Interesting answer to a poll question on ESPN.com... % surprised me

JakeT. · Apr 15, 2008

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top">5) Your local government agrees to build a new sports complex to keep your favorite team in town. But spending on roads and education will be cut. Are you OK with this?

</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="10%">52.4%</td><td align="left" valign="top">Yes
</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="10%">47.6%</td><td align="left" valign="top">No</td></tr></tbody></table>

GoSooners · Apr 15, 2008

My hometown of Oklahoma City just voted yes on a tax for some multi-million dollar improvements to their arena to get the Super Sonics or some other NBA team to the city...The Super Sonics owner and the commisioner himself said that the yes vote on the improvements would be a huge reason for OKC getting a team..But I don't and have never approved of a tax to fill the pockets of private enterprises. In fact the only tax I ever vote yes on is to build or improve the infrastructure of my city...I've never believed in bribing a pro team to come to my state. If the city alone don't sell it, then screw em...So the answer is no.

bigtendominator · Apr 15, 2008

GoSooners said:
My hometown of Oklahoma City just voted yes on a tax for some multi-million dollar improvements to their arena to get the Super Sonics or some other NBA team to the city...The Super Sonics owner and the commisioner himself said that the yes vote on the improvements would be a huge reason for OKC getting a team..But I don't and have never approved of a tax to fill the pockets of private enterprises. In fact the only tax I ever vote yes on is to build or improve the infrastructure of my city...I've never believed in bribing a pro team to come to my state. If the city alone don't sell it, then screw em...So the answer is no.

It is private enterprise, make them pay for their own damn stadium.

Also, most of these city council members are either idiots or dirty, because most of teams Naming Rights deals cover 50% of the cost of the stadium alone. It is not my problem if the Dallas Cowboys won't be competetive if Jones doesn't want to spend. Why the hell are the Arlington, TX school districts a piece of crap because the city is spending several hundred million dollars to make the Dallas Cowboys more competetive.

Also, where was Jerry going to move the Cowboys, Austin?

gtc08 · Apr 15, 2008

not surprising. sports has become more important then politics and how the country is being run. look at everyone running out to buy 5,000 dollar HD TV's for just the sports. thats why a-rod gets 30 mill a year, because like it or not, he's one of the 5 or so most important people in this country, tiger being most important at the top.

more people care about sports and there teams then the direction of this country.

skoda · Apr 15, 2008

SSI/Welfare thank god

jwunderdog · Apr 15, 2008

jakethompson said:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left colSpan=2>5) Your local government agrees to build a new sports complex to keep your favorite team in town. But spending on roads and education will be cut. Are you OK with this?

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left width="10%">52.4%</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Yes

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left width="10%">47.6%</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>No</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

It is not really a fair poll since it is being run from a sports site. Of course more sports fans would vote yes verses the general public. I am very much against Tax $$ going to sports. No one has ever proven the long term economic benefits, other then some bullshit about it attracts companies to the city.

Hookandcrook+ · Apr 15, 2008

It happened in Tampa. We had our county sales tax raised to build Raymond James Stadium. The Glazers get the income from it, and don't even pay property tax. It was passed with a vote too. All the Glazers had to do is say they were leaving town.

lapdance · Apr 15, 2008

miami heat...arison is a billionaire, got the wording changed on the ballots so that the voters thought they were voting no but acually were voting for it.