On a lighter note ...
- Thread starter Suudy
- Start date
Thanks, Suudy. Brought back some old memories. I was at that last game, deep up in center field in the cheap seats. Edgar Martinez was the best two strike hitter that I have ever seen. Not as flashy as others, just reliable. Hearing the name of Bobby Ayala gave me something unlike goosebumps though. Junior's swing was and still is the sweetest one I have seen. Thanks again for bringing back some enjoyable memories during these boring stay-at-home days.
I am glad that they built a new baseball park but the way they did it was abysmal. Seattle voters did not want it. State-wide voters rejected the idea. The politicians in Olympia did it anyway. I've always been suspicious as to what was going on behind the curtain that brought that about.
I am glad that they built a new baseball park but the way they did it was abysmal. Seattle voters did not want it. State-wide voters rejected the idea. The politicians in Olympia did it anyway. I've always been suspicious as to what was going on behind the curtain that brought that about.
The whole series is really good. This is part 3 or 4 of 6.
Dorktown in general is pretty good. Its kind of like freakanomics for sports.
State voters never voted on the baseball stadium.
King County did.
Passed outside Seattle in King County, failed in the city of Seattle partly due to the Seattle Commons park being on the ballot in Seattle only (supported by Paul Allen who used his "loans" to purchase rundown property in the Cascade neighborhood which was the backbone of his Allentown real estate empire. Paul Allen got a much cheaper price buying for a park)
I will be first person to tell you I wanted the new stadium. And it was a bargain looking back. But you are correct Seattle voters did not want it. The two people who protested the funding back then was my sister-in-law and my sister. Each have been to three times as many games as I have in that stadium.
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Fnu, you have a better memory than I do. I do not recall the Seattle Commons issue. Just remember that there was a vote in Seattle/King County which failed. A proposed state support for the kingdome drew predictable outrage from other parts of the state. No enthusiasm for paying taxes for something that primarily benefited Seattle which itself did not consider the cost to be worthwhile. Seattle has never in my memory supported using their tax monies for erecting professional sports facilities. Not an unreasonable attitude as they are rarely financial winners for the locale. If they were then the Sonics would still be there as well as an NHL team. If one is a fan of the sport involved and willing to pay higher taxes for the pleasure then it makes sense. If not, it doesn't. I cannot blame San Diego for letting the Chargers leave.
These publicly funded arenas are rarely worth the cost. That said, you may well be right in that the kingdome may have been an exception to the rule, a bargain. It was certainly well used. The Seahawks, NASL Sounders, Mariners and, I vaguely recall even the Sonics used it. Also conventions, expositions, motorcycle racing and other forms of usage. It was constantly in use and may well have been worth the cost. Hardly ideal for any of the sports but functional.
