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NYC and NY State finally formally announced the $2.8 billion plan to build Jets stadium, expand the Javits Center, and revitalize the West Side yesterday. And of course, there's a lot of disagreement and protest about the plan: How can the city funnel hundreds of millions of dollars when the school system needs money badly? Some assemblymen support expanding the convention center but not building the stadium. The immediate neighborhood doesn't want the project. The Mayor says he's going to use Battery Park City funds for part of the project, which raises other eyebrows.
Of course, with the prospect of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of projected revenue, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki are on the offensive, calling the plan a way to "catapult NY" to the fore of the convention industry as well as a way to "bring the NFL back to NY."
The cost breakdown:
NY City & State: $1.3 billion
Jets: $800 million
Hotel occupancy tax ($1.50/night additional charge for all hotel rooms in NYC): $500 million
Private developer (TBD) for convention center hotel: $200 million
The Times gets the West Side project reaction from many New Yorkers; Gothamist's favorite: "'Who are the Jets?' asked a 42-year-old film producer as she sat on a bench on Broadway munching an artichoke pizza."
City Hall's press release of the project; bio of Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, who headed up the plan.
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What a waste of real estate. Why don't they just put a golf course there?
Tony Kornheiser said it best:
"$1.4 billion for 8 home games!"
Tony who? Leafblower who? It's not just 8 home games. It's hotels, concerts, office space, convention space etc. 365 days a year usage. I love how no one ever wants anything built up or can see the long term possibilities of anything anymore. It's the knee jerk this has to be bad mentality...
I wont bore you with a litany of reasons this would be a bad idea, just curious as to whether we could have a stadium in Queens. Dont know the bourough well, but looking at highway and subway maps seems to recomend LIC, Queens Plaza or Jackson Heights as possible spots. Would seem to be a better spot- more payoff and less expense compared to Manhattan. Thoughts?
Cha Cha-
Stadiums don't pay off as public investments - especially given the huge expense of building in manhattant - not to mention the opportunity cost of else could be built there. From an urban planning point of view, stadiums are poison - just look at madison sq garden...
Development is good, stadiums are ego fluffers.
Memo to Cha Cha:
Go to EVERY MID-SIZED CITY IN AMERICA to see why spending any public money on a stadium is a bad idea.
The best argument for them is a local ego-boost, but you think that matters as much in New York as Nashville? Do New Yorkers really secretly harbor the insecurity that they're nothing because the NFL isn't in their city limits?
I, of course, am totally opposed to any kind of urban planning. Especially mega-projects like this that are, indeed, poison. There is all sorts of evidence for their success--because outcomes are tracked for 3 to 5 years, while the blush is still on the rose. After that, every project of this kind begins to collapse.
Queens is always the best Choice to build any type of new sports arena. Queens has the room, the transportation, and an overabundance of Jets Fans. All we have to do is blow up Shea And build a dual use Mega Stadium. It would work!
Put up a new stadium overlooking the bay in flushing . Call it " ETS Stadium " , have the Mets , Jets and Nets all play there . So all these " not in my backyard cry babies " get their way .
And to the dope who wrote " only for 8 home games " ... get a clue dude .
Many events such as the super bowl , final four , and soccer matches ( world cup ) will come to NYC . Bringing in buckets of cash w/ them .
Jzak
Oh wow, yeah: 8 home games a year, PLUS the super bowl (once every 15 years), PLUS the world cup (once every 20 years), PLUS the NCAA final four (once every 10 year)... that'll average out to...
8.5 home games per year. On a good year.
Expanding Javits makes sense. Extending the 7 line makes sense. Tax abatements to encourage redevelopment of the far west side make sense. But spending city funds on yet another damn white elephant sports arena? Not on your life.
If this is such an obviously good idea, let the Jets buy the land themselves for fair market value and build the stadium with their own money. Then all they have to do is sit back and watch the cash roll in... right? Right?
What a great photo. Look at Bloomie's hat!
The Jets ( J & J ) are throwing in around $800 million . That's not chump change . Why should the Jets have to pay for it all ? Do they get the revenue from sat a concert of a college football game ?
And just to be a jerk ... There are 10 home games in an NFL season . 8 reg + 2 exibition games .
I just wanted the J-E-T-S out of NJ . I would have rather them build it in queens or out on LI , but the city will do .
Jzak
jzak, i believe the jets actually would get all the revenue from the stadium. that's the only reason they are willing to pay for the whole $800 million for the stadium.
bob and ryan. nothing you or i think matters in the long run. this isn't JUST a stadium. read the plans.
i've heard every argument. THIS IS NYC. build it, they will come.
I partailly support the stadium on the West Side,but I felt all along this new Jets Stadium should build in Willets Point section of Queens whether they like it or not.
i would vote yes for this because it will great jobs, and they are needed seeing as our economy isnt in its best shape.