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September 01, 2004

Stuff on my mind

• My mom tells me that I am a distant relative of Knute Rockne. According to her, he is like me "800th cousin" or something like that. I know Cheesehead Craig won't be impressed, but it appears my awesome knowledge of football isn't just a fluke, it is in my blood.

• Good Twins game last night. I must admit that I'm never too excited when the game goes to extra innings, but Torii Hunter's walk-off home run made it all worth while. I also read that Lohse's position in the rotation is in jeopardy based on last night's performance. I don't know what to think about that. Who else do the Twins have? Joe Roa? J.D. Durbin? Matt Guerrier? You know, I didn't think Seth Greisinger did too bad of a job when he pitched early this season. It looks like we've got options, I'm just not too sure they are much better than Lohse.

• This is probably obvious or well-known to most of you already, but SI.com has a great daily wrap up of the world of sports called "The 10 Spot" which I have started to read everyday. Yesterday's edition has a very good discussion on the Paul Hamm gold medal controversy and presents it from an angle that I didn't consider. It is actually pretty convincing. Anyway, some may consider The 10 Spot a rip-off of the Daily Quickie from ESPN, but I actually think The 10 Spot is a little better.

• If you haven't had a chance to look at Anoka County's bid to build a new Vikings stadium in Blaine, now is your chance. They have a great FAQ about the stadium proposal that really does a nice job of arguing for the merits of stadium development in general. Among the highlights:

• Preliminary estimates indicate that the total economic and fiscal impact of the development will be nearly $100 million per year in the form of growth in the property tax base from the increased value of the new development, sales taxes generated within the development, and the benefit to the state from enhanced economic activity. This doesn't even include the money they will get for hosting one time events like the Super Bowl or the Final Four.
• It is more than just a stadium proposal, it is a proposal for an entire entertainment complex. Many stadium detractors claim that development around stadiums never happens. Well, it seems Anoka already has that figured out by having a plan for everything at once.
• Anoka County would need to generate approximately $13 – $18 million per year over the life of the bonds for its 1/3 share of the cost. They also make a convincing argument that they are only asking for county taxes that many counties in Minnesota already impose on their residents.
• Property taxes won't go up. In fact it seems the entire complex will do a lot to strengthen the property tax base in the county:

  The Preserve at Rice Creek will create nearly a three-fold increase in the market value of the development site, strengthening the property tax base by approximately $10.8 million for the city, $10.8 million for the county, and $5.4 million for each the Spring Lake Park and Centennial school districts. This represents a 20% increase in the property tax base for the two school districts alone, and will allow the schools, county and city to hold down property taxes on homeowners.

  Wow! A stadium proposal that will actually raise money for schools! Sounds good so far.
• Aren’t stadiums a waste of public money? Good discussion here again highlighted by the conservative estimates of $100 million per year rasied for the community per year. Also this little tidbit, "The 2001 NCAA Final Four basketball tournament held at the Metrodome brought as much money into the state in one weekend as the $60 million the Metrodome cost to build. Since 1982, the Metrodome has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy." Again, one weekend paid for the Metrodome. Is anyone upset we built the Metrodome? The Xcel Energy Center?
• Unfortunately their plan calls for a domed stadium, again. I'm not too keen on this, but I'll do anything to keep the team in Minnesota.

Anyway, it was a great FAQ. Check it out if you are interested.

Posted by snackeru at September 1, 2004 09:03 AM | Sports | Stadiums | TrackBack popup

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Comments

I have never gotten over the irony of a Norwegian being the greatest head coach of the Fighting Irish!

Curt in Grand Forks (who is proud to be Irish, and views his Swedish last name as a burden)

Posted by: Curt Hanson at September 1, 2004 09:11 AM

Notre Dame sucks!

Posted by: Cheesehead Craig at September 1, 2004 10:59 AM

I think I need to give Craig an "Irish surprise." What's your beef with God's favorite team?

Curt in Grand Forks

Posted by: Curt Hanson at September 1, 2004 11:49 AM

I have no problem with his favorite team, the Green Bay Packers. Notre Dame is just full of whiney little overrated punks.

Posted by: Cheesehead Craig at September 1, 2004 01:40 PM

The Irish sure have a lot of NCAA Football Championship trophies for a bunch of "whiny overrated punks." More, I would hazard to guess, than the rodents of Madison!

Curt in Grand Forks (who wants to remind everyone that it is better to be dead than Red)

Posted by: Curt Hanson at September 1, 2004 03:29 PM

Bah! Those championships are nothing more than paid sportswriter votes by a greedy university. Notre Dame keeps being touted as a great university, but they are all about the almighty $. They conned NBC, who after losing their NFL contract to FOX and being desparate for ANY football, to an exclusive TV deal. They eschewed all conferences due to that they would have to share a much greater amount of that TV revenue. Also, when the talk came around for them to possibly join the Big Ten, they would only join on thier terms, which was that they did not want to play at Michigan or Ohio State for 3 years. They were too afraid of playing them outside of their own pathetic stadium. That's how the Miami rivalry ended, the "mighty" Irish would only play Miami again if it agreed to play the next 3 games at South Bend. They are a chickensh*t excuse of a program and school. There, my rant is done, you have no argument, I win!

Posted by: Cheesehead Craig at September 1, 2004 08:17 PM