Arena debate FACTS

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:51 am

Here is a quick list of FACTS that cannot be disputed with linked sources that you can copy and paste into emails to people that may be against the arena or to use yourself in any conversations you might have with people who are misinformed. These are facts and are not debatable. Please use them as much as possible.

FACT: AEG will pay all construction budget overruns and operational loses for 35 years. They are on the hook if this arena fails. They will manage the arena, not the city. Source: AEG/City letter of participation

FACT: The arena is not the only project happening downtown and will not sit alone. It is one of the final pieces to compliment all the residential and other projects. Over $2Billion in investment is now underway. Source: kcmo.org bids and permits & KCStar articles

FACT: Enterprise Rent-A-Car alone has provided 99.8% of the funding for the anti- campaign. $437,500 out of $437,600. This is all funds from outside Kansas City. Nobody within KC is against the arena enough to fund the opposition. Source: KC Election Board & http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 249452.htm

FACT: $4/day Rental Car fees and $1.50/night hotel room fees are the only public fees in question in KCMO only. No general tax increase. No property tax increase or earnings tax increase (would require another public vote). Source: Ballot language: http://www.kceb.org/new2004/questions_sb.pdf

FACT: If for any reason AEG does not sign a binding contract after the public vote (no binding contract can be signed before), no rental car or hotel fees will be collected. Source: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/9242116.htm

FACT: Experts in the arena field, Horrow Sports Ventures, have stated that this is one of the most complete efforts he's dealt with before public vote. Source: various KC Star articles & http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 258472.htm

FACT: KC residents when they travel to other cities pay these hotel & rental car fees to fund other cities facilities. Source: Arena/stadium financing ballparks.com

FACT: The following companies & organizations have publicly backed the arena: American Indian Council, American Institute of Architects - Kansas City Chapter, Back to Basics Committee, Black Chamber of Commerce, Building and Construction Trades Council (AFL-CIO), Citizenâ€™s Association, Civic Council, Clay County Economic Development Council, Committee for County Progress, Convention and Visitorâ€™s Bureau (CVB), Downtown Council, Economic Development Corporation, Freedom Incorporated, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (GKCOC), Greater Kansas City Hotel and Lodging Association, Greater Kansas City Sports Commission (KCSC), Heart of America AFL-CIO, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Organization for Justice & Equality, Kansas City Business Journal, Kansas City Call Newspaper, Kansas City Hispanic Association Contractor's Enterprise, Kansas City Star Newspaper, Kansas City Power & Light, KMBC-TV (Channel 9), Labor Management Council, LARAZA, Main Street Corridor Development Corp., Minority Consortium Forum of Greater Kansas City, Minority Contractor's Association, National Association of Women in Construction Owner's Council, Northland Community Alliance, Northland Dispatch Newspaper, Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Old Northeast New Democratâ€™s, Old Northeast Inc., Platte County EDC, Shamrock Democratic Club, Sports Radio 810 WHB, South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Teamsters, Union Broadcasting, Westport Landing Democratic Club
Source: downtownarena.com

FACT: The Big 12 will NOT return without a new arena Source: Big 12 commissioner interview in KC Star. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 230313.htm

FACT: NHL ownership is already looking at Kansas City if this plan goes forward. Source: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 257406.htm

FACT: The arena can survive w/o an NBA/NHL team and will not sit empty. Source: Kemper arena under private management and is more full than it ever used to be based on dates used.

FACT: A poll by KMBC says that a majority in KCMO are voting for the arena. Source: KMBC polls.

FACT: The anti-arena folks are attempting to misinform the public with tv ads that say without an NBA/NHL team, the arena will fail and then a week later bringing in a paid consultant saying if we DO get another pro team, the arena will fail. Source: CAAT tv ad & interview with Dan Rascher, hired by CAAT.

FACT: The anti-arena campaign is losing members. Just yesterday City Councilperson Sandra McFadden-Weaver came out in support of the arena. Source: public interview with Rev. McFadden-Weaver.

Post by **chrizow** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:54 am

this would be an awesome Letter to the Star, once it is all completed!

KCN · Post by **KCN** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:56 am

I've been wanting to put together a list of cities who have a similar hotel or car rental tax. That way, we can say, when you go to here, here, here, here, here and here, you're paying for their arena or whatever, so let them pay for ours. And also so we can compare our tax rate to theirs, and also compare what arenas have done to those cities.

KCN · Post by **KCN** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:59 am

If we can get this list together by the end of this week, we can all post it on KC-related message boards so that everyone who reads it can spread the word over the weekend. I've been trying to pimp the arena vote on Chiefs planet (and have encountered almost zero opposition...people who like sports support the arena).

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:03 am

I can't find a good source of how arenas were financed...ballparks.com does a good job documenting stadiums but not much info on arenas.

Our tax rates won't compare favorly....of course the total cost of hotel/rental cars still will be favorable

KCN · Post by **KCN** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:05 am

Hmm well I know Dallas has the exact same rental car tax for the AA arena.

ignatius · Post by **ignatius** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:50 am

Is it also a fact that taxes won't be collected until all commitments are binding?

Beltonhawk · Post by **Beltonhawk** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:04 am

AEG is covering cost overruns for 35 years...

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/s ... ily27.html

the 25 years you're thinking of is the Sprint Agreement

KCK · Post by **KCK** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:07 pm

One of the biggest issues is that KC supposedly is not a large enough market to support another of the big sports. Well that may be true right now, but what about after the Royals leave KC when bi-state II fails to pass? KC will then be a front runner for a new sports team, and that probably means NBA. Let me tell you what, I love basketball, and I think it would be a much better fit in Kansas City than baseball, and with a new arena in downtown, it would work out great. We might even be able to figure out a way to convert Kaufmann into a Soccer specific stadium for the Wizards.

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:09 pm

any more facts?

tat2kc · Post by **tat2kc** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:20 pm

add a bit to the AEG angle, especially the fact that they will pay construction costs over $250 million. That caps the city's liability very firmly.

Also, something about that study that someone did regarding the agreement, and how it is one of the most detalied agreements ever seen.

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:49 pm

is that 2nd piece "fact"?

tat2kc · Post by **tat2kc** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:16 pm

yes, but I don't remember who said it, it was in one of the posts. Damn, i'll see if i can find it later.

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:19 pm

yeah I know who said it but is one expert "opinion" really fact? I think it's good to add it.

scooterj · Post by **scooterj** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:30 pm

It's a fact that it's some expert's opinion.

Post by **staubio** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:43 pm

You can say it is a fact that experts have stated that....

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:59 am

added more...let me know what you think. I'd like to get this done TODAY so we can start squashing misinformation

Sonfire · Post by **Sonfire** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:15 pm

Don't misunderstand me: I want the arena as much as the next person does, but those facts seem a little biased.

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:16 pm

but they are FACTS

Sonfire · Post by **Sonfire** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:19 pm

I'm sure.. but just send them the facts... maybe even put in some anti-arena facts.. that way, you add more balance to the story and the star will be more likely to publish it.

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