04/19/24
September 24, 2013
How the NFL Fleeces Taxpayers: Easterbrook lights into the NFL and politicians.
posted by billsaysthis to culture at 06:20 PM - 6 comments
This is my kind of story. I'm fortunate not to live in a municipality or county that subsidizes major league pro sports. But I can't leave things entirely to fortune. Since 1987, I have not attended a major league pro sporting event, have never bought any team merchandise, do not have a cable package that includes sports channels which cost extra. In general, trying to avoid any personal subsidy whenever and wherever possible.
posted by beaverboard at 08:35 AM on September 25, 2013
It's a bit of a shame that he got most of his financial figures from present day, rather than digging up other stuff like this in the past, although that might make the book/article encyclopedia length. We had a horrible situation in San Diego a bit over a decade (?) ago, where the Chargers' lease was written so that they effectively sold out every game at taxpayer expense. Any unsold tickets below a certain threshold would be picked up by the city, and as an added insult, the tickets bought by the city wouldn't count towards lifting any TV blackout. There were a few years there where the Chargers were absolutely horrible, so the owners could make money without even trying to field a good team. If not for that tremendous generation of ill will, the Chargers could very well have gotten the new stadium by now that they've lusted after for years. Article on the ticket guarantee here.
posted by LionIndex at 11:46 AM on September 25, 2013
What a great and depressing article. I love the NFL, but if it can't survive without that much public involvement, I could do without it.
posted by dfleming at 12:27 PM on September 25, 2013
How the NFL Big Business Fleeces Taxpayers
posted by grum@work at 01:42 PM on September 25, 2013
As much as Easterbrook is a nut, he's a heck of a pit bull when he's on your side. I love the idea of taking away copyright for any game played in a publicly-funded stadium. Honestly, I love any idea that winds up with Goodell sputtering and I like the idea this particular article cut him to the quick with the reference to his father. I love a well-placed cheap shot when it's not aimed at me.
posted by yerfatma at 07:17 PM on September 25, 2013
Wow! I just don't have the words to describe what I'm feeling, but I wouldn't call it shock.