Loading ...Now What?
You all know by now, Indianapolis lost the Super Bowl to north Texas. I’m not surprised. If I was an NFL owner, I would have probably made the same call: 30,000 more seats versus 30 degrees below zero. It’s pretty simple math. However, now comes the bigger issues.
1. The point of building the taxpayer-funded stadium and giving away $66 million in taxpayer dollars to build a hotel that was already going to be built, was to get a Super Bowl. Now that we’re not getting the Super Bowl, will the taxpayers get a refund?
2. This is the Mayor’s third major defeat this year, Indy Works, Charter Schools and now this. Is the Mayor weakened as he continues his bid for re-election?
3. Would the juice have been worth the squeeze? Indy Tax Dollars has an interesting list of what we would have had to give up in order to get the Super Bowl and the long-term economic impact would have been nill.
Just some questions as we do the post mortem. The biggest one though is now what?
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Supposedly it was a very close vote 17-15 and many team owners asked for Indy to bid again next year. Several teams recently have lost their first bid and then won the bid the year after.
Regarding your questions…
1. Was the SuperBowl the ONLY point for building the new stadium? Just asking. I seem to remember that it would increase the number of conventions we could host, but not sure.
2. Good point. I would hope it would weaken his chances next election, but considering how Indianapolis votes I’m not so sure.
3. Another good point. There is the claim to fame to host the Super Bowl and then to be able to say you had one…not sure how much money that would make you! I think this should be a good reminder of how fortunate we are to have the major races every year. It’s May Time!
As to the biggest question (Now What?), I say try again next year. The NFL is supposed to reward cities that build new stadiums. Plus, I think we have a fairly good chance next year. Unfortunately, it would further delay a reason to try and reduce crime as you recently suggested.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Sure, we didn’t get the Bowl for 2011, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get it soon. After all, Dallas’ stadium opened before Lucas Oil will, so I assume the NFL wants to see the stadium complete and see it operational for a season before committing to the city. Just look at St. Louis - they built a new Stadium on the promise of receiving the All-Star Game, and sure enough, they’re slated for 2009. I say we rebid after the stadium’s first season, and we’ll receive the same “due” that Detroit earned after building their new dome.
May 23rd, 2007 at 4:14 am
Greg Ballard (running for Mayor against Bart) says he’d like to get to work on it. Tully’s blog says Ballard thinks crime affected the NFL’s decision, and I’m inclined to believe him. I’m also becoming more inclined to give him that chance…
May 23rd, 2007 at 4:19 am
Tully’s complete blog posting:
May 22, 2007
Ballard takes a shot
Republican mayoral candidate Greg Ballard responded to the city’s Super Bowl loss with a press release. The headline: “Republican Mayoral Candidate Believes Crime May Have Been Deciding Factor in Indy Losing Bid.”
Later in the release, Ballard is quoted saying, “I am disappointed, but not surprised. Indianapolis is seeing record levels of violent crime in the past year, which must certainly weigh heavy in the minds of those selecting a Super Bowl site.
You have to give Ballard credit for trying to use the Super Bowl news to score some publicity on the city’s most pressing issue. But he seems to forget the past two Super Bowls were in Detroit and Miami, cities with rather hefty crime problems.
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:52 am
We can’t unbuild the stadium but we can certainly refuse to give the $66 million for that “needed” hotel since we aren’t getting the Super Bowl.
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:52 am
We can’t unbuild the stadium but we can certainly refuse to give the $66 million for that “needed” hotel since we aren’t getting the Super Bowl.
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:54 am
Ah, the woe-is-we has begun.
Neither the stadium, the convention center nor the new hotel are reliant on a Super Bowl for success. Post-stadium opening and post-convention center expansion, Indy already has booked 78 conventions/events that will draw 2 million visitors resulting in $1.1 billion in direct visitor spending. And it’s VERY early in the game.
But Indy will get a Super Bowl when it doesn’t go head to head against a 100,000-seat stadium.
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:34 am
It is now the time to review the empty promises.
Promise:
The NFL rewards cities with new stadiums with a Superbowl.
Fact:
Indy did not get a Superbowl or any new promises or committments for the future.
Promise:
Indy will get a huge economic surge from new new conventions with a expanded convention center.
Fact:
Cost over runs from Lucas Oil Stadium have reduced the size of the convention center expansion and the city has lost several large conventions. Attraction of new conventions are going poorly while operating revenue for CIB continues to decline.
PricewaterhouseCooper’s Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome Expansion Study
http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/BondBank/Home.html
Page 48 reflects a steady decline in CIB’s Operating Revenues.
Page 13 & 41 discusses Occupancy Rates. Interestingly it is missing the years after 2002, when rates were expected to drop by at least 5% by loosing two convention events.
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:41 am
The City should refocus its efforts on attracting events/conventions that would come back each year.
i.e. NCAA Football Championships, College Football Bowl Games, etc..
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:54 am
Jim Irsey needs to fulfill his end of the deal with the City and State.
According to the contract with the city, Jim Irsey is now responsible for filling the Lucas Oil Stadium with conventions and events beyond Colts home games. He also shares in the profits.
