"The Jets have said they would pay $800 million for the arena, while the city and state have each committed to $300 million for a construction platform and a retractable roof." Newsday

Thats a little More Acceptable. I was worried the state might have to pay the bulk. But still, its the Jets.

There are statistics showing that New York City will need something like 60 to 80 million sq ft of office space to keep its commercial activity flowing. The West Side plans include proposals for at least half that space, as well as thousands of new residencies and an expansion of the 7 Train to 34th Street and 11th Avenue.

Remember it's not just about the stadium. Along with that are plans to expand the Javits Convention Center to twice its current size. It's all part of a plan to expand Midtown to the Hudson River, between 29th and 42nd Streets. Such a long-term expansion will mean more activity, more tax revenue for all kinds of social services, and more prestige for all the metro area's residents. Is that so hard to swallow?

What is the likelihood that the necessary economic development will occur? If it doesn't happen, Doctoroff's incremental taxation plan is in the crapper. Will the stadium generate enough revenue to pay for itself?

lets not forget .

The Final Four and the Super Bowl will be NYC by 2010 . Events like these will bring bucks into the city . I love the stadium idea , now I don't have to truck out to the swamp for my gang green .

Peace .

i don't really care for the stadium either, but while it is for the jets, there will be more than football at the stadium. at least some of the concerts at giants stadium could be held at a new stadium. where those cars park is a valid question, but i'm just pointing out that there could be more than football.

LOL, looks like I have a fan. ^

Seriously, I was a little harsh before. I'm actually from the midwest. And I unfortunatly have some of the same views that I THINK other New Yorkers have. I just took some Zoloft, so I should be fine for a couple more hours.

GOP4LIFE

Jack, you are right. I just dont think we need more than we already have, much less the kind that would be attracted to a Jets game. I'd rather have more hot Euro girls, or Asian princesses.

And B, you are even more right. I would rather that money go to our schools. But, schools arent "revenue generators" for the city / state, and investing in them doesnt raise property values or get you props on Monday Night Football. Thats why the city and state fatcats dont care about schools, or homeless programs, or low income housing, or health care. They just want to line their pockets, and those of the special interest groups they really serve. Politicians are businessmen now, and the goal of business is profit, not public interest.

I just want to know whether this project, with the Jets' stadium as it's centerpiece, is the best possible use of $1.7 billion in taxpayer money (I've included the hotel tax as it's money that could be used for other purposes.) With the dearth of space in Manhattan is a stadium whose primary function is eight football games a year the best we can do?

Simon, It seems you feel that Midwesterners are a sorry bunch and that they should stay home and far away from NY. Their interest and tourist dollars not only support this mega city but gives us something to laugh at when they are all peering so close to the subway maps next to the train door and then when they look around anxiously afterwards. Still we should welcome everyone to enjoy the Jets across the river in the meadowlands.

I've dated a few. Went to their family reunions.

I think that if global warming does us any good, it will be when the oceans rise and they flood the middle of the continent, making two islands in the east and west with a beautiful interior ocean for us to swim in. Then my house in the Catskills will be beachfront property. Goodbuye L.A., goodbye midwest, etc, etc, good riddance.

Ok there... big words Wednesday!

Simon, why do you hate mid westerners so much?

I most forcefully oppose above three propositions' form and intent. Further elaborations on the part of this blog's guest would be inapposite.

YES. Finally someone with the balls to tell it like it is.

Yes, I have heard of republicans unfortunately. A sorry bunch of assholes if you want my opinion. I was hoping they would take that booze cruise they were proposing, so we could have sunk them all in one shot.

And I have been to Vegas during convention season as well as to Macworld at the Javits, and Seybold in Boston, and the attendees were in majority, well, a herd of mid western morons. Yes, I am biased, thats the whole point of my post. Good New Yorkers are biased snobs. I dont like out of towners, behaving like theyre at disney world. I'd rather not attract crowds of idiots to this city, we already have enough here as it is.

Simon -- ever hear of the Republicans? Hm...although I'm not sure if they count. 1) they're going to MSG and 2) they will be here less for the attractions and more for the taking advantage of 3000 dead people and their families.

Although I agree with Simon that many conventioners are "less interested in museums, galleries, high end shopping, etc, than they are in mega malls, steam tray buffets, being able to drive a rental car (instead of taking cabs and god forbid, the subway)" I must take issue with his assumption they are all "mobs of people from the midwest who have very little culture or interest in attaining it."

Conventioners come from everywhere, including NYC. To single out those from the Midwest (many of which have a lot of culture and interest in gettin' it) only shows Simon's unknowledgeable bias, not reality.

They can have our Brooklyn stadium; we sure don't want it.

Orlando has beaches, seaworld, etc; Las Vegas has well, Las Vegas. Conventioneers want attractions, and New York City, while being the greatest city in the world, is also inimidating, cold, expensive and less attractive as a place to hold conventions, for mobs of people from the midwest who have very little culture or interest in attaining it. They are less interested in museums, galleries, high end shopping, etc, than they are in mega malls, steam tray buffets, being able to drive a rental car (instead of taking cabs and god forbid, the subway). Big conventions are for the most part attended by these types of people. Places like Orlando and Vegas will always be #1. The Jets stadium will serve as a meat head magnet.

Thanks, Josh, for making me clarify that. But it's a big issue, when Las Vegas and Orlando can attract big conventions to fill their hotels.