seahawks stadium still ticks me off, after all these years. (home, live)

[kanhawk]

While I don't support your wish for the Seahawks to lose, I do think Allen should have paid for the stadium himself. He could easily have built it with his own money and not even borrowed a dime and had billions left over.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by wutitiz

I can understand that. I had a lot of fun cheering for my Chicago Bulls in the Jordan era even though the United Center was a similar deal. But I hope you can understand my perspective too, with the history of the Kingdome and the bought election.

I completely understand your perspective. When Safeco Field was built, the taxpayers paid even a higher percentage of the costs than when they built Century Link.
I think that government provides some wonderful things. Libraries and parks, for example.
I'm not even totally against some kind of subsidy or tax incentive to keep things here. we've paid for some of the art museum and some of Benaroya Hall. I'm not against it. It's the scope I'm against. Team owners, who are almost all worth at least a couple of hundred million, ought to bear a little more of the financial risk, and shouldn't try to blackmail the taxpayers the way they have. I hated losing the Sonics, but I blame Howard Schultz and Clay Bennett for that. You don't have to love Paul Allen to love the Seahawks. Now go put on the Hawk head, with a shirt with the number 3 on it, and join your crazy neighbors.

[Dport7674]

I totally agree that for the money they spend to build stadiums, for the King Dome to only last 25 yrs is a joke.

[509]

The worst part is the politicians said that the residents of King County would pay for THEIR stadiums. The STATE taxpayers would not be on the hook for ANY of the costs.

Since that "promise" was made almost 500 million dollars of state lottery funds has been transfered to fund the stadiums!!!

King County needs to pay back the state taxpayers!!!

[Steve Bowen]

Originally Posted by 509

The worst part is the politicians said that the residents of King County would pay for THEIR stadiums. The STATE taxpayers would not be on the hook for ANY of the costs.

Since that "promise" was made almost 500 million dollars of state lottery funds has been transfered to fund the stadiums!!!

King County needs to pay back the state taxpayers!!!

Stow your righteous indignation. King County and some neighboring counties are net donors to the state budget and most of the rest of the state is a net recipient.

King County doesn't owe the rest of the state. The rest of the state owes King County.

[509]

All the Stranger article shows is that some per capita costs are higher in eastern Washington.

Go to the Office of Financial Management site for the state of Washngton and snoop around there for awhile. It is an eye-opening experience.

Well, western Washington voters want to provide services to illegals and others. Should we pay for them? I just recently ran into TWO multi-millionaires that are getting the state Government subsidies for ObamaCare. You know the subsidy is based on line 37 of your 1040....not the vineyard you own or the 1/2 mile of prime riverfront!! So now Inslee wants their heirs to keep the property when they die rather than using it to pay off the state taxpayers.

The other is that most major western Washington corporation are exempt from paying taxes. Weyerhauser, Microsoft, Boeing, PacCar, and others pay just 6.5% of the B&O tax in the state!! That info is also on the Office of Financial Management site.

Trust me I worked as an economist for the government for several years. I looked into the issue. I near as I could tell its a push between the two halves of the state.

Besides a promise by a politician should be kept. Their your stadiums...you wanted them...and said you would pay for them.

[Steve Bowen]

Originally Posted by 509

Besides a promise by a politician should be kept. Their your stadiums...you wanted them...and said you would pay for them.

How about this: we'll pay you back when state legislators outside of Western Washington stop holding Seattle's public transit funding hostage as a political bargaining chip. Deal?

[tobester]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

Allen doesn't own the stadium.

I do believe he owns every parking structure surrounding the stadium however ... he's not stupid!

[Garethe]

I voted against both stadiums, and I believe Safeco Field was rejected by the voters and the legislature found a way to do it anyway, so much for elections!

The rich get richer, especially the 1% of the 1%. No point in gettin yer undershorts in a wad over it. I liked the kingdome too and miss it in some ways, as ugly an eyesore the place was, they could have done something with the roof maybe, made it look less like a giant concrete gray blob, I don't know.

Regardless, I wish the team the best, even though I am not a football fan and won't lose a minute of sleep over the net results, I'm happy it's the last game of the season so the neighborhood will quiet down, at least til baseball starts up.

[Bimmerfanboy]

This is the story around the entire country for probably 80% of stadiums.

I'm glad the building is being utilized for multiple sports/events, which makes its cost more justifiable. It would have been a disaster if the Clink ended up being like most outdoor NFL stadiums and only being utilized 8 days per year.

Anyhow, enjoy the game tomorrow you bandwagon fans.