That means he will have to spend millions to promote Indianapolis and attract large events and conventions to fill the new stadium. He needs to spend money to make money.
The public deserves to have the economic impact promises of building a new stadium fulfilled. An empty stadium will not be well received by a public which just spent $675+ million in public subsidies for a stadium controlled by the Colts owner.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:37 am
It was one vote. If we had switched one vote, Indianapolis is still in the running. (The vote was 17-15 on the fourth ballot).
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:39 am
Thank God the city doesn’t have to subsidize The 500. Irsay looked like mafia on TV yesterday. I am so relieved that event is not coming to Indy.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:39 am
Thank God the city doesn’t have to subsidize The 500. Irsay looked like mafia on TV yesterday. I am so relieved that event is not coming to Indy.
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 am
Uh, get back to the REAL business at hand and work on the crime problem exploding around the city?
Get over it already people, did you forget you won the Super Bowl?? Maybe you would like some cheese with your whine???
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:25 am
The City and Sate DO subsidize the Indianapolis 500.
1)IMS DOES NOT COLLECT ANY SALES TAX OF ANYTHING IT SELLS THUS THE NO MONEY GOES INTO THE LOCAL OR STATE COFFERS.
2)IMS DOES NOT PAY LOCAL OR STATE INCOME TAX ON MONIES MADE OFF SALE.
IMS HAS HAD THIS SWEETHEART TAX DEAL SINCE TONY HULMAN RAN THE PLACE. TUNNELS WERE BUILT UNDER THE GROUNDS TO MOVE CASH TAKEN IN TO A VAULT. THE VAULT SITS UNDER THE MUSEUM AND WAS THERE BEFORE THE MUSEUM WAS EVEN BUILT.
YES, IMS HAS RECEIVED MILLION IS SUBSIDIES, JUST NOT THE SAME AS COLTS.
FUNNY HOW THE RICH ALWAYS COME OUT IN THIS TOWN ISN’T IT.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I’m not a rich guy, but I’ve come out well in this town because, first, I knew education was important (my parents made certain of that), I worked my way through college and I’ve been willing to work hard over the years. Like me, there are thousands upon thousands who don’t sit around and whine, who are not into class envy, who simply get up each day and go to work and do their best to provide for their families. They teach their children well, don’t abandon them, and impress upon them the value of education and the opportunities it can provide.
This isn’t all about rich guys. But in many cases, there is a reason rich guys are rich guys. They work their asses off.
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Abdul,
I usually agree with you - but you are dead wrong on this one. We are not building a new hotel and stadium just for the Super Bowl. We are building the new hotel to support larger conventions that need a headquarters hotel.
Also, while the rising crime is a problem, I just do not beleive that it played a part in the decision process. I am not aware of any national coverage of our crime problem yet. As a matter of fact I have seen more national coverage of crime problems in other midwestern peer cities, particulalry Milwaukee, and STL.
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Wilson46201 - The Lions and Dolphins play in the suburbs of their cities, not downtown like the Colts, who play in the middle of center township, which has a higher crime rate than just about anywhere in the USA.
Crime had a lot to do with us losing this bid. Plus, you can’t fight Dallas.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:07 am
Jay:
You’re wrong on two counts: The Lions play in Ford Field, in the heart of Downtown Detroit.
And crime had absolutelty zilch, zero, zippo to do with this bid. It was decided by money, pure and simple … several owners cited that. Even at that, the vote was extremely close.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:07 am
Jay:
You’re wrong on two counts: The Lions play in Ford Field, in the heart of Downtown Detroit.
And crime had absolutelty zilch, zero, zippo to do with this bid. It was decided by money, pure and simple … several owners cited that. Even at that, the vote was extremely close.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
The short-term economic impact is nil also.
May 26th, 2007 at 4:07 am
Not mentioned as one main reason Indianapolis lost its bid for Super Bowl 2011 is:
a reliable source has stated the video presentation used during the NFL bidding process did not show enough diverse activities or people in the city. It wasn’t about the crime rate and stadium seats.
It was about the “lilly white image” presented and produced video tape’s contents. No mention of the fact that Indiana Black Expo/Circle City Classic is the third largest tourist attraction for the State of Indiana, or any other contributions minorities have made to the 12th largest city and throughout the state.
This is the 21st Century and outside of Indiana, power people do promote inclusion of African Americans in their advertisement and decision-making processes. Across this coutry there is recogition given to African Americans’ participation in quality of life issues. In fact, the majority of NFL players are African Americans.
Shame on you Fred Glass, Capital Improvements Board Chairman and Mayor Bart Peterson to think that you only needed Coach Dungy’s presence to seal the deal. Racism did not work this time. Two-faced white Democrats. Say it isn’t so! Ha@ Ha! Ha!
May 26th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
The above anonymous nobody is so consumed with petty partisanship that she conveniently forgets the prominent and outstanding role of Deputy Mayor Steve Campbell in our City’s strong presentation to the NFL. She tried playing the race card but came up with Old Maid instead!