HotCarl Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 So for those of you who do not know or haven't heard yet (hey some people really do live under rocks). The Columbus Blue Jackets, the primary tenant of Nationwide Arena, are losing money.... LOTS OF FUCKING MONEY and fast. Something to the tune of 10-12million a year is the most ive heard, the least was 8 million per year since the team debuted in 2000. Obviously this isnt a new problem, its a problem that has been festering behind closed doors for years, a problem in which the CBJ organization wanted to keep behind close doors and resolve amongst themselves and Nationwide. However its become painfully clear that the only way this will be resolved is with public help (read: funding). No one wants to say the dirty word but it has to be said, more taxes. My question for CR, would you support a tax referendum to keep the Columbus Blue Jackets in town and Nationwide Arena a viable arena for a professional team of any sport? If a mod could add a poll it would be greatly appreciated, I looked for the funtion but couldnt figure it out. A poll might make this a bit easier but by all means post your opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fattyona12 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I hear there are talks of someone buying it basically for free and becoming incubent of the debt... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stallion Motorsports1647545491 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 hey nationwide...charge less rent, like everyone else in the league, you are the higest out there. tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main3s Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 NO! Why should I as a tax payer have to pay more in taxes because of someone else’s business failure? I know its entertainment and a sport available for all to enjoy, but at the end of the day it’s business. If someone is going to invest lots of money, time and city resources into starting up something on that scale I would sure as hell hope that they would be able to manage it properly. It’s no different then your small mom and pop pizza shop who pays too much in rent and has shitty pizza. Would you pay more taxes to keep small business like that afloat? After all small businesses employ lots of people and impact out local economy too. You have to manage it properly to ensure it’s successful. Now because they owners and land owners fucked up and are loosing more money in a year then I’ll see in 10, means I have to pay more taxes!? Fuck that. CBJ fans will just have to go back cheering for the wings and pens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 my taxes are high enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Let's just put them here. It would be a ton cheaper! http://turbo.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2009/11/silverdome-auction-1.jpg Only $583k and we'd own it! Then maybe the CBJ could rent it out to other teams, and pay off some debt? http://www.inquisitr.com/48442/silverdome-auction/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I voted no because the correct solution is to bring in an NBA team to share costs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin R. Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I voted no because the correct solution is to bring in an NBA team to share costs Yeah, lets add another shitty Ohio team to the mix so we can be disappointed year after year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 NO! Why should I as a tax payer have to pay more in taxes because of someone else’s business failure? I know its entertainment and a sport available for all to enjoy, but at the end of the day it’s business. If someone is going to invest lots of money, time and city resources into starting up something on that scale I would sure as hell hope that they would be able to manage it properly. It’s no different then your small mom and pop pizza shop who pays too much in rent and has shitty pizza. Would you pay more taxes to keep small business like that afloat? After all small businesses employ lots of people and impact out local economy too. You have to manage it properly to ensure it’s successful. Now because they owners and land owners fucked up and are loosing more money in a year then I’ll see in 10, means I have to pay more taxes!? Fuck that. CBJ fans will just have to go back cheering for the wings and pens! It's VERY different than supporting your local mom and pop pizza place. You need to see the bigger picture. The CBJ and Nationwide Arena are the backbone of a downtown economy based upon drawing visitors to spend money on food, shopping, rooms, etc. The CBJ leaves and the economy of the City suffers immensely. Consider this: The CBJ moves. Nationwide Arena starts to fail and default. The local bars, restaurants, etc. decline. WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK IS GONNA PAY FOR THIS? WE ARE, IN TAXES!!! Do you remember CITY CENTER? We are still paying for that! I voted no because the correct solution is to bring in an NBA team to share costs Brilliant, Dumbass! Now we show the world we will not support ONE professional franchaise. Yup, the NBA will be pounding on our door, soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Well, instead of paying taxes to keep a failing business plan afloat maybe we should just pay taxes that go straight into everyone's pockets who is involved. Isn't that what it would be? Taking money from a bunch of people so a few people can go on the way they have? Sounds communist. If it's going to fail, it needs to die. Oh wait, the casino will fix everything though! Let's just take money from them and give it to nationwide! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I don't think I need to pay taxes because they cannot do math. I don't feel the need to pay $60/seat to watch hockey either. If the tickets cost less, they would sell more of them and make the difference up in concessions. Look at the new Clippers park, cheap to get in and they make piles of money on the food/beer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 It's VERY different than supporting your local mom and pop pizza place. You need to see the bigger picture. The CBJ and Nationwide Arena are the backbone of a downtown economy based upon drawing visitors to spend money on food, shopping, rooms, etc. The CBJ leaves and the economy of the City suffers immensely. Consider this: The CBJ moves. Nationwide Arena starts to fail and default. The local bars, restaurants, etc. decline. WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK IS GONNA PAY FOR THIS? WE ARE, IN TAXES!!! Do you remember CITY CENTER? We are still paying for that! Brilliant, Dumbass! Now we show the world we will not support ONE professional franchaise. Yup, the NBA will be pounding on our door, soon! Ah yes, the ole "you're a dumbass" argument. Hey, how fast did the EXHIBITION game at the Schott sell out? The NBA would work here... dumbass. There are a few teams looking to move currently, specifically, the Pacers. We already have the arena, the parking, the staff, the restaurants. I would say there are more NBA fans in Columbus than Hockey fans. Hell, before they started winning, it was so easy to get free Blue Jackets tickets. EVERY sports talk person in Columbus wants the NBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Well, instead of paying taxes to keep a failing business