And, they act like stadiums are going to"drive economic" activity instead of creating dead zones in cities.
You know what would guarantee increased economic activity?
People being able to easily get to jobs and shops.
Even then, only in a shortsighted, politically deceptive manner. Taxation driven by sales in a thriving hub with free transit also pads the budget. But, taxes are unpopular and people like sports teams and arena shows and overpriced shitty beverages. They give the bigger dopamine hit.
Is this meme reporting live from Las Vegas, Nevada?
Because putting a stupid underground concrete bendy-straw full of manual-driving Teslas instead of…a subway system, and building like 8 more stadiums that shut down traffic and give us nothing but $600 concert tickets on Ticketmaster …is totally this city’s jam right now.
Come on down to Minneapolis MN, and bring cash. Our recent light rail project is 1.5 billion over budget and 9 years behind schedule for a 14 mile track… Seriously bring money!
In London, Ontario, the city gave the transit commission $350M to spend on a new transit overhaul called Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). It was the best plan possible for our city as our streets are too narrow to accommodate light rail and we sit on swampland at a low altitude above sea level which prevents a subway from being built. All the commission had to do was pour concrete for new bus pads and widen a couple of streets to add in a dedicated bus lane.
They blew half the money on consultations, construction fuck ups, and removal of fuck ups in 2022. They never finished BRT, bought themselves a brand new HQ at a cost of $120M, and now in 2023, they’re saying they’re $175M overbudget on BRT.
"Oh BTW, we gave the stadium to some wealthy dude, and he’ll keep all of the money the stadium makes. Don’t worry though, your tax dollars will pay for the upkeep.
Everyone often bleats out “bread and circuses” at everything but I think this is one area where that actually applies. It wins you votes to keep the city-branded circus in town even if it means kowtowing to billionaire team owner whims.
Add comment