While the article referred to in Andy's post reflects on the impact of the missing Wild game, it does not take into account that the Excel and its neighboring convention center are still doing business. The question that hasn't been answered is what would the tax receipts be if the these facilities did not exist. Include in the discussion the earnings of the local and nearby bars and restaurants that wouldn't exist. Include salaries for staff etc. I would think that the presence of the facilities actually increases revenues in St. Paul. The lack of the Wild playing may not have had as great an impact as everyone feared but I would think that some of the dates the Wild were scheduled to play have been filled. Although, I assume you can't book major attractions with in the time frame available when you don't know if the primary tenant would need the space. Mike Fratto Payne Phalen
>>> "Andy Driscoll" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 02/11/2005 8:23:13 AM >>> Jay Weiner's story (<http://www.startribune.com/stories/1330/5234674.html>) on the loss of the NHL hockey season having minimal impact on St. Paul's sales tax revenue is yet more proof that spin, not substantive data, sold policymakers on the millions in giveaway tax dollars to build the downtown hockey arena, including it's near-ownership by the Minnesota Wild. What this tells us is that if the Wild wanted a hockey arena, they should have paid for it themselves, leaving our tax dollars for spending on serious housing initiatives, small business development/redevelopment, infrastructure (public works), public safety, schools and human services (since with TIF financing, the county and school district will lose big money from the loss of normal property tax increases). Yet one more message from the unusual demise of the hockey season: publicly financed professional sports playgrounds do nothing for local economic development, and, in fact divert important public resources away from far more citizen-based needs than their entertainment palaces. The phony numbers and blackmailing for enriching the rich and loading the treasury with more debt than dollars must end for all time. Andy Driscoll Crocus Hill/Ward 2 -- Visit our weblog: http://bumpasblog.blogspot.com _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
