Tag: New Mexico

Arena

Since Portland passed a law to help bring an MLB team, the Trail Blazers would like some more money for Moda Center

Now, the Portland Trail Blazers would like some of that money. According to OregonLive, the Blazers want an “estimated $20 million per year” to be given to them “from the state’s general fund.” The team claims that this allows them to start a $600 million renovation of the current arena. However, as OregonLive notes, the Blazers' situation is not similar to last year's MLB giveaway. The NBA team's players/staff have already been paying “into the state’s general fund” since 1970. If the Blazers want money for their arena, it will need to come from “essential services” for a new…

William Neilson Jr.
Stadium

“No Tax Dollars” will be spent on a New Mexico United stadium, except this $30 million and multiple other tax breaks

Let's not forget the millions spent by taxpayers at the current home of New Mexico United. When KOAT, another local news station, got their hands on a lease agreement between the team and the city, they found if a stadium was built, there would be “a lot of taxes the New Mexico United soccer club will not have to pay”. Another subsidy would come from the team being allowed to deduct “equipment purchased in the construction” from their gross receipts tax bill. What else? We don't know, and the team won't show us. Naturally, they will have “details to share”…

William Neilson Jr.
Ballpark

Why isn’t anyone asking minor league owners to pay for their own venues?

Why is nobody asking the owner to pay for these upgrades? Why are the local media not outright demanding, if not just asking, this basic question? Sports owners have simply gotten used to receiving every dollar of revenue and paying almost nothing for expenses. The owners of one minor league team admitted in a lawsuit that the city they played in had “an unlimited obligation to cover the cost of the stadium”. That is how sports owners look at their cities, with very few exceptions.

William Neilson Jr.
Stadium

Albuquerque will try to build a new soccer stadium for the 12th time thanks to support from fake groups

Over the last few years, the New Mexico United owners have really increased how often they push for a new stadium. But when you read old stories of these pushes, it is odd how often AHC is somehow involved in it. The team began play in 2018, but actually started their stadium push in 2020. In that same year, the city of Albuquerque released their yearly “Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy”. This report took input from several local groups. Yes, one of them was a member of the AHC. The report says that the city's plans for boosting tourism that year…

William Neilson Jr.