tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post2054072593855093644..comments2024-03-29T00:30:39.262-05:00Comments on real economics: (Football) Vikings get a new playgroundJonathan Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05217670446743983955noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-87369782853077403102012-05-31T08:43:51.533-05:002012-05-31T08:43:51.533-05:00That was kind of you, thanks, I know you prefer to...That was kind of you, thanks, I know you prefer to keep your discussions at a higher level generally than to focus on the local sports scene, but I found many of your economic stances here applied directly to this boondoggle.<br /><br />It was socially staggering to see these politicians falling all over themselves to enrich the NFL, just a few years after allowing a bridge to fall into the river and less than a year after the state gov't shutdown, both on their so-called principled stance of shrinking gov't taxes.<br /><br />At best, the NFL represents a socially acceptable outlet for people's violence and gang/herd tendencies, which I suppose does have some appeal to oligarchs who prefer the masses to throw footballs instead of molotov cocktails...but what does that say about our society's priorities--loudly and clearly--we only value lowest common denominator activities, screw schools, forget green energy, go vikes.<br /><br />And anyone who thinks that this is just crazy Minnesotans, had better follow the money of their localities pro sports funding. The more you research, the sicker it gets.<br /><br />The vaunted NFL is 15 Billion dollar per year industry, that refuses to pay its own way, while they extract every dollar they can from it's most loyal (gullible) fans and communities. And the other pro sports aren't far behind.<br /><br />It is a bitter lemonade being made with these deals...very hard to swallow and ignore.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252804186064393926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-59068414752717350582012-05-30T15:56:35.739-05:002012-05-30T15:56:35.739-05:00Thanks Mike. This post (my part) was written for ...Thanks Mike. This post (my part) was written for you so I am happy you enjoyed it.Jonathan Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05217670446743983955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-42231022920066150342012-05-30T14:01:55.126-05:002012-05-30T14:01:55.126-05:00Yes sir, I couldn't agree more. I joined the ...Yes sir, I couldn't agree more. I joined the debate to try to insert some sanity, but the denial of reality pro sports crowd is led by yapping and biting jackals, unable to hear or think over their own noise.<br /><br />Even pro sports debators had to acknowledge not a single study has shown economic benefits from building stadiums/arenas and that was BEFORE the NFL sharpened their extractive contract clauses to capture more revenue sources and extract more concessions. I'd start listing them, but my blood pressure can only take so much.<br /><br />Politically, this violates the expected role of gov't in providing tax exemptions and public subsidies for a private monopoly business that even the churches of the world must envy.<br /><br />Economic theory-wise, pro sports subsidies violate-- <br />(1) local multiplier effects since most revenues are sucked out of the community, <br />(2) ignores any substitution effect when the claim monies spent on pro sport entertainment unto their own as if they would never be spent in other entertainment/activity the community otherwise.<br /><br />But most violently ignored is the huge opportunity costs to the state, to have placed into the extractive hands of the Goldman Sach run NFL over half a billion dollars that could have been spent elsewhere--<br /><br />--Like the vaunted Arden Hills site, that is too poisoned for residential development, but argued to be perfect for sports fans to go tailgate at.<br />--I'd say instead it is perfect for these kind of deals that I clipped from Tony's posting today - <br /><br />Sandia National Laboratories has partnered with Texas Tech University, Vestas Wind Systems and Group NIRE to develop a state-of-the-art wind turbine research facility in Lubbock, Texas. The Scaled Wind Farm Technology Facility is scheduled to go online in October, said Sandia spokeswoman Stephanie Holinka<br /><br />Choate Construction has started pouring the concrete foundations on what is expected to become the world's biggest testing facility for wind turbine drivetrains. The $98 million facility at the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston, S.C., is scheduled to begin operating its first test stand in early 2013, while the second test stand is due for completion in the spring of 2013. A group led by Clemson University will operate the facility upon completion.<br /><br />But instead we get to read about blog/journalist Steve Marsh visiting Larry Superfan Spooner's $30,000 purple van to watch the legislative kabuki theater on his big screen TV.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252804186064393926noreply@blogger.com