What would you think of a football stadium and team locatged between San Antonio and Austin? (New Braunfels: house, high school)

[gy2020]

I've placed a similar thread in San Antonio. How about putting together a committee from both cities and the towns of San Marcos and New Braunfels? Incouraging a professional team to locate and build a stadium on the Hays/Comal line on I-35. This would make the team a San Antonio and Austin team. If you placed the team in either city, the other would feel that the team didn't belong to them. If you placed it half way between both cities you have a combined population of nearly 4,000,000 to support the team. San Deigo is talking about maybe moving and Jaguars are also a possibilty. Just a thought.

This would also encourage growsth in this area.

[centralaustinite]

It will never happen.

[hoffdano]

If I were able to vote on a ballot related to it I would vote AGAINST any program that issued bonds, added taxes, etc. to pay for a stadium. If a team owner wants to pay for it - OK by me.

[verybadgnome]

I'm beginning to think that in many people's eyes a city hasn't hit the big time or gotten to the point where it can be taken seriously unless it has a professional sport franchise. So my question is who made up this rule and what does it have to do with the day-to-day reality of the inhabitants of a given city?

An economic question would be what are the opportunity costs of having a pro sports franchise versus putting that money, since stadiums are almost always taxpayer-supported, into something else that could provide growth for this city?

I'll go out on a limb and use the Sydney Opera House as a possible example of a facility that has generated more prestige and income for that city than any pro football stadium has in the U.S.

[mlassoff]

I'm with Hoffdano... We have a habit of giving corporate welfare to billionaire team owners in terms of tax breaks, etc. We shouldn't be building anyone a stadium. If the owner wants to do it-- Great. If not, save our tax money for health care.

[texasdiver]

What is wrong with the Alamo Dome?

[theloneranger]

What is wrong with Cowboys Stadium?

[paul6835]

I get your idea, but putting a stadium in the middle of nowhere drives commerce.... to the middle of nowhere. the more likely outcome would be that it ends up in San Antonio

[Danbo1957]

Texas State University in San Marcos is redeveloping and expanding Bobcat Stadium. When completed, the facility will do fine for college and high school football games, soccer, and other events.

http://www.athletics.txstate.edu/thedrive/Images/TxSt-BobcatStadium-Masterplan.jpg (broken link)

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

Texas State University in San Marcos is redeveloping and expanding Bobcat Stadium. When completed, the facility will do fine for college and high school football games, soccer, and other events.

Current expansion plans see Bobcat Stadium at 24,000, which is not even enough for a big high school game.