Eminent Domain in Downtown Orlando / Another "NIMBY" situation (income, tax)

[OrlFlaUsa]

I don't care about what it's costing the taxpayers. In. Society we all chip in and the city as a whole benefits. I think this attitude we're seeing about taxes is a sad sign of the me, me, me, times. Sadly some cannot see the good in something if it doesn't benefit them.

Now I work in the core, am around lots of the people who are trying to better Orlando and they are stoked. Perhaps people only think this team isn't wanted or wont make it because they're really out of touch.

[EditorJul]

Originally Posted by OrlFlaUsa

I don't care about what it's costing the taxpayers. In. Society we all chip in and the city as a whole benefits. I think this attitude we're seeing about taxes is a sad sign of the me, me, me, times. Sadly some cannot see the good in something if it doesn't benefit them.

Now I work in the core, am around lots of the people who are trying to better Orlando and they are stoked. Perhaps people only think this team isn't wanted or wont make it because they're really out of touch.

For me, I have no problem paying insanely high taxes (which I do as a small business owner) as long as there is some benefit to the community in which I live, even if it doesn't benefit me directly. I came from a county where major league sports coming into the area cost taxpayers a lot of money with the promises that it would generate revenue to improve the area. The Washington R******* came and went and came back again, and it didn't help the county. The Washington Nationals settled down in the area, and again no benefit. The Wizards and the Mystics…you know the drill. The Capitals…same song and dance. And finally, DC United. Then it was "build casinos and there will be jobs for all and money falling like mana from heaven". Needless to say, the casinos came, but not the money or jobs. So call me skeptical when I move to a new area and some slick sports franchise-building organization says "Hey, if you give us lots of money, your area will be soooo much better!" I've heard it all before, and I know how it ends. It has the potential to benefit a sports fan for bragging rights about their local heroes, paid for with money that could be put to much better use, but that's about all, even though the promises of jobs, revenue, and infrastructure will be put forth by every spin doctor within 500 miles.

[adamosgp]

Originally Posted by annerk

Meanwhile they are paying out over $1M a year in bond interest over that 30 years.

By the way, the latest costs are $115M, and that doesn't include soft costs like marketing and legal absorbed by the existing City departments. Orlando City Soccer unveils stadium renderings | Sports - WESH Home

The City could have done a lot with $25M that would have benefited everyone, not just soccer fans..

Miami and Tampa which are much larger cities couldn't/wouldn't support MLS, both had teams that folded. It's pretty much a fairy tale to think Orlando will do any better.

MLS is far more respected globally and more organized than it was when Miami and Tampa folded their franchises. Your incorrect statements are getting tiresome.

Again, the new stadium won't be for just Orlando City soccer. There's going to be a lot of high school, college, and other professional events and tournaments for various sports. Outdoor concerts are possible also.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by adamosgp

MLS is far more respected globally and more organized than it was when Miami and Tampa folded their franchises. Your incorrect statements are getting tiresome.

Again, the new stadium won't be for just Orlando City soccer. There's going to be a lot of high school, college, and other professional events and tournaments for various sports. Outdoor concerts are possible also.

All of those add-on's already had suitable venues. The rhetoric is tiresome. Orlando already has two major league teams that aren't getting full support. There was no reason to go dumping tens of millions into a project with dubious potential to benefit the City as a whole and instead will line the pockets of a few.

[adamosgp]

'Suitable' is not enough in a world where you have to impress delegations with presentations. People won't come to Orlando just because of weather and theme parks.

The same reason why Orlando kept missing out on continuous concerts and acts when we had just the old Amway Arena. Amway Center brought the NCAA tournament back after a full decade without games. We're getting concert acts that in the past would pass us up for Tampa.

What other major team are you referring to? If you're referring to the Predators, that's not a major team. The AFL is a mess.

The Magic and Orlando City (starting next year) are the only major league teams.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by adamosgp

'Suitable' is not enough in a world where you have to impress delegations with presentations. People won't come to Orlando just because of weather and theme parks.

Orlando is already one of the five top tourist cities in the WORLD. It's not just theme parks, it's also the largest convention center in the US. Orlando would have been better off spending that money on infrastructure to support the convention business.

The same reason why Orlando kept missing out on continuous concerts and acts when we had just the old Amway Arena. Amway Center brought the NCAA tournament back after a full decade without games. We're getting concert acts that in the past would pass us up for Tampa.

Many still are, and it has NOTHING to do with what you think it does. It has to do with contracts with Ticketmaster/Live Nation that have nothing to do with venues but are 100% geography based.

What other major team are you referring to? If you're referring to the Predators, that's not a major team. The AFL is a mess.

The Magic and Orlando City (starting next year) are the only major league teams.

The AFL might be "a mess" but they are still PRO football.

[adamosgp]

EXACTLY. What did it take to build that convention center? MONEY. The venue itself has to attract an event.

There are 5 major leagues in the U.S. NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and now MLS.

AFL doesn't belong there. You might as well add the Solar Bears to the list and Major League Lacrosse by your logic.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by adamosgp

EXACTLY. What did it take to build that convention center? MONEY. The venue itself has to attract an event.

There are 5 major leagues in the U.S. NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and now MLS.

AFL doesn't belong there. You might as well add the Solar Bears to the list and Major League Lacrosse by your logic.

Not $115M in money. They expanded it slowly over time as business proved that they needed more space. It wasn't all built at once. MLS could have done the same thing at the Citrus Bowl until they could prove they could sell the seats for several years running, then built a stadium.

[EditorJul]

Originally Posted by annerk

Orlando is already one of the five top tourist cities in the WORLD. It's not just theme parks, it's also the largest convention center in the US. Orlando would have been better off spending that money on infrastructure to support the convention business.

Absolutely this. Having better/more reliable/less expensive ways to get tourists from the airport to the convention district, and having better ability to move people safely around the convention district would be a much better use of tax money if you want to drive up local income by increasing revenue coming outside the state. I don't care how big a soccer fan you are, you're not likely to fly cross-country just to attend a game in Orlando because Orlando's soccer stadium/soccer team is soooo awesome. You would be likely to fly cross-country for a professional convention, stay in a hotel for several days, eat out while you are there, and maybe even bring some touristy stuff home for the house sitter/kids/co-workers.

Spending taxpayer money to fund a soccer stadium that will, at best, be frequented by some local residents who will spend their finite resources there instead of other ways in the same city is the definition of selling rocks to one's self (and then paying a tax on selling rocks to yourself).

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by adamosgp

EXACTLY. What did it take to build that convention center? MONEY. The venue itself has to attract an event.

There are 5 major leagues in the U.S. NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and now MLS.

AFL doesn't belong there. You might as well add the Solar Bears to the list and Major League Lacrosse by your logic.

Exactly! And the soccer league we already have...USL Pro!

There is no argument that can be made that we should be consistently selling out AFL games before being deemed worthy to get a major sports franchise. AFL does not sell out any arena in any city.

AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 2014 | ArenaFan.com