Uber or Raiders?

[qtlaw]

So Uber has announced that its moving to Oakland and is leasing a humongous space (which conveniently is near where I work). Along with Pandora, I think these moves will benefit Oakland economically a great deal. There is a bit of a backlash about why court Uber but let the Raiders leave?

After getting a degree in Economics in undergrad, I believe the effects of a sports franchise can be real but are vastly overrated these days. IMHO, a large employer however, like Uber, is a much better investment for a public entity, especially when compared to a team playing only 10 times/yr. (Even the A's, 81 dates/yr is better.)

Your views?

 

[bigpern23]

I believe the effects of a sports franchise can be real but are vastly overrated these days.

Truth.

 

[BTExpress]

There are 39,044 cities/municipalities/towns in this country. Most function quite well without a pro sports team.

 

[Starman]

Even major league sports franchises rarely directly employ more people than a reasonably busy fast food franchise.

When you discount the millionaire players, you have a couple dozen executive employees, a couple dozen clerical and maintenance workers, and a bunch of independent-contractor part timers. That's it.

You don't see cities shelling out hundreds of millions of bucks to build new restaurants for McDonalds.

 

[JohnHammond]

Detroit should have let the Red Wings dart off to Auburn Hills and Walker should have given the Bucks owners a couple of poker chips as a farewell gift.

 

[LongTimeListener]

In this case it isn't even a hypothetical debate -- a deal with the Raiders has already destroyed the city one time, and the dumb****s want to make it happen again.

 

[bigpern23]

Even major league sports franchises rarely directly employ more people than a reasonably busy fast food franchise.

When you discount the millionaire players, you have a couple dozen executive employees, a couple dozen clerical and maintenance workers, and a bunch of independent-contractor part timers. That's it.

You don't see cities shelling out hundreds of millions of bucks to build new restaurants for McDonalds.

This is quite incorrect. My wife works in facilities management and you'd be amazed at how many people it takes to operate MetLife Stadium, which is, of course, operational for a lot more events than just 16 Jets and Giants home dates.

That said, they've passed on so much of the cost for a stadium to taxpayers, that cities no longer benefit from their presence.