydat is right that stadium/entertainment district deals almost never actually make money in the long run, but meh, teams are going to want new stadiums and to upgrade. It is what it is.

Kansas City Chiefs and Royals say stadium deals will help the community. Economists disagree

The deals from the teams come after months of fraught negotiations with Jackson County and community groups. The teams call the deals historic. Community groups and economists aren’t so sure.

www.kcur.org

 

[remydat]

As someone that lived in KC for almost 5 years this is a terrible deal. I quite liked the fact the 2 stadiums were right next to each other and Royals absolutely do not need a new stadium.

 

[Toast88]

I personally think it's dumb to have the stadiums essentially out in the middle of nowhere, but kicking a bunch of people out of the Crossroads in a ramshackle bluster while trying to skip out on your bills is probably worse.

The city, county, businesses and the Royals/Chiefs have had 60 years to build anything out by the Truman Sports Complex, and there's nothing, lol. There's a Denny's and a now-defunct hotel.

 

[remydat]

I personally think it's dumb to have the stadiums essentially out in the middle of nowhere, but kicking a bunch of people out of the Crossroads in a ramshackle bluster while trying to skip out on your bills is probably worse.

The city, county, businesses and the Royals/Chiefs have had 60 years to build anything out by the Truman Sports Complex, and there's nothing, lol. There's a Denny's and a now-defunct hotel.

Eh it is like 15 minutes from downtown. It really doesnt need a bunch of stuff around it. I kind of hate casuals that need all sorta of other shit to go a long with the game.

 

[Bearly]

Don't care other than I want them to break ground somewhere this summer. Get er done.

 

[truthbedamned]

Don't care other than I want them to break ground somewhere this summer. Get er done.

That aint happening. Bet wherever they end up building they won't break ground until at least 2026 or 27. This is Cook county you are talking about.

 

[Bearly]

That aint happening. Bet wherever they end up building they won't break ground until at least 2026 or 27. This is Cook county you are talking about.

I know that I was dreaming but I think starting within 18 mo. is actually viable.

 

[Bearcub13]

Whether the Bears end up in Arlington Heights or on the Lakefront, I'm glad they're seemingly taking their time getting all stakeholders on board, holding plenty of public events, making themselves available to the media and community leaders, etc.

Here in Kansas City, the exact opposite is happening. The Royals are trying to ram through a downtown-ish stadium deal, announcing it and moving forward before getting a single local stakeholder or organization on board, and now they're paying for it.

It's moving extremely quickly. They have to get a referendum passed next week, and they just now are getting community assurances addressed with the local schools, public entities, affected businesses, etc. Lol, it's insane. They pulled a switcheroo on property taxes for local schools and released a non-binding contract while telling the public they had reached a community deal, and community leaders were like, "Da fuq you talking about?"

Point being, it does seem like Warren and the Bears are doing this methodically and correctly, and it's others around the country who are Bears-ing.

Also, @remydat is right that stadium/entertainment district deals almost never actually make money in the long run, but meh, teams are going to want new stadiums and to upgrade. It is what it is.

Kansas City Chiefs and Royals say stadium deals will help the community. Economists disagree

The deals from the teams come after months of fraught negotiations with Jackson County and community groups. The teams call the deals historic. Community groups and economists aren’t so sure.

www.kcur.org

 

[Bearcub13]

Toast88, you wrote, "entertainment district deals almost never actually make money in the long run" you are probably correct about the money and an entertainment district. One of my issues with the stadium debate is that too many Bears fans have themselves convinced Soldiers Field is a problem. The Bears have an absolute sweet deal with the stadium, they pay literally almost nothing to play their games there, and the Bears have been at or near the maximum allowable salary limit. Somehow the Chiefs have won the last two Super Bowls and their stadium is a piece of s#*t, and they have no entertainment district. If the Bears do build anew by the lakefront, so be it, but the Bears are seeking the same type of deal with the city. I don't believe any NFL stadium increases a team's chances of winning a Super Bowl ( Note: See Gillete Stadium)...