Officials: Help the Jackets? Sure, but... | The Columbus Dispatch

Read what's being said...
...Government officials won't give any existing tax money.....but they are willing to create NEW taxes for the team......
And you won't be able to vote on the type of taxes they create....
Taxes are Taxes.......

A few "Loud-Mouth" groups expect the rest of us to support their desires

The fact is...Hockey Fans...Soccer Fans....Smokers....Gamblers..
Are NOT the majority...[they just sound like it].......

They demand to be accommodated, but on their own cannot support any business that caters to them.....

Maybe the Blue Jackets will benefit from tjhe increased traffic due to the casino.

Mike wrote:

Maybe the Blue Jackets will benefit from tjhe increased traffic due to the casino.

Yeah...Like all the other downtown businesses benefited from the City Center Mall.....And the Santa Maria....And the COSI move to Central High School...
And just look how the businesses are thriving in the Short North with the North Market and the Arch Lights

And just see the boost to the bar business with the Keno machines...

If the Blue Jackets are losing money, they need to look at their business model, and adjust.

Nationwide, this is your problem, why do we have to bail you out? Taxpayers didn't want it, but you forced it on us. Belly up to the bar!

Your logic that the district is "Too Big To Fail" is just another scream for a "bail out".
The Article mentioned that one solution that wouldn't cost taxpayers anything was a tax break of some time. Hello ???, if they are getting a Tax Break, who is paying for this shortfall?

Hey Nationwide, try being on "Our Side" Take care of your own business, and we will take care of ours.

I have no problem with increasing Hotel and car rental taxes but somebody better figure out the problem because their attendence is better than most NHL teams.

If the Blue Jackets benefit their immediate area - from parking to bars, clubs, and hotels - then let those businesses that benefit help fund the team they are benefitting from. I don't know about most, but my streets didn't get plowed any faster because of the increased tax revenue they claim to generage (wait - they didn't get plowed at all)...and my leaves still aren't getting picked up...so I have a bit of a problem seeing the "benefit" to all citizens that pay taxes versus the very few that actually do make money on the back of this team. Public money should never be spent to cover the losses of a private enterprise - if it's worth it to the businesses that thrive off them, let them pick up the slack.

who cares they only play so many games here anyway then like the huntington park it goes to waste maybe they can schedule for concerts, besides the parking is expensive a total rip off,hope the folks stick to their guns and not use taxpayer money it is bad enough they are building a nice park for the homeless during the summer months

I am glad I don't live in Columbus or Franklin County, I won't get stuck paying for Natiownide and the Blue Jackets bailout. You know that the politicians will come up with some sort of TIF to bail the out, and that is still public money!

absolutly, NO public $! If you think Columbus voters will pay for the Bluejackets so that the suburbs can come down and watch, think again. If city officals do such a foolish thing, the voters will get it on a ballet, and then we'll see, who's paying for what. WHA. WHA, WHA, if the busines plan is in the red, well, not a good plan. Not enough fan $upport, too much greed and expense$, ect. No public $.

How about a tax on casino winnings?

If they keep raising taxes for everything it won't be long til our checks will be sent to the government and they in turn send us an allowance. Let the people that like hockey foot the bill. Raise the price of tickets and parking fees.

Dont give them nothing. theyve failed to be profitable so out they go. They are a private enterprise. Not the taxpayers responsability. Send them to mexico. maybe they will barter to see them down there.

This is a problem between the team and Nationwide. They knew the risks in building a private arena and installing an expansion NHL team. They also knew that it would be difficult when Ohio State built the Schottenstein Center, but went ahead anyway.

I think Nationwide Arena is a great facility, but poorly managed for events. Nationawide has done a lousy job trying to attract other pro teams.

Considering prime seats are in seat licenses and suite licenses, maybe these people should up the ante to keep the Blue Jackets in Columbus.

Finally, a perfect example of Corporate America, they screw up and they expect a bailout. Nationwide is no different than other insurance companies and banks which crashed the economy. Why don't they go the Congress and ask for a bailout; they might just get it.

the report suggests one solution is to get a second tenant such as an NBA team. sounds good to me!

Here we go again. Let our polications dig deep in their campaign funds and pay for their stupid mistakes. When are you people going to wake up and realize they are spending your money and not theirs. Once they destroy Columbus they will move on. The boys wants to do the Columbus what Obama wants to do to the USA.

I'm not a big hockey fan, but I was given a pair of free tickets, so did have the opportunity to go to the game Wednesday night. As a sidebar to the larger issues being discussed in the article and on some of the posts, I have to wonder about the impact to attendance of $9 beers, and $4 pretzels? I know those outrageous prices seem to be a "fact of life" when attenting an event at any of these type venues. Still, one would think that the "average" person might be more inclined to attend if the cost of a night out was more reasonable. All of the other subsidies and proposals being tossed around won't help if people just flat can't afford to go. Stop the gouging, and make this more accessible, and perhaps things will get better....

CHUCKO if we don't give them nothing then we will give them something - what would you like it to be?

Another article, another group of people saying that they are better off with nothing downtown, no parks, no prefessional teams, no COSI. If you want no taxes move to Florida or New Hampshire...I would like to have a real city with an eye towards growth and enlightenment of its citizens - a place where my children want to come back to, and that requires some investment.

sure let's tax more. ohellho can beat out NJ and Conn for the highest effective tax rate in the next review.

To you greedy Democrats: You raise my taxes to help out the wealthy, which is what I suspect you'll do, I will make it my life's mission to get your tossed out of office.
To you greedy corporate slime: Screw you. You won't get one dime from me. You raise the sin tax, I'll buy my beer, wine etc. in Delaware County.
Boo hoo. You're losing money. Sell the team.
As for Nationwide and its desire for a "public-private" partnership: Screw you too. This is your mess. I won't help you clean it up.

I hope and pray that county and state officials get something worked out, despite you stubborn hillbillies. Right now it is the owners who are losing money from this team, not the city, and the team is only losing money because of a bad building deal. Attendence is fine. The Arena District is an incredible asset to the city, and brings millions in tax revenue every year. There are countless community outreach programs in the name of the Jackets, mostly aimed at children. And you people are willing to throw that all away on PRINCIPLE- because you are anti-tax, and not because you can't afford the extra ten cents on a case of beer. I'm sorry, but are you all really that shortsighted? We can't p*** away the best part of our city and its countless businesses, all in the name of blind fiscal conservatism.