Why is it that some places have no problems getting new stadiums built , like Atlanta/Minnesota/Detroit and others , when others like San Diego/Oakland/and others can't even negotiate a contract with their own players. Why did St.Louis loose the Rams to L.A. ?

Richmond Va. has the same problem. They lost their AAA Atlanta Braves Baseball team because they could not agree on Where and How to build a new Baseball Park and built nothing. Now Richmond has SF's AA Baseball Team and they want a new Park, Same problems as before. Build it here , no build it there. Sell bonds to finance it, no don't issue any bonds . With all the fighting going on , nothing gets done and the Sports Franchise leaves for another city that will build and support a new Park . Get the Picture. I once witnessed a church that was so divided about their finances that half of the people left and went to another church .

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The problem is not one where one answer applies to all.

Typically owners of teams be it a major league team or a minor league team want the state and local government to assist in the funding. It is no different that the TIFs that communities give out to attract businesses. The idea is if a company locates their operation in our community it will mean more jobs for our residents. In turn we give the company a discount on their taxes for a set number of years.

Seems reasonable but it never seems to work. Business can get offers from many communities and end up taking the best one offered to them. And why not? To compound the problem is after the TIF expires they can look elsewhere for a new tax incentive. I am not talking about the Fortune 100 companies. This happens every day with little 10 -50 person shops. There is no loyalty anywhere with anything any more.

Sports franchises are no different. If I can get a community to fund half the cost why would I want to pay for it myself? And that's the thing. There are only so many franchises. They rarely make more. Civic pride goes a long long way in distorting legislators be they local or state not doubt even federal. Vegas is always going to be Vegas but they will be even more special if they have their own NFL team.

Cities that balk at being blackmailed realize that local tax dollars are better spent on other services. They don't mind kicking in some money they just don't want to be backed into a corner and take on a larger burden than needed. Tourism revenue only goes so far and it can be fickle at best so projections that a community is going to make millions or hundreds of millions based on Team A being in their their fair city is only a guesstimate. If ticket prices increase or gas prices increase or unrest hits somewhere and the number of people hitting the turnstiles will drop. Not to mention if the team stinks. People show up for a winner not so much for a perennial last place team. Richmond could spend $100 million and if they team is repugnant why would anyone want to show up?

Minnesota just about lost the Vikings. St Louis thought they met the extortion demands of the Rams.
They didn't think abut the fact that they were competing with the Pacific Ocean and the Palm trees and the bikinis and all the glitz that goes with Tinseltown. They forgot the NFL Inc has been desperate to get a team back in LA.

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Yeah trickle down economics had never worked, it never will work, because it is tax freeloading by wealthy people. People are a little tired of picking up the tax tab so assholes can go sit on their yachts. Even the idiot Republicans are starting to catch on after 40 years.

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I must agree on this point DakotaT .

However the discussion was about teams that need / but can't get a New Stadium built. As a result, some do leave and go where they are supported better. If that means State/Local funds, then they should realize the return they will get on their investment. The NFL makes BIG MONEY and not just for the teams/owners. It fosters Hotels, restaurants, car rentals , and much more to the NFL city .

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For the NFL it is big money. It is not that much of a gravy train for local businesses.

A great many people live in the area= no hotel rooms. Others stay 1 night. That's 8-12 nights in a year including preseason (and most teams don't sell out PS games like GB does.) and playoffs. (Struggling teams don't make the playoffs.) A rarer few will stay 2 nights.

Meals- greatly minimized by tailgating. Once again most people show up on game day. Those who tailgate and are in town for multiple days are also living in their campers/motor homes. That may mean revenue at the gas station but very little else.

Car rentals? seriously? How many people actually fly to a game? I am going out on a limb and say it isn't more than 5% for all teams all year long. It just won't be that significant of a number in major metros.

I have read about a half dozen studies going back to the 70's. (There are many more. Probably 1 every other year. I simply stopped reading them.) Most conclude that the public money shelled out for infrastructure and stadiums is better utilized building parks and zoos and other recreational areas along with subsidizing the arts. They will be utilized 365 days out of the year.

The earliest studies were back when 1 stadium served baseball and football now everyone wants their own toy so the studies are even more telling.

The thing is you can only spend your money once. For every dollar you shell out to watch a professional franchise take the field means one less dollar to spend at your local movie theater. Every meal you eat in the price gouging stadiums means 2 less meals at your neighborhood diner.

There is only one thing gained by spending public money on sport franchises- prestige. The cities that are willing get the teams. The cities that are not willing to kowtow watch their teams leave.

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The Chargers fans in San Diego were ripped off. And I highly doubt LA will support the team for very long. I hate it when teams move due to the greed factor. It bothered me when the Colts left Baltimore and when the Browns left Cleveland. Fortunately Baltimore got the Ravens and Cleveland had a re-birth of the Browns. I live in the San Diego area and Dean Spanos was making a lot of money here, he just didn't want to pony up for a new stadium or to refurbish Qualcomm. Fortunately Packers fans will never have to worry about the team leaving Green Bay. [rock]

Yes, Las Vegas is definitely in the lead to get the Raiders. I read today that they're pushing to get an NBA team. And of course you know that they now have an NHL team. What's next, a MLB team?

From SB Nation regarding the Chargers move to LA.

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2017/1/21/14345928/san-diego-church-sign-disses-chargers-los-angeles 

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As we now know , the Chargers will join the Rams in Los Angles. They will share a new stadium that is being built.

Also the Raiders continue their campaign to move to Las Vegas . I believe it would be a very good thing .

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