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The Arena Issue and the CBJ


HotCarl

Would you pay more taxes to support the Columbus Blue Jackets?  

112 members have voted

  1. 1. Would you pay more taxes to support the Columbus Blue Jackets?

    • Yes
      30
    • No
      82


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I'm all for "no" for pretty much all the reasons stated on page 1. But if by some miracle this went through (it won't, btw) and the CBJ become public or semi public property, then seat prices had better drop DRASTICALLY, and there had better be a large amount of free seats every game. Perhaps won in a lottery or something. If the public is paying for it, the public should get to access it at little to no extra cost.

 

Edit: I have spent quite a lot of cash in arena district bars/restaurants and I have never been to a CBJ game, nor do I own and CBJ merchandise. Have you been to the arena district bars on a Thursday/Friday/Saturday night? They are all hopping, without assistance from the CBJ. They'll be fine.

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Throwing money at folks who obviously can't manage it, is a terrible idea. How much did they throw at Rick Nash recently ? Or the other players ? Or the coaches, staff, owners ? They don't want to dig in their pockets when they are the ones directly responsible for the success/failure of the business ??? If you can't generate enough revenue selling tickets, concessions, tshirts, jerseys then you should fuck off. I love hockey, but fuck paying TAXES for it.

 

The only way to keep people coming to the games is to put a winning product on the ice. There's no way anyone is going to be happy to let Rick Nash, one of the top fowards in the entire league, walk away via free agency. We have a lot of really talented kids who they are going to have to give money to keep here in town. In the next 12-24 months we are going to have a legit top-tier Cup contender.

 

I don't care, I'll vote for it if it's going to keep the CBJ in Columbus.

 

You mean the fact that most people on CR support higher taxes for a failing business/sports team but not for increased school funding?

 

I'm for both.

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The only way to keep people coming to the games is to put a winning product on the ice. There's no way anyone is going to be happy to let Rick Nash, one of the top fowards in the entire league, walk away via free agency. We have a lot of really talented kids who they are going to have to give money to keep here in town. In the next 12-24 months we are going to have a legit top-tier Cup contender.

 

I don't care, I'll vote for it if it's going to keep the CBJ in Columbus.

 

 

 

I'm for both.

 

There is no public ballot tax option being presented. The talk is that the city will just impose the tax without a vote.

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Was there a Vote to build the Arena District? Or to have the Blue Jackets come here?

 

Fuck paying taxes for someone else's mistakes. If the CBJs fail, it is due to the mis-management of their Management (including the negotiation of Rent).

 

I would rather a double tax increase for schools over saving money hungry failures.

 

KillJoy

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The whole premise is laughable. Can you say ANOTHER bailout? When does it end? My taxes go up to make more money for millionaire players and billionaire owners? McConnels organization can bleed 8 mill a year for the next 1000 years and not miss it! SCREW THEM

 

As for the local businesses...sorry, you lose. Find another way to make a buck. It's called a contingency plan...what happens if?...you know, the way business used to run before any of this "TO BIG TO FAIL" BS.

 

I'm so sick of it.

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I wouldn't support something like that. It doesn't yield the money to support itself let alone do I nor my family benefit from it what so ever. Why should my tax money pay for someone elses failure that wasn't mandatory to begin with? No thanks.
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You mean the fact that most people on CR support higher taxes for a failing business/sports team but not for increased school funding?

 

 

Oh yeah, and this. Lets support a fail hockey team but not you know, kids getting normal busing for schools or sports and god forbid.. health care.

 

Mensan's got it right.

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Hell no. Everyone who says the answer to the worlds problems is more taxes is a fucking idiot. The country is coming to a point that we "volunteer" our money over and fucking over again and the issues will still exist. That's like giving a bum on the corner money to go buy beer. No thanks. Taxes rarely go down folks. I don't need to jack up my city donations.

 

The fact that they are losing money is of no concern of mine. If the Arena fails and the CBJ's go away, then so be it. I'm not going to cough up any of my money because the plan was fucked up from the beginning. It's not going to fix anything. Good money after a bad idea leads to nothing but a bad idea and people with less disposable income and no end in sight.

 

The city needs to address the issue with Nationwide as they are the ones with a jacked up rent, etc. I love going to a CBJ's game, but honestly, it's not of value to me to pay for it. I only go on company sponsored events. Ticket costs are too high IMO. The best bang for the buck fun this year was the new baseball stadium. My son loved it and the costs were spot on.

 

Maybe the CBJ's should analyze payroll like every other company. If they can't make their bills, cut some wages. If that drives down team performance and doesn't draw a crowd then perhaps the model never supported Hockey to begin with. I love the sport, but I'm not going to support a mandate to pay for it. Personally, I don't support any pro teams. I don't believe in paying huge bucks to watch over-paid athletes that are typically shitty role models. Me, I'd much rather pay a few bucks to watch a good minor league team with players scrapping to be good who have some real drive. The pros are playing for the money and their owners are playing to get mine. I don't think so. Vote with your wallet guys. It's your money. Just don't vote with mine.

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It's funny how you all are so against this, but if it were OSU having trouble and they wanted to raise taxes so the Horseshoe could be owned by the city and OSU just lease it from them. It would pass with flying colors, 95% at least. Ticket prices are much lower to go to CBJ games than OSU football games, but no one complains at all. Hell a beer at CBJ games is probably just as comparable to buying a beer at an OSU game.
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It's funny how you all are so against this, but if it were OSU having trouble and they wanted to raise taxes so the Horseshoe could be owned by the city and OSU just lease it from them. It would pass with flying colors, 95% at least. Ticket prices are much lower to go to CBJ games than OSU football games, but no one complains at all. Hell a beer at CBJ games is probably just as comparable to buying a beer at an OSU game.

