Posted on 02/19/2014 4:14:13 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
The Florida Panthers faced some high stakes Tuesday; not on the ice, but at Broward County Hall.
With opposition building against the Florida Panthers' request for $86 million for free rent at the county-owned BB&T Center in Sunrise, a majority of county commissioners made it clear at a workshop meeting Tuesday that they’re in favor of a major public giveaway to the hockey team.
New Florida Panthers hockey team owner Doug Cifu said he has no plans to move the team with or without the $86 million bailout he's asking from public, but that didn't stop Broward County Commissioner Marty Kiar from laying out a doomsday scenario if the county doesn’t vote in favor of the giveaway.
(Excerpt) Read more at local10.com ...
Your right, Canadian women’s team.
The NHL moved or created teams in large markets to try to appeal to a biger populace
But if they throw out garbage teams eventually even the gullible public turns on em
“The only two real sucessful pro teams down in FL that did well has been the Dolphins and the Rays.”
The Rays attendance is pretty bad for a team that has been that good. It’s pretty much IMPOSSIBLE for an NFL team to lose money with those TV contracts.
In their first year the Marlins actually drew over 3 million in attendance. And when they are competitive they do draw well. It’s a fair-weather market town. If you win they come out (not a Heat ticket available) but if you lose you are ignored.
One thing that might do well is the new Miami MLS franchise; so many central and south Americans live in Miami.
Kansas City voters were asked to foot the bill for the Sprint Center with the claims that it would attract an NHL or NBA team. Well it didn’t...and as a venue is far more profitable than if it had. Without having to reserve 30 or 40 dated per year for a team, the Sprint Center has the flexibility to attract any show, concert, rodeo, what have you that it wants. It isn’t a drain on the taxpayers, they aren’t subsidizing a sports bazillionare, and it’s been a win-win all around.
Paging Seattle... Please pick up the white courtesy phone...
Hate to say it, but the Panthers hold all the cards here.
If the county gets too stubborn they’ll just end up holding the bag on 30 years worth of debt service on a big, empty building.
This is why these places should NOT be built at public expense.
? I heard that the Dolphins billionaire owner is OPPOSING the Republicans who squashed the idea of a taxpayer funded renovation.
I am very much opposed to the taxpayers fixing up Ross’s stadium. He can sell bonds, ask his “celebrity” minority owners for money, or go public with the Dolphins to fund any renovations.
No need to go hat in hand to the citizens. He is a BILLIONAIRE, after all.
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