Question for our Detroit and Michigan Friends

[dreamaker]

You sport people will understand this more than I.  But, I am confused about the new Red Wings Stadium, I don’t know if I heard it wrong or not, hopefully I did.  But I got the impression that the Michigan Tax payers are paying the tab on the initial cost for the stadium, and the Ilitch’s will have full control and will reap the benefits from the stadium. Now on the news today they raised additional cash to make it a show piece. Now I get the impression that the Ilitch’s is not putting crap out, of their pocket for the stadium, it is all other people’s money, and the Ilitch family benefit from it.  Did I misunderstand or not.

[old2soon]

If politician are involved yer probably right.  And I live in Missouri. Some years back they wanted taxpayers help to build the Cardinals-M L B-new stadium in St. Louis. You'd THINK what tickets cost they-the owner(s)-could front the money themselves.  WHY should taxpayers foot the bill for PRO sports??  RIDE SAFE.

[Romeo]

My understanding is that the Ilitch's are picking up most of the tab. Even if they aren't, anyone who thinks they are somehow raping the taxpayers needs to have their head examined. The Ilitch family was the only family besides the Fords who didn't turned their back on Detroit when everyone else was running for the hills.

[dreamaker]

My understanding is that the Ilitch's are picking up most of the tab. Even if they aren't, anyone who thinks they are somehow raping the taxpayers needs to have their head examined. The Ilitch family was the only family besides the Fords who didn't turned their back on Detroit when everyone else was running for the hills.

I guess I am one that needs his head examine, I don't think they are going to the extreme, of raping the taxpayers.  I guess my question is, "Is the taxpayer paying for the tab on the stadium, and if so how much"  You talk about the Ilitches like they are saints and they contributed to Detroit. Keep in mind that Al Capone also contributed  when the people was in need. Did you ever ask yourself why the people ran for the hills from Detroit. You can correct me on the numbers, but there use to be about 1.7 million people in Detroit, now there are about 700 thousand left, even rats will jump off a sinking ship. Now do I think the Ilitche's are bad people, "NO I DON'T", but they are business family, and they didn't get where they are, through charity. Like I said, may be I am misunderstanding the whole thing, but I thought I heard in the passed news, that stated the taxpayer would flip the bill on the stadium.  And did not hear anything about the Ilitch's adding to the cost of the stadium till recently. Now the info. you presented, is that fact or just what you heard.
This is why I am asking the question, because I want the facts and not the rumors. Also these are my opinions and observation, and in my opinion, we need a stadium like we need VD, we have more pressing thing to take care of in Detroit than an other stadium. Again Detroit did not get where they are, by good business practices.

[Alpha Dog]

Found this from yesterdays Detroit Free Press.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2015/11/04/report-cost-new-red-wings-arena-rises/75146516/

Original price tag was 450 million.  Taxpayer backed bond, mostly by Downtown Detroit Businesses including GM for 250 million.   200 million bond back by Illitches and private.  Additional 167 million in improvements to resurrect a forgotten area back by private bonds. Also.

The Illitch's have indeed done more for downtown in their lifetime than anyone else and by a wide margin.  I never saw a hockey game at the Joe, always Tigers and Lions but it did go there a few times when it was young to see Tommy The Hit Man Hearns, also known at the time as the Motor City Cobra.
Chuck

[dreamaker]

So, it will NOT, be backed by us working stiffs tax money, correct. I am glad, it was a misunderstanding on my part, and not a fact.  Even though I have said I hate Detroit, that is not really true, I am just angry with the city. I have many many good memories of that city, anyway I was born there, so how could I hate it.

[Jess from VA]

I'm no expert, but it's my understanding that municipal bonds, created to fund/finance huge capital improvements, are fine so long as everything works out as planned.  But they have small print that says if no one buys them, or they are severely downgraded or become worthless, or other problems arise, they are guaranteed or underwritten by a G entity (city or state), so ultimately the taxpayers are at risk for picking up the tab if everything does not go as planned/hoped.  That is why I vote against all state and local bond issues (since debt at every level is already ridiculous).

[BradValk48237]

Personally I thank Mr Illitch for what he has done for the city and i hope he is around to see it completed (he is looking really frail now).... His kids are spoiled douche bags.. I personally have had dealings with his daughter and she is an entitled bitch that has no problem not paying people what they are owed....

From the money he put in to bring back the teams.. Tigers and Red Wings... and to his vision to get the new Tiger/Comerica Park Stadium built... He more or less saved Detroit as a place to go.

In a lot of towns building a new stadium usually did little to help a downtown but in the case of Detroit it was a first step in getting downtown Detroit back to being a place to go... I now spend at least one night a week downtown doing SOMETHING.. before it was once or twice a year.

Before it was built, downtown was a place you REALLY needed a reason to go.. once the stadium went in, other people began to fix up other areas in the city.... the difference between downtown now and 15 years ago before that stadium is incredible. There are dozens of new restaurants and store to go to now... You have trouble finding place to live downtown now, whereas a few years ago you couldn't pay someone to live downtown. Occupancy for retail and office space is now up into the 90%+ range where it used to be more like 50%....

So all the good things you hear about now pretty much started with what he did years ago..

Besides that Joe Louis Arena, where the Wings play, is a crap hole...LOL  needed to go years ago....

B

[dreamaker]

Not trying to be contrary, but Tiger Stadium was from 1912 to 2009, got some good mileage out of that stadium, OK,  So Joe Louis doesn't even come close to that, or was that incorporated in the modern construction of that building. Cobo Hall is still rolling along pretty well, why didn't the Joe last?

[Romeo]

Not trying to be contrary, but Tiger Stadium was from 1912 to 2009, got some good mileage out of that stadium, OK,  So Joe Louis doesn't even come close to that, or was that incorporated in the modern construction of that building. Cobo Hall is still rolling along pretty well, why didn't the Joe last

I believe they built The Joe on the cheap. It has only one row of luxury suites and they are way up at the roof. The concourse is narrow and not well lit. In this era, if money is to be made, sell outs must happen at every game. Corporations need to buy into the suites. The Red Wings are a storied franchise, one of the original six, and Detroit is known as hockeytown as well as the motor city. They deserve a first rate venue, as do the fans that go there.

[Jess from VA]

I was at the Joe on the opening night Wings game.

There were not enough urinals/men's rooms.  Guys were lined up clear out the door.  After about five minutes of standing in line missing the game, I announced... anyone mind if we pee in the sinks?   And just like that the number of urinals doubled.