 

 

The OSU football program funds all varsity sports at OSU. They have a sound business model.

 

Not a good comparison.

 

I would miss OSU football, but I dont want to pay extra for it. My money is my money. It's not yours to ask for to fund hockey. Sorry, man.

 

Edit:

 

Their model is so much better that they dont even make money off of beer because they are not allowed to sell it!

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It's funny how you all are so against this, but if it were OSU having trouble and they wanted to raise taxes so the Horseshoe could be owned by the city and OSU just lease it from them. It would pass with flying colors, 95% at least. Ticket prices are much lower to go to CBJ games than OSU football games, but no one complains at all. Hell a beer at CBJ games is probably just as comparable to buying a beer at an OSU game.

 

That's the dumbest comparison I have ever heard. Ohio STATE University is a taxpayer funded state University with a self funded Athletic budget

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I'm on the side of one who would never pay the money OSU tickets demand. IMO, it's just as much fun to tailgate on campus or party in my house with a Huge HD plasma and fun with friends.

 

Besides, it would be mainly the rich alumni that would bail out OSU. The same rich that would not likely back the CBJ's for the reasons I noted above. Much more worthwhile to see a college game.

 

 

 

It's funny how you all are so against this, but if it were OSU having trouble and they wanted to raise taxes so the Horseshoe could be owned by the city and OSU just lease it from them. It would pass with flying colors, 95% at least. Ticket prices are much lower to go to CBJ games than OSU football games, but no one complains at all. Hell a beer at CBJ games is probably just as comparable to buying a beer at an OSU game.
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That's the dumbest comparison I have ever heard. Ohio STATE University is a taxpayer funded state University with a self funded Athletic budget

 

Yes, and I understand that. I'm just saying if that were to happen people wouldn't be crying. People would fork over the extra cash for their beer, cigarettes, and wine which I've heard they were to raise the taxes on to fund this.

 

and for the people who complain about beer prices at CBJ games.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Forget-ticket-prices-Breaking-down-the-NHL-Beer?urn=nhl,114900

 

They are one of the cheapest in the league in beer per ounce cost.

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The only CBJ games I've ever been to have either been free tickets through work (which have always been great seats), or scalped right after the game starts for well below face value.

 

If it goes away, so be it. We are taxed enough. So what if downtown goes to the shitter? There will always be people wanting to go bar hopping/clubbing, so there will just be another Arena-type district somewhere else in Columbus.

 

Oh noes, the ghetto will invade. Invade where? To the east and west is already a shit hole (43203 and 43222...do an aerial map of those areas). Gerbil Village will feel the impact, but that's what you get for fixing up homes next to shitty areas. Short North would feel the impact a bit, but I think they are far enough away to not get hit too hard.

 

Businesses will close, but others will open. Plus, with the Casino coming, buy the time the CBJ would leave, the Casino will open up, therefore keeping businesses in the area going. So where does paying extra taxes help us?

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For those saying we can't support a professional sports team, the Columbus Crew have been around for like 15 years and are still going strong. It might not be as popular as hockey or basketball but they have their own stadium, a huge fan base, and they're making money and actually competing.

 

I have no sympathy for the blue jackets. They suck and obviously not enough people in Columbus care about hockey. Tough shit. go away. We shouldn't have to pay for it.

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For those saying we can't support a professional sports team, the Columbus Crew have been around for like 15 years and are still going strong. It might not be as popular as hockey or basketball but they have their own stadium, a huge fan base, and they're making money and actually competing.

 

I have no sympathy for the blue jackets. They suck and obviously not enough people in Columbus care about hockey. Tough shit. go away. We shouldn't have to pay for it.

Now wait a second. There are WAAAAYYYYYY more hockey fans in Columbus than Soccer.

 

Soccer is just cheaper to operate all around.

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Maybe the CBJ's should analyze payroll like every other company. If they can't make their bills, cut some wages. If that drives down team performance and doesn't draw a crowd then perhaps the model never supported Hockey to begin with. I love the sport, but I'm not going to support a mandate to pay for it. Personally, I don't support any pro teams. I don't believe in paying huge bucks to watch over-paid athletes that are typically shitty role models. Me, I'd much rather pay a few bucks to watch a good minor league team with players scrapping to be good who have some real drive. The pros are playing for the money and their owners are playing to get mine. I don't think so. Vote with your wallet guys. It's your money. Just don't vote with mine.

 

+1

I think the problem is systemic to pro sports in this country - want to see a bunch of lazy millionaires, got to an NBA game. Until pro sports cleans up their act (throw out the scum, wife beaters, drug adicts, etc. - don't care how "talented" they are) and reduce salaries. I like a system along the lines of say $1M salary cap (no bonuses/extras), aveage salary for a team not to exceed $500K per person and play each game for $xM, winner take all. Then you'd see some people work, and costs would be lower (and tickets more affordable). Would some of today's "superstars" quit? Maybe. But I think there are pleny of talented people who would still step up to play for that kind of money. Remember, call its sports if you like - but it's still just another business.

 

By the way - love the Jackets, appreciate the impact for Columbus in dollars, but subsidizing a business with my tax dollars is not acceptable. Funny, when Mr. McConnel was still alive, this wasn't a problem.

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