[Sans-Culotte]

I’ve never understood why cities think the Olympics will be a big boon to local businesses. You basically lose all your paying customers while your city is taken over by foreign interlopers. And the city has to spend millions to “get ready” for the event. I’d never want to have them in Houston. We could never do it here anyway, unless every event occurs inside because it’s too hot. Or we’d have to have “Fall Olympics”.

[KarlInOhio]

If I traveled to the Olympics I would be seeing every Olympic event I could and grab some food on the run between venues. I'm not there to see the local nightlife or shopping. On the other hand if I was a local who wasn't interested in the Olympics I would either stay in my house to avoid the crazy sports fans or take a couple weeks to get out of town. Neither one is good for local businesses.

[GonzoGOP]

I’ve never understood why cities think the Olympics will be a big boon to local businesses. You basically lose all your paying customers while your city is taken over by foreign interlopers.

The places that do well in the Olympics are places that derive most of their money from tourism anyway. Usually with the Winter Olympics as it establishes the location as a vacation destination for the ski set. Summer Olympics are almost a guaranteed money loser. Useful if you want to show off and don't care how much it costs. Kind of like when millionaires buy a Guestroom. There is no way to economically justify it (leasing the jet only when you need it would always be cheaper), it is just something flashy to show that you have money to blow.

I'm so glad Chicago didn't get the Olympics.