Posted May 4, 200520 yr Commentary: Don't let NASCAR museum out of Florida By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post Columnist Wednesday, May 04, 2005 It looks like the NASCAR museum is in trouble. I've got a suggestion. But first, let's all agree that whatever tax break is necessary to put a NASCAR museum in Florida is well worth it. At this point, we need a NASCAR museum just to make us look smarter, and to provide some relief from the state's other pressing business, which lately has been to prevent a 13-year-old state ward from getting the abortion she wants. Clearly, we need to get back on track. The state's already paying subsidies for fishing and golf museums, so it makes sense to add NASCAR ? unless, of course, bowling opens up. For just $1.2 million a year for a mere 25 years, we can claim the national hall of fame and museum for America's... um, loudest ... sport. Also, spending public money to promote for-profit stock car racing is a great companion piece of legislation to the national effort to gut public financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which airs the kind of high-brow, soft-spoken programming that does nothing but make people dangerously more educated. If Florida doesn't pay for a NASCAR museum and hall of fame in Daytona Beach, some other state will. Charlotte, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Atlanta have all expressed interest in the racing museum. We need to get busy. NASCAR, Marlins money married The problem is that the NASCAR money is tucked away inside an apparently doomed boondoggle aimed at helping the indigent Florida Marlins. To make the Marlins' deal more palatable, lawmakers had to also hand out goodies to other sports operations across the state ?tossing out millions in tax breaks to the Orlando Magic basketball team, four baseball spring training sites, and NASCAR's would-be museum. The bill sailed through the state House last week, but has gotten bogged down in the Senate, where it may die from the collected heft of its largesse. NASCAR needs to break from the pack by highlighting its payback plan. Proponents of the museum claim that sales of a NASCAR specialty license plate in Florida would offset the subsidy. After all, who wouldn't want to extol the virtues of racing on their vehicle? License plate popularity is key At $25 a license plate, 48,000 Floridians would have to drive around with race car license plates in order to pay back the subsidy. Is this likely? That would mean the NASCAR license plate would be the eighth-most popular specialty license plate in the state ? behind the panther, wild dolphin, manatee, sea turtle, University of Florida, Florida State University and the Challenger. The NASCAR plate would have to be more popular than the Choose Life plate, which is on 41,795 vehicles in the state. Could be a problem, considering overlap. So to save the NASCAR museum, legislators may have to take the next step, and rent out their bodies for sponsorships, NASCAR-style. It's the only sure way to pay for the tax break. Like human race cars, the lawmakers' business suits could be covered with the logos of their campaign contributors. Yes, it would be a little tacky, but we've crossed that bridge long ago. :mad
May 4, 200520 yr Commentary: Don't let NASCAR museum out of Florida By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post Columnist Wednesday, May 04, 2005 It looks like the NASCAR museum is in trouble. I've got a suggestion. But first, let's all agree that whatever tax break is necessary to put a NASCAR museum in Florida is well worth it. At this point, we need a NASCAR museum just to make us look smarter, and to provide some relief from the state's other pressing business, which lately has been to prevent a 13-year-old state ward from getting the abortion she wants. Clearly, we need to get back on track. The state's already paying subsidies for fishing and golf museums, so it makes sense to add NASCAR ? unless, of course, bowling opens up. For just $1.2 million a year for a mere 25 years, we can claim the national hall of fame and museum for America's... um, loudest ... sport. Also, spending public money to promote for-profit stock car racing is a great companion piece of legislation to the national effort to gut public financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which airs the kind of high-brow, soft-spoken programming that does nothing but make people dangerously more educated. If Florida doesn't pay for a NASCAR museum and hall of fame in Daytona Beach, some other state will. Charlotte, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Atlanta have all expressed interest in the racing museum. We need to get busy. NASCAR, Marlins money married The problem is that the NASCAR money is tucked away inside an apparently doomed boondoggle aimed at helping the indigent Florida Marlins. To make the Marlins' deal more palatable, lawmakers had to also hand out goodies to other sports operations across the state ?tossing out millions in tax breaks to the Orlando Magic basketball team, four baseball spring training sites, and NASCAR's would-be museum. The bill sailed through the state House last week, but has gotten bogged down in the Senate, where it may die from the collected heft of its largesse. NASCAR needs to break from the pack by highlighting its payback plan. Proponents of the museum claim that sales of a NASCAR specialty license plate in Florida would offset the subsidy. After all, who wouldn't want to extol the virtues of racing on their vehicle? License plate popularity is key At $25 a license plate, 48,000 Floridians would have to drive around with race car license plates in order to pay back the subsidy. Is this likely? That would mean the NASCAR license plate would be the eighth-most popular specialty license plate in the state ? behind the panther, wild dolphin, manatee, sea turtle, University of Florida, Florida State University and the Challenger. The NASCAR plate would have to be more popular than the Choose Life plate, which is on 41,795 vehicles in the state. Could be a problem, considering overlap. So to save the NASCAR museum, legislators may have to take the next step, and rent out their bodies for sponsorships, NASCAR-style. It's the only sure way to pay for the tax break. Like human race cars, the lawmakers' business suits could be covered with the logos of their campaign contributors. Yes, it would be a little tacky, but we've crossed that bridge long ago. :mad 762689[/snapback] this guys a f***ing looser.....who hell cares about nascar f*** nascar....i want the stadium damn it.....
May 4, 200520 yr I think the piece was meant to poke fun at Nascar more than argue that it deserves the money.
May 4, 200520 yr Author Yeah, the piece was meant to poke fun at Nascar. 762714[/snapback] What about the part about the Marlins already receiving one tax break? What about the part that bashes the stadium location? Yes, the article was written in a funny way, but it is also written in a very negative way towards the stadium.
