Naming Rights for Sacramento's New Arena (2013, rating, donations)

[wburg]

Now hang on a sec...you want to kick out the poor people out of downtown around the arena so they won't scare off the rich people. Sounds like you're the elitist to me, definitely more so than wanting to see a monster truck show but not for, apparently, the right reasons.

[ryuns]

Originally Posted by SacramentoBound

It was a joke. Thomas Edison was basically Nikola Tesla's arch-nemesis.

Ahh! I beg your pardon then. I know the reference, I guess, unfortunately, when on the internet, my first reaction is usually to assume someone is confused or hasn't thought through their reply, rather than that they were being clever.

[bluevelo]

Originally Posted by SacramentoBound

Unlike presently, when you and others like you are salivating at the opportunity to take a $200 million (lowball) handout from the rest of us.

More like $400 to $500 million. That sure would fix/build a lot of schools. I don't see NBA players or fans developing the cure for cancer, or doing strength of materials engineering for building space tethers, coming up with the next big technological innovation, etc. I do see lots of tattoos, bad rap music, thuggish behavior and lots of really fat people in the stands that live vicariously through other people who do ZERO to improve anyone's lot in society other than stealing our money to line billionaries' pockets.

[u225615]

Originally Posted by bluevelo

More like $400 to $500 million. That sure would fix/build a lot of schools. I don't see NBA players or fans developing the cure for cancer, or doing strength of materials engineering for building space tethers, coming up with the next big technological innovation, etc. I do see lots of tattoos, bad rap music, thuggish behavior and lots of really fat people in the stands that live vicariously through other people who do ZERO to improve anyone's lot in society other than stealing our money to line billionaries' pockets.

A lot of money can be tossed at the schools but it's not a "sure thing" just like building the arena is not a sure thing in terms of improving the appeal of Sacramento and generating jobs and income. If the arena is built it will provide needed jobs at least in the short term (that is a given) and hopefully will attract more business interests to downtown with subsequent employment opportunities in the future.

The problem with most poor performing schools in and outside of California?...it starts at home...uninvolved parents who let undisciplined children grow up and accept that thuggery is the norm and education is a waste of time. Schools share the responsibility as well...teach the basics well, give attention to kids who are struggling early on, and retain teachers based on merit.

In tiny rural Kansas district, students out-performing global competition

[ryuns]

Originally Posted by bluevelo

I do see lots of tattoos, bad rap music, thuggish behavior and lots of really fat people in the stands that live vicariously through other people who do ZERO to improve anyone's lot in society other than stealing our money to line billionaries' pockets.

I'm going to start a pool where we vote on how many posts it takes bluevelo to mention something about thugs and/or thuggish behavior.

[pistola916]

If people don't like basketball or the "thuggish behavior" that's associated with the NBA, then that's fine. Don't attend an NBA game.

I'm an educated person, hold degrees from a good UC school, and love NBA basketball and the Kings. I couldn't care less about the Crocker Art Museum and its expansion. I don't understand art. Nor do I give a rats a** about the B street theater or the Powerhouse Science Center. But I know having museums and other civic projects are important for the city and for the people who enjoy them. I don't mind spending taxes for things that are going to improve this town. The new arena is one of them. Yes, I'm in favor of the arena because I am a basketball fan. But other events will occupy the arena for 200 + nights.

[wburg]

The city doesn't own the B Street, nor does it own the Powerhouse Science Center, those are private nonprofits. We own the Crocker, and have for 125 years, but the Crocker doesn't have investors, they have contributors--they were given money by private parties, not expecting a return. An arena is a fundamentally different thing, both in terms of scale of civic investment and the expectations of the private investors. They aren't giving anything, they expect to make money. The reason why they can make money is because the city is taking all the risk and is in position to absorb the loss. They can make a profit even if the arena doesn't meet up to expectations, and there is little the city will be able to do about it.

My concerns about this plan have nothing to do with whether or not I am a sports fan or have any interest in attending concerts. It has to do with the fundamental financial weaknesses of the proposed plan. It is set up to work the same way that redevelopment of the West End and the creation of the K Street Mall did. People call those failures now, and in terms of urban vitality, they were, but they were enormous successes from the perspective of the developers who built the projects. The city is a cash cow, and the taxpayers are the ones getting squeezed.

And, as I have said before and will say again, the studies on arenas show that arenas don't do a particularly good job of generating returns for the municipality. The private sector tends to make a mint, but they're making their money off the taxpayers and the city.

[Chimérique]

How about Hoover Pavillion, ya know the vacuum company, for sucking up the general fund, lol, ya know I'm not serious , hehe

[Chimérique]

Wurg, you know the Crocker doesn't generate anywhere near the profits the NBA/Kings generate, nor does it have a positive affect on as many people. I love the Crocker, it's a tiny-wee bit of the Tate, Louvre, & Guggenheim in Sacramento.

Cool cities have great Art museums and entertainment arenas.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by wburg

Now hang on a sec...you want to kick out the poor people out of downtown around the arena so they won't scare off the rich people. Sounds like you're the elitist to me, definitely more so than wanting to see a monster truck show but not for, apparently, the right reasons.

To whom are you directing this post? I have no desire to kick out poor people.

We can call it, "The People's Arena", if you so desire.