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Houston owners: Stadiums are $1 billion well-spent

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by BobFinn*, Oct 25, 2003.

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  1. BobFinn*

    BobFinn* Member

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    Houston owners: Stadiums are $1 billion well-spent
    MARK BABINECK
    Associated Press

    HOUSTON - They've built personal wealth in the billions and helped persuade Houston-area taxpayers to chip in nearly $1 billion more to build three state-of-the-art buildings for their professional sports franchises.

    In a rare forum Thursday, the owners of the Texans, Astros and Rockets agreed that the money they've put up - plus the approximately $980 million in bonds that taxpayers will pay down over three decades - was well worth it for them and the nation's fourth-largest city.

    "I've had owners who tell me, 'We wish we had the same support you have in Houston,'" Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. said to the city's power set at the forum during a chamber of commerce meeting at hotel ballroom.

    "You've given us all the opportunity," he said, referring to city leaders' support in getting voters to barely pass two referendums that authorized bond sales to support the venues.

    McLane also joked that the Astros' 4-year-old Minute Maid Park, formerly Enron Field, is the old sports facility in town. The Texans' Reliant Stadium is 1 year old, and the Rockets' Toyota Center is brand-new.

    All three owners agreed that the revenue opportunities in the new buildings, especially a dramatic increase of potentially lucrative luxury boxes compared to the Astrodome and Compaq Center, give teams a chance to be competitive.

    Though the teams compete for season-ticket dollars and sponsorships, Texans owner Bob McNair said there's a level of synergy among them.

    "My attitude is that Houston is a sports community, and that includes all sports, including hunting and fishing," McNair said. "If the Rockets or Astros win, that works for us because it makes people view sports in a positive way."

    So far the expenditures haven't paid off on the scoreboard.

    The Astros have made the playoffs once in four years downtown and hold the unfortunate distinction of having baseball's third-longest World Series drought, behind the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. The Texans finished 4-12 in their expansion season last year and are 2-4 this season.

    But the new stadiums have led directly to the Super Bowl and baseball All-Star Game coming to Houston in 2004, the Final Four in 2011 and Houston joining the rotation for Big 12 Conference football championships. This week, NBA commissioner David Stern promised a basketball All-Star Game at some point.

    "I think once we have beaten him down and he's seen how wonderful (Toyota Center) is, I think we'll have one shortly," Rockets owner Les Alexander said.

    The owners expounded on various topics for a half-hour but clammed up when asked what they will tell whoever wins the mayor's race this fall. Except for Alexander.

    "Fix the streets," he said to rousing applause. Road work has stifled downtown and other areas in the city in recent years.

    Then the owners and dignitaries piled into cars and joined a construction-inspired traffic jam in progress.
     
    #1 BobFinn*, Oct 25, 2003
  2. rrj_gamz

    rrj_gamz Member

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    I agree...By far, the best sports town in the world...Great teams, great stadiums (I still need to see T Center) and great fans in the best city in the world!!!
     
    #2 rrj_gamz, Oct 26, 2003
  3. Nick

    Nick Member

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    I always find it hillarious as to how much NEGATIVITY there is when teams are trying to get new stadiums (not that I support billionares getting handouts from tax payers, but still...), and how much $$$$$ is spent with all these anti-stadium campaigns, etc.

    People talk about how renovating the old stadiums will be much more cost effective, or how Houston doesn't need open air stadiums in this heat, or how Houston's downtown can't support stadiums. Hell, they actually spend decent $$$ to get "studies" done to prove all these facts.

    Now, when they're all built, people tend to forget everything... hell, some people don't even know exactly what the taxes were that funded these stadiums (they're the hotel and car rental tax, for those keeping score). Everybody's happy (even the uninformed tourist who rents cars, and stays in hotels), and people would laugh at you right now if you said a refurbished Astrodome / compaq center could support a major league team.

    I have a feeling that the same thing will happen once this light rail vote passes, and the new tracks are in place. The opponents are talking about how spending ALL that money on road expansion will better alleviate the city's congestion problem.

    But, when everything's laid out, and people actually prefer a sleek rail system opposed to a smelly bus, or traffic clogged cars, people will soon forget this as well.

    Hell... with all the ANTI-funding $$$$ being spent, you probably could have refurbished a stadium or built a new highway just with that.

    Now...isn't THAT a big waste of money?
     
    #3 Nick, Oct 26, 2003
  4. Austin70

    Austin70 Member

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    That's a lot of freaking money.
     
    #4 Austin70, Oct 27, 2003
  5. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    Did the Toyota Center referendum "barely pass"?