May 4, 200520 yr Yeah, the piece was meant to poke fun at Nascar. 762714[/snapback] What about the part about the Marlins already receiving one tax break? What about the part that bashes the stadium location? 762715[/snapback] Where does it say that? Show me where it says that and I'll believe you.
May 4, 200520 yr Guys, Frank Cerabino is the Palm Beach Post's equivalent to Dave Barry. His columns are pure satire all the time. You read Cerabino to laugh, not to get news or information! You've got to know Cerabino's columns to know that.
May 4, 200520 yr Author Yeah, the piece was meant to poke fun at Nascar. 762714[/snapback] What about the part about the Marlins already receiving one tax break? What about the part that bashes the stadium location? 762715[/snapback] Where does it say that? Show me where it says that and I'll believe you. 762717[/snapback] Sorry, I accidentally deleted this part on my original post. If it is not hate, then tell me what it is. NASCAR, Marlins money married The problem is that the NASCAR money is tucked away inside an apparently doomed boondoggle aimed at helping the indigent Florida Marlins. The Marlins, who already get a paltry $60 million subsidy from the state, want another $60 million so the team can build a new baseball stadium farther from the majority of its fan base. The new ballpark will stimulate the economy, particularly in gasoline sales, and driveway parking fees collected by Little Havana residents. To make the Marlins' deal more palatable, lawmakers had to also hand out goodies to other sports operations across the state ?tossing out millions in tax breaks to the Orlando Magic basketball team, four baseball spring training sites, and NASCAR's would-be museum. The bill sailed through the state House last week, but has gotten bogged down in the Senate, where it may die from the collected heft of its largesse
May 4, 200520 yr guys i just read this from the miami herald.... Posted on Wed, May. 04, 2005 FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ Loria faces tough decision Unless the state Senate pulls a big surprise and approves the Marlins' stadium funding package by the end of the legislative session Friday, owner Jeffrey Loria faces the most difficult decision of his professional life. Does he move the team, likely to Las Vegas? Or does he change his mind and chip in the final $30 million in funding to keep the team here? If the state does not deliver by Friday, look for MLB to give the Marlins the go-ahead to speak with other cities. We have also learned that Las Vegas has emerged as baseball's top choice among markets seeking teams, with Monterrey, Mexico, and Charlotte, N.C., less likely options. Vegas needs a stadium, and MLB believes there would be adequate funding for one. MLB president Robert DuPuy and the Marlins declined to discuss relocation. DuPuy said loaning or giving the Marlins the final funding piece ``has not been suggested or considered.'' Four scenarios to save the $420 million project: ? The city or county increasing its contributions. Both say they won't. The county, whose $138 million contribution includes $78 million from hotel bed taxes, has had a good year in tourist revenue, but hasn't produced nearly enough above projections to cover the remaining $30 million. Is there a way to salvage the deal without state help? ''I'm not a quitter. I never give up,'' Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, lobbying for state money in Tallahassee this week, said Tuesday. ``I'm still convinced we can get state [help].'' ? Loria increasing his $192 million piece. President David Samson has said Loria's contribution, the fourth-highest in pro sports, is as far as he will go. Forget a rich businessman buying a piece of the team and covering the final $30 million -- none has emerged, and the Marlins aren't courting any. ? Eliminating the dome or the retractable element to save money. The Marlins won't consider either. ? Reducing the cost of the project from $420 million to $390 million by cutting corners. The team, which has vowed to cover cost over-runs, has said that's unrealistic. The Marlins, contractually bound to Dolphins Stadium through 2006, remain disinterested in forging a new long-term lease with Wayne Huizenga. its not looking good if we don't get that damn stadium deal done......
May 4, 200520 yr Author guys i just read this from the miami herald.... Posted on Wed, May. 04, 2005 ? FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ Loria faces tough decision Unless the state Senate pulls a big surprise and approves the Marlins' stadium funding package by the end of the legislative session Friday, owner Jeffrey Loria faces the most difficult decision of his professional life. Does he move the team, likely to Las Vegas? Or does he change his mind and chip in the final $30 million in funding to keep the team here? If the state does not deliver by Friday, look for MLB to give the Marlins the go-ahead to speak with other cities. We have also learned that Las Vegas has emerged as baseball's top choice among markets seeking teams, with Monterrey, Mexico, and Charlotte, N.C., less likely options. Vegas needs a stadium, and MLB believes there would be adequate funding for one. MLB president Robert DuPuy and the Marlins declined to discuss relocation. DuPuy said loaning or giving the Marlins the final funding piece ``has not been suggested or considered.'' Four scenarios to save the $420 million project: ? The city or county increasing its contributions. Both say they won't. The county, whose $138 million contribution includes $78 million from hotel bed taxes, has had a good year in tourist revenue, but hasn't produced nearly enough above projections to cover the remaining $30 million. Is there a way to salvage the deal without state help? ''I'm not a quitter. I never give up,'' Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, lobbying for state money in Tallahassee this week, said Tuesday. ``I'm still convinced we can get state [help].'' ? Loria increasing his $192 million piece. President David Samson has said Loria's contribution, the fourth-highest in pro sports, is as far as he will go. Forget a rich businessman buying a piece of the team and covering the final $30 million -- none has emerged, and the Marlins aren't courting any. ? Eliminating the dome or the retractable element to save money. The Marlins won't consider either. ? Reducing the cost of the project from $420 million to $390 million by cutting corners. The team, which has vowed to cover cost over-runs, has said that's unrealistic. The Marlins, contractually bound to Dolphins Stadium through 2006, remain disinterested in forging a new long-term lease with Wayne Huizenga. its not looking good if we don't get that damn stadium deal done...... 762728[/snapback] Let's see how the politicians try to explain how they lost an MLB franchise after all the effort that the State went through to get the franchise awarded back in the late 80's.
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