L.I. voters reject $400M arena plan

[LMITOUT]

Even people in N.Y. are finally "getting it". Enough is enough.

Can we put this in the stickied stadium thread???

Quote:

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP)—Voters in a suburban New York community already paying some of the highest property taxes in the country overwhelmingly rejected a referendum Monday to borrow $400 million for the construction of a new hockey arena and ballpark.

With 99 percent of the vote counted, the referendum failed 56 percent to 43 percent, according to unofficial returns from the Nassau County Board of Elections.

Supporters of the referendum called it a last-ditch effort to keep the New York Islanders playing in the Nassau Coliseum. The team’s lease expires in 2015 and the hockey team’s owner, Charles Wang, has hinted he may have to move off the team off Long Island unless a new facility is built to replace the 39-year-old building.

He made no predictions about the future in brief comments before hockey fans and supporters at a gathering at the coliseum after the vote. “I’m disappointed, I’m heartbroken,” the millionaire founder of software maker Computer Associates said. He promised the team would remain on Long Island until the lease expires.

Proponents, including labor unions, tourism officials and many business groups, argued the construction project would bring jobs and spark economic growth in the community just east of New York City.

Voters were clearly concerned, however, with the prospect of higher taxes.

“If it was so good why didn’t the owner pay for it himself?” said Mary Beth Molloy after voting no.

Anita Abbenda said she voted no “because the taxes are high enough.”

[PierBridge]

Sounds like a heartbreaker for sports fans!

[harvey lee]

Let the owners build the stadium's. They are the millionaires.

[Superduty]

If we don't partially fund a stadium for the Vikes, another city will. You gotta pay to play. Just the facts. Where would you put your team? In a stadium you had to pay for in full or a stadium in L.A. half paid for by somebody else?

[LMITOUT]

California isn't pitching in a dime for a new stadium. It's their law, and one that should be on the books in every state.

[B. Amish]

we may never see a team move to california. if one does move there. what city is the nfl gonna use for leverage to force the half dozen teams that 'need' new stadiums into building with public funds?

[Antero]

we may never see a team move to california. if one does move there. what city is the nfl gonna use for leverage to force the half dozen teams that 'need' new stadiums into building with public funds?

Well for one, Minnesota will have a vacancy....