plan afloat maybe we should just pay taxes that go straight into everyone's pockets who is involved. Isn't that what it would be? Taking money from a bunch of people so a few people can go on the way they have? Sounds communist. If it's going to fail, it needs to die. Oh wait, the casino will fix everything though! Let's just take money from them and give it to nationwide! Did you not understand my post above? Look at the bigger picture. This is not about a saving a failing business, it's about saving a large part of our city's economy. Look at the bigger picture guys. We will pay for it on either end. I'd rather pay for an ammenity (CBJ), than to pay for the crumbling facilities and neighbprhoods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Good point Akula. I'll think about helping out when someone proves to me that EVERY person responsible for this is living off hot-dogs and ramen. I'm not a fan of giving my money to people who are better off than me, that's just stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Ah yes, the ole "you're a dumbass" argument. Hey, how fast did the EXHIBITION game at the Schott sell out? The NBA would work here... dumbass. There are a few teams looking to move currently, specifically, the Pacers. We already have the arena, the parking, the staff, the restaurants. I would say there are more NBA fans in Columbus than Hockey fans. Hell, before they started winning, it was so easy to get free Blue Jackets tickets. EVERY sports talk person in Columbus wants the NBA. I'm convinced! You, and all the sports talk people, have swayed me with your facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main3s Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 It's VERY different than supporting your local mom and pop pizza place. You need to see the bigger picture. The CBJ and Nationwide Arena are the backbone of a downtown economy based upon drawing visitors to spend money on food, shopping, rooms, etc. The CBJ leaves and the economy of the City suffers immensely. Consider this: The CBJ moves. Nationwide Arena starts to fail and default. The local bars, restaurants, etc. decline. WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK IS GONNA PAY FOR THIS? WE ARE, IN TAXES!!! Do you remember CITY CENTER? We are still paying for that! Brilliant, Dumbass! Now we show the world we will not support ONE professional franchaise. Yup, the NBA will be pounding on our door, soon! Exactly my point. We pay for it and it still fails! I know, lets give it more money! Becasue this time... well this time will be different. So a business comes in and promisses to bring more entertainment and money to the city. BUT after 10 years of loosing money they want me to fund their failure. It's not supose to work that way. They build it, I go down and pay money to watch a game, then hit the bars after. I spends my money & get taxed at the same time. Where is that money going!? But to your logic. They tax me to build it. They charge me and tax me to enjoy it. Then when they mis manage it they charge me and tax me to keep it going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I'm convinced! You, and all the sports talk people, have swayed me with your facts. Tell me, who signed one of the worst leases in sports history? Hmmm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Look at the bigger picture guys. We will pay for it on either end. I'd rather pay for an ammenity (CBJ), than to pay for the crumbling facilities and neighbprhoods. Yes, I understood. It is not the responsibility of the taxpayers to contribute to this cause. This is a good example of what is wrong with this country right now. The idiots who are keeping this going need to sell off what they can, and pay off their debts somewhat. Then someone else who is competent needs to convert the arena/franchise into something that isn't a failure. That is the lifecycle of facilities is it not? Someone needs to be held accountable and punished for this failure, NOT the taxpayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I don't think I need to pay taxes because they cannot do math. I don't feel the need to pay $60/seat to watch hockey either. If the tickets cost less, they would sell more of them and make the difference up in concessions. Look at the new Clippers park, cheap to get in and they make piles of money on the food/beer. I agree that the aforementioned business plan needs to be reformulated, but I don't beleive it will be enough, and soon enough, to save the CBJ. Broad reform must be made, and unfortunately some support by taxation, will be our only chance to save them, and the log term demise of the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I think anything not Buckeye football is destined to fail in Columbus. Too much stuff around Ohio in Cinci and Cleveland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I think anything not Buckeye football is destined to fail in Columbus. Too much stuff around Ohio in Cinci and Cleveland. +1 More pro teams in Columbus is not the answer. "But they'll draw more fans and cut the costs" No. You are dilluting the fanbase. No person has time to watch the Buckeyes/Browns/Bengals/CBJ/Crew/Clippers/Cavs and now the fucking Pacers? Lets get serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main3s Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 I agree that the aforementioned business plan needs to be reformulated, but I don't beleive it will be enough, and soon enough, to save the CBJ. Broad reform must be made, and unfortunately some support by taxation, will be our only chance to save them, and the log term demise of the area. You have a point. If nationwide fails then the arena district will be the next brewery district. But my beef is that it isn’t my responsibility to fix their mistakes. Maybe if they didn’t fuck around and wait 9 years before sending their team to the playoffs they could have built a stronger more desirable fan base to support their cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 +1 More pro teams in Columbus is not the answer. "But they'll draw more fans and cut the costs" No. You are dilluting the fanbase. No person has time to watch the Buckeyes/Browns/Bengals/CBJ/Crew/Clippers/Cavs and now the fucking Pacers? Lets get serious. #1 you are mixing seasons. There would be a huge fan base for basketball in Columbus. Moreso than hockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 You have a point. If nationwide fails then the arena district will be the next brewery district. But my beef is that it isn’t my responsibility to fix their mistakes. Maybe if they didn’t fuck around and wait 9 years before sending their team to the playoffs they could have built a stronger more desirable fan base to support their cause. I don't think the "fan base" is the issue. It's not that they can't sell seats because they do. It's the fact that the rent for the arena is the highest in the league. Maybe if everyone started boycotting Nationwide insurance and sent them a message, instead of raising our taxes so Nationwide can cash in. Maybe bringing in NBA would help with the rent, I don't know the situation though. But as I said before, I think it is destined to fail, unless Lebron leaves Cleveland for NY. Then maybe Columbus would have a chance with the NBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sol740 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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