Most of the time the municipality benefits too whether through tax revenue, or profit sharing, or the fact the new venue allows for other activities like trade shows, conventions, and miscellaneous gatherings.
You can't blame owners for trying to reduce their personal risk in these ventures. Blame stupid politicians for being gullible and signing poor deals. Why politicians get involved in business is still a mystery for me. They ain't good at it so they should hire consultants that understand the issues to be the negotiators and get a deal that's good for everyone involved, not just the owners or the NHL.
- bloatedmosquito
That's exactly who I am blaming, stupid politicians that have probably lost the pulse of their constituent. I think about Detroit and how their new barn will be great and all, but the city itself is a well publicized mess.
I don't want to be a social Injustice keyboard warrior when we should be talking smack about teams with training camp opening, hut taxpayers also include those who poured your coffee this morning and will clean the office restroom later today. People that seriously contemplate whether they will be able to eat Everytime their hungry. I'd be annoyed by property or sales tax increases but in the end I would be ok.
I'd take free money if it was offered to me, sure. It still doesn't change the fact that it's shameful for (beware, old tagline) billionaire owners and millionaire players to beg for money from taxpayers whose yearly salary they outearn in a single game. Recoup the costs through charges at the gate, not from someone else's home.
