Board: Issues may cost Indy the Pacers

"Unprecedented challenges" face the people who operate Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse.

[sadd]

They should hit up Lucas Oil and Conseco they are the ones who wanted their names on the buildings. Then maybe some of the players who earn their living in those stadiums should be next to offer some money. But I'm sure it will be us taxpayers that will be the ones to flip the bill.

[Ken]

It seemed quite foolish to me the way they handled the whole issue of the new stadium for the Colts. It seems to me and a lot of other people that they just gave all of the income the building can make to the Colts. I guess they figured they could always come back and hit the taxpayers over the head and then reach into our pockets again to get the needed money to keep things operational.

This fiasco does not surprise me at all. In my opinion the CIB is an arrogant organization that is quite poorly run.

[Wet Phart]

Good... maybe the losing Pacer's will leave town and we can stick all the homeless people in the Pacer's arena.

[Jeff]

Well obviously the first thing to do is reduce the CIB members and employees salaries to minimum wage. Second halt any expansion to the convention center until the finances improve. Third would be to cut all but absolutely necessary expenditures. Fourth would be to immediately add a dollar to each and every ticket price to be solely used for debt reduction. Once the books are balanced then look at what options are available to keep them balanced. Lastly fire the incompetent personnel who created this mess and go after them for any salary they received as they sure didn't earn it.

[shawn]

then trade Jamal Tinsley for two 89cent Cheesey Burritos from Taco Bell.

[JanetM]

I would like to know what moron negotiated the Lucas Oil deal? The city got locked into all the operating expenses and Jim Irsay walked away with all the profits and no financial obligations. That's the person who ought to be exposed and pilloried in the press. Do you think Irsay will volunteer some of his free cash to help out? Doubt it!!

[magic]

If I have financial trouble at home, the last thing I would do is go out and buy a $50,000.00 boat or rec. vehicle. This town needs to pull its head out and do whats best for the people of this town and not the politicians. Let the Pacers go! People and jobs are more important. Get rid of the politicians that love to brag about what they brought to Indianapolis but hide out or pass blame on someone else when ask about the important issues of this city.

[Indy14ron]

As with many such projects, it's always easier to build and spend first, and ask operational questions later. These problems were evident long before the economic downturn. The financial viability of Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse were questionable two years ago when the situation hadn't deteriorated. Soon we'll be like Seattle - without an NBA franchise and wondering whom to blame.

[Angry Taxpayer]

We were duped. At least some of us. Sinking hundreds of millions into pro sports shrines was never an "investment." Ask any sober economist and they will tell you there has never been net financial gain for cities like us who are lured into subsidizing millionaire owners and athletes.
Let's hope history faithfully records our society's twisted priorities: games and self-indulgence trump infrastructure, arts, and literacy. We should be a cautionary tale for anyone foolish enough to consider the same bargains.

[Diane S]

JanetM wrote:

I would like to know what moron negotiated the Lucas Oil deal? The city got locked into all the operating expenses and Jim Irsay walked away with all the profits and no financial obligations. That's the person who ought to be exposed and pilloried in the press. Do you think Irsay will volunteer some of his free cash to help out? Doubt it!!

The people who walk around completely oblivious of 'how great' the stadium is, and 'how great' the Colts are do not take into any consideration the fact that the Colts owner pocketed all of that greatness', and will continue to do so in the future, taking anyone's and everyone's financials in the stadium as well as the tax base. Can't imagine that he might be laughing all the way to the bank...

[Darlene]

This is insane...with the cost of what a ticket cost to any event and with concessions, they should be making money. Let's look at the salaries of the people who are handling the money from these buildings...look at the ENTIRE picture. We cannot lose the Pacers or we will lose others as well. The economy is bad enough but think of the loss in retail/hotel/downtown and to the city of Indlps as a whole if we lose any of the attention drawing factors of the city. Do the jobs and earn the money you are being paid to get things right.

[spaceends]

Once again,your seeing the fallout from the new football stadium, the old stadium was already ok and I don't want to hear about how were losing jobs, there are no jobs anyhow. I don't know how you can couple the two together, Conseco was built during good ecomonic times and made sense, the football stadium made no sense but they built it anyhow because they just wanted to show off. We have the 500 we don't need the Superbowl, hey if it was this weekend with a blizzard then you can party with Frosty!

[Instigator]

Gee, I wonder if the low attendance is a sign that maybe Indy is somewhat fed up with the Pacers and the thuggery attitude that they have brought to this town. This seems to be the trend all over the country along with the economy. If we as Americans are having to deal with this economic downturn then maybe the Pacers should have some of this medicine also.

[commonsense08]

The first place you need to evaluate is Executive Salaries and benefits, then overstaffing issues!The debt level they are talking about should have not be allowed to reach that level. Poor oversight and management.

[Jim]

Losing the NBA franchise would be one way to finally lower the crime rate in Indy.

[HaHa]

Wow all the nasty comments.
You are forgetting what we will miss if we lose the pacers:

Thug attitudes
Player run ins with the police
Overpaid players that can't play
Losing games

We can't lose all this. Think of Indy's reputation!

[Bob Bartels]

Let the owners,and all those high priced athletes who aren't worth the money in the first place pay the price.They get all the brakes now.In the first place no sports player is worth millions,when the average American has to work for a living.Most are spoiled and couldn't work in most jobs!!!!!!!I bet the majority will [e-mail]

[Don Green]

With all the Revenue from Ticket sales,Concessions and Parking,there Should be PLENTY of Money. Someone is getting WAY Overpaid or Mismanaging Funds. And Im Sure the Simons can Kick in more Money. ALL Sports teams want To Threaten the Citys they are going to leave,and We give them what they want. Its Time to STOP being Held Hostage.

[Like Indy]

Typical government bureaucracy. Spend, spend, spend the taxpayers' money and then cry to the public about loosing money.

Gee, I'd love to build a new home and be able to demolish the old and write off what I owe on my current mortgage. Do you think that's possible for John Q Public. NO WAY!!!

[JanetM]

Diane S wrote:

<quoted text>
The people who walk around completely oblivious of 'how great' the stadium is, and 'how great' the Colts are do not take into any consideration the fact that the Colts owner pocketed all of that greatness', and will continue to do so in the future, taking anyone's and everyone's financials in the stadium as well as the tax base. Can't imagine that he might be laughing all the way to the bank...

You know he is laughing all the way to the bank. And...if he was asked to help the CIB with the expenses on the Luke he would thumb his nose at the city and threaten to leave again. But..with the current crop of politicians running the CIB, they would gladly give in and give Irsay want he wants again!!