Redskins Mayor Trying To Get Team Back To D.C.

There's some literature out there on the subject & opinions vary, but I recall reading more often than not that economists don't think pro sports are a good investment for a locality in terms of return.

I'm thinking that's the general opinion as well. I love the Skins and all, but I worry when multi-million dollar businesses get fat subsidies from cash-strapped cities. More corporate welfare chasing the pipe dream of 'urban revitalization' when that money could be better allocated and have great effect in other ways. If Snyder wants a new stadium in the District let him foot the the cost. If not, let him stay in Landover. Of course that never happens and politicians get nailed to the wall when they oppose icons like the Redskins. Just saying.

If someone can point me to information to the contrary I'd be open to reading it.

I can tell you this much, if it goes down....and that's a big if....you'll see a different type of fan in that stadium.

I can tell you this much, if it goes down....and that's a big if....you'll see a different type of fan in that stadium.

How do you figure? Proximity won't change the pricing structure.

i'd give it a 12% chance of happening...

How do you figure? Proximity won't change the pricing structure.

You'll get that old RFK element in that stadium. And I'm sure it won't be as large as FedEx. I just think you'll see more of the old school fans more often rather than selling their tickets to Dallas fans.

i'd give it a 12% chance of happening...

Definitely a long shot. But at least it's officially out there now.

I'm thinking that's the general opinion as well. I love the Skins and all, but I worry when multi-million dollar businesses get fat subsidies from cash-strapped cities. More corporate welfare chasing the pipe dream of 'urban revitalization' when that money could be better allocated and have great effect in other ways. If Snyder wants a new stadium in the District let him foot the the cost. If not, let him stay in Landover. Of course that never happens and politicians get nailed to the wall when they oppose icons like the Redskins. Just saying.

If someone can point me to information to the contrary I'd be open to reading it.

Very true. This isn't a team with an old decrepit stadium. It is also one of the top grossing franchises in the world. No need for taxpayer subsidies here. Maybe DS will pay for it out of the goodness of his heart.

You'll get that old RFK element in that stadium. And I'm sure it won't be as large as FedEx. I just think you'll see more of the old school fans more often rather than selling their tickets to Dallas fans.

I don't see the logic. To think Snyder would move to a smaller venue, change the pricing structure, or otherwise change the influence of corporations and their employees within the stadium seems like a pipe dream. I also found a short little article on stadiums. If anyone is interested in reading the academic papers cited I can probably pull them up on JSTOR and send you a .PDF. The most important point made, I think, is when he says that the greatest impact a team has on a city is through branding, and creating the image of a 'world class city'. I think Washington, D.C. is already pretty well regarded as being a pretty important place, plus they already have the Washington Redskins brand, even if they are located across the river in Maryland.

Baseball Prospectus | Articles | The Imbalance Sheet: The New Stadium Fallacy (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=975)

I don't see the logic. To think Snyder would move to a smaller venue, change the pricing structure, or otherwise change the influence of corporations and their employees within the stadium seems like a pipe dream. I also found a short little article on stadiums. If anyone is interested in reading the academic papers cited I can probably pull them up on JSTOR and send you a .PDF. The most important point made, I think, is when he says that the greatest impact a team has on a city is through branding, and creating the image of a 'world class city'. I think Washington, D.C. is already pretty well regarded as being a pretty important place, plus they already have the Washington Redskins brand, even if they are located across the river in Maryland.

Baseball Prospectus | Articles | The Imbalance Sheet: The New Stadium Fallacy (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=975)


Listen, this is a long shot. No question about it. Also keep in mind Dan Snyder isn't the one that submitted the proposal, Mayor Fenty did. I'm not sure what are the details of the Mayor's proposal, but I'm quite certain it's loaded with incentives to keep Mr. Snyder happy.

I don't know if you've ever been to a Redskins game while they team played at RFK, but it was magical. I think Fenty is banking on (no pun intended) that Snyder is willing to capture some of that in exchange for a few dollars.

They're running the story again.

Why do all redskins fans have to live in the past? We had some good years but come on, rebuid a rfk, hire joe gibbs again? Lets move forward. The new stadium can be used and improved upon for quite some time. Besides, Lil Dan would just screw up building a new one.