Comments on Advance Indiana™: Benner: Can't Big-Time Sports Budge During Hard Times?

Will Benner have a job come Monday morning?

2009-01-31T12:25:00.000-05:00

Will Benner have a job come Monday morning?

Anyone notice the lack of media focus on the colla...

2009-01-31T11:46:00.000-05:00

Anyone notice the lack of media focus on the collapse of IRL teams and what that portends for the future of the Indianapolis 500? Would anyone dispute that the City's image has been built largely by the Speedway and not the Colts or Pacers? Could anyone dispute that the economic impact of the Speedway has been far greater than the Colts or Pacers?

And when I think about the 25 'front office' peopl...

2009-01-31T11:36:00.000-05:00

And when I think about the 25 'front office' people (whomever they are) I can't help but to think about how Irsay netted over $100M in 'free money' from the stadium naming and advertising rights, and still the organization can't afford these 25 people who worked and sweated to enable and/or support his windfall!

What's even more 'ludicrous' is the mindest that w...

2009-01-31T11:31:00.000-05:00

What's even more 'ludicrous' is the mindest that what the rest of the country sees as our image always outweighs how the people who live here see it. And to that end, anything is (or has been) fair game, no matter the cost.

I have never been against improving the city's image or downtown, but I have ALWAYS been opposed to doing it at the expense of those who have to live and work here 365 days a year - not simply jet in for a weekend and a football game, whether it's a superbowl or not.

And raising taxes on the higher salaries will never affect them. It will just be passed on as higher fees for whatever they are involved with.

Well, gee...since this whole thing revolves around...

2009-01-31T11:06:00.000-05:00

Well, gee...since this whole thing revolves around "convention business," maybe we should tell the Colts AND the Pacers to pack their bags.

The Colts only play there EIGHT days a year, anyway. The Pacers play more home games, but most of the business in the Field House is other than Pacer games.

We could just use the two buildings for "convention" business, etc.

And, no, Virginia...Indianapolis will not fold up if their precious little boys all leave town.

Despite what a Colts executive says, it’s not “lud...

2009-01-31T09:59:00.000-05:00

Despite what a Colts executive says, it’s not “ludicrous” to wish for a cooperative solution to unforeseen circumstances on an international scale.

That executive could make $750K or more. Maybe it is time to raise taxes on folks who make over $600K or more an extra 20%. Then we could use that money to fund the stadium. That would nail all the top paid players on our sports teams, as well as their highly paid executives and owners. Hey, we need to spread the wealth around a bit. Time for the super rich to fork over a little more of their money for their playgrounds.