    I'm not sure of the exact final numbers, but from what I remember, the referendum was winning in the 60/40 range the night of the vote. We beat the Lakers that night, also...

    Doesn't sound like "barely" to me...
     
    #5 A-Train, Oct 28, 2003
  6. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    the toyota center referendum won by the largest margin of any similar sports arena referendum in the u.s.
     
    #6 MadMax, Oct 28, 2003
  7. SamCassell

    SamCassell Member

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    So Les, Drayton, and Bob are happy that the public subsidized arenas for them? Shocking news. :rolleyes:
     
    #7 SamCassell, Oct 28, 2003
  8. DaDakota

    DaDakota Arrest all Pedophiles
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    Could be watching the Houston Oilers at 6-2 a stong Super Bowl contender at less than 1/3 the money it took to get the Texans.

    Instead, we get a crappy expansion team.

    Way to go !!

    WOOOOHOOO !!

    Go Titans !!

    DD
     
    #8 DaDakota, Oct 28, 2003
  9. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    i'd rather have Bob McNair and the Texans over Bud Adams and the Titans any day of the week...and twice on Sunday.

    "I hate the Titans, with all of my soul
    I hope they never win a Super Bowl.
    They are evil, for up and leaving us.
    Thank you, Bud, for the Texans!" -- Pulltab
     
    #9 MadMax, Oct 28, 2003
  10. DaDakota

    DaDakota Arrest all Pedophiles
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    Max,

    I never understood why people hated Bud Adams, he spent money like it was going out of style to try to win.

    Sure he fired Bum, but Bum deserved it, he refused to hire an offensive coordinator.

    He brought in Warren Moon, he spent millions trying to win.

    I think he got a bad wrap.....

    DD
     
    #10 DaDakota, Oct 28, 2003
  11. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Don't bother Max. Bud had been blackmailing the city since the late 60s. There's only so much a city can take and they obviously reached the breaking point in the early 1990s.

    I'm happy with the Texans, an expansion team who gives you reason to hope that every week could be a win. You can't ask much from a second year franchise. However, once the Titans salary cap troubles hit and the Texans are playoff contenders, I fully expect DaDakota to jump on the bandwagon.

    I'll remember these posts.
     
    #11 Rocketman95, Oct 28, 2003
  12. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    At least our GM isn't mooning wedding parties anymore...
     
    #12 ima_drummer2k, Oct 28, 2003
  13. DaDakota

    DaDakota Arrest all Pedophiles
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    RM95,

    I root for the Texans now....but truthfully, my passion for the NFL has gone.

    I could care less if I watch any football on Sunday, and this from a guy who used to LIVE for Sunday.

    I still root for the Titans, and the Texans, and when they play, I guess still a little more for the Titans.

    I just guess growing up rooting for one team through consecutive 1-13 seasons, watching them get close with Bum, and then having them leave over a pissing match between the owner and the mayor has left a sour taste in my mouth.

    IMHO, it would have been smarter to keep Bud and the Oilers, but, it didn't happen, and it killed my spirit for being a football fanatic.

    My passion now, is with the Rockets....I hope they NEVER leave.

    DD
     
    #13 DaDakota, Oct 28, 2003
  14. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    haven't we been through this like a thousand times?
     
    #14 MadMax, Oct 28, 2003
  15. Buck Turgidson

    Buck Turgidson Member

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    DD...as usual, it's a pleasure and a joy to read your positive and uplifting posts.
     
    #15 Buck Turgidson, Oct 28, 2003
  16. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    Well, I hope all this ads up to bring a lively downtown.

    I can't wait to see the new Rocket's arena!!
     
    #16 Uprising, Oct 28, 2003
  17. mrpaige

    mrpaige Member

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    Maybe they're adding the totals from the first, failed vote, too. :)
     
    #17 mrpaige, Oct 28, 2003
  18. IROC it

    IROC it Member

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    EXACTLY what happened in Dallas... and you're right, it will in Houston, too.
     
    #18 IROC it, Oct 29, 2003
  19. KaiSeR SoZe

    KaiSeR SoZe Member

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    Allstar game?! :eek:

    I rather go to allstar weekend than the superbowl! is that normal?
     
    #19 KaiSeR SoZe, Oct 29, 2003
  20. Master Baiter

    Master Baiter Member

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    All star weekend for basketball is horrible and boring. I would take one Superbowl over ten years of NBA All Star Weekends. Honestly I think the NBA is becoming almost ridiculous to watch compared to the NFL and MBL (especially after one of the best post seasons ever). There is no parity in the NBA so you know who it is going to come down to in the end. I think the NFL has all other sports beat when it comes to excitement.
     
    #20 Master Baiter, Oct 30, 2003
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