Hey all you Seahawks fans

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Check this out:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/s...ckout-vote.htm

[[AK]Squidly]

Yeah, I know all about it. It has zero chance at succeeding...it's just another case of political posturing.

Good thing I have DirectTV

[[AK]Hylander]

DD,

It's been debated to death the last few weeks over on the Seahawks newsgroup.

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

And what was the final result???

[[AK]Squidly]

Nobody seems to like blackouts. Some folks like the idea that the politicians are trying to do something. Many folks are critical of the way the bill was crafted.

Too many gaping holes.

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Yeah, I was curious about that....
I think for once the politicians are doing something good....
Owners are holding cities and states hostage for money, but they want their cake and eat it too....

Hey, as far as I am concerned if my tax money goes towards a stadium then I should be able to watch it no matter what.....
I don't want to hear about this garbage about poor mouth and people won't come to the stadium....
That's a bunch of lies....

[[AK]Squidly]

The Seahawks owner didn't "hold" the state of Washington "Hostage". Paul Allen demanded that the stadium plan be put to a vote of the people, and the PEOPLE of the state of Washington voted to give the project the "OK".

The tax thing is a lark as well. The stadium funding package was designed in such a way that locals could easily avoid paying 1 cent, if they want to.

Seattle's stadium is funded through:
1) Special lottery scratch off tickets. Don't want to pay for the stadium? Then don't buy
the Lottery tickets. Or instead buy one of the 12 dozen other lottery tickets which are
used to fund other programs.

2) Stadium parking and ticket surcharges. Don't go to the game and obviously this won't effect you.

3) Extension of a pre-existing hotel tax. A hotel tax is not something that effects
locals, since they aren't big patrons of local hotels.

It is disingenuous of the Washington State politicians to claim that "we have the right to see the team on tv since we paid for the stadium", when that argument is incorrect on its face for the majority of "Washingtonians".

This bill is nothing more than political posturing, and a waste of taxpayer money and mental effort.

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Hmmmm.....
I believe you, however, I am not foolish enough to believe any owner is that kind nor am I foolish enough to believe any politician is that kind either, I just think it's a nice idea to get rid of blackout's...

[[AK]Bribo]

You could always buy the NFL package from your DirecTV or digital cable provider. You'll get all the games that way and not be subject to any blackouts. ('cept maybe during solar flares)

[[AK]Faxman]

Don't these politicians have anything better to do? Rome is burning, and they're worried about silly games.

[Slaughter]

I'm lucky enough to live 75mi. from both Cleveland and Cincy.. so if the games don't sell out.. I still see them... of course Browns and Bengals games never sell out.

BTW: Rome is burning?

Note: I tend to follow players rather than teams.. maybe when i get older I can follow one team..

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Bribo - Not a bad idea, I have been thinking about it... lol
I can't get enough football....

[Zorro]

Actually, Squid, every time I have to go to Seattle on business, I pay for the stadium and Safeco as well... Rental car tax and hotel tax...good stuff...

[[AK]Squidly]

Zorro - Rental car tax isn't part of the new stadium deal. I was really refering to the idea that most Washington State citizens won't be effected by the stadium deal unless they choose to.

Most. The vast majority. But not all.

[[AK]Squidly]

Originally posted by [AK]Devil_Dog
Hmmmm.....
I believe you, however, I am not foolish enough to believe any owner is that kind nor am I foolish enough to believe any politician is that kind either, I just think it's a nice idea to get rid of blackout's...

You'd be wise to believe me on this subject..I've spent so much time on it that I was interviewed over the phone by a Seattle area radio station. (Seriously.)

Paul Allen is a rare bird among professional sports owners. A Microsoft multi-billionaire, Allen is the consumate philanthropist. He has contributed 100's of millions of dollars to various causes in the Pac-NW. See his website at http://www.paulallen.com
particularly the area under "Charitable Foundations".

He agreed to purchase the Seahawks to prevent their previous owner (Ken Behring) from moving the team to California. However he wasn't going operate the team at a loss in the Kingdome - a new stadium was required. As part of the agreement of sale, a vote was *mandated* by Allen. He wanted the people to decide if they wanted to keep the team. Allen is paying for over 100million of the new stadium's costs out of his own pocket, and has as well agreed to pay for any and all cost overruns.

The guy is an anomaly. A hands-off owner who is also a fan of the team and a lover of the state in which he lives.