Tin Cup Urbanism and JoCo Sports Fantasies are Killing Kansas City!!!

Kansas City doesn't need another sports team.

This small market can barely support the two losing franchises that we have now. Notice that the only real hope for KC sports teams comes in the off season and during any real competition this town's bravado is almost always defeated and substituted with weak terminology like the local "rebuilding" mantra used as reason for fans to keep buying tickets. There is no escaping the fact that our small media market has doomed Kansas City to sports mediocrity despite hyperbolic press coverage or uninformed pipe dreams put forth by fans.

The only real discussion is how Kansas City must pay for it all.

So far, the parasites, leaches and vampires of Johnson County have cast the burden for paying for their entertainment completely on broke-ass Jackson County. Even worse, in the middle of a budget crisis, well informed TKC TIPSTERS are doing their best to draw attention to the fact that at least $2 Million from Kansas City's budget goes to the Chiefs for reasons that aren't readily identifiable.

Today the Kansas City Post has a brilliant essay regarding the fact that there's very little demand for yet another sports team in this cowtown.

This got me thinking about a very informative Wall Street Journal Article my Dad showed me over the weekend.

Apparently, big time sports teams all over the nation represent nothing more than money lost by dying cities. This article regarding the economic impact of successful sports teams is a must read for any man who wants to follow sports with a real level of understanding . . . Not like the children and cheerleaders that mainstream media encourage us all to be . . . Check it:

"Sports Mania Is a Poor Substitute for Economic Success"

Here's the money quote:

If there ever was a time to crow about the wonders of rebuilding a city around a professional sports team, this would be it. Three of the four teams remaining in the play-offs hail from cities -- Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh -- that in recent years spent billions rebuilding their downtowns around pro sports facilities and other community "anchors."

Except that there's a problem. The teams might be competitive, but the cities definitely are not. All three continue to shrink in population, and have stagnant job markets and crumbling public schools.

Sadly, The Star forgot this type of information when Kansas City was on the line for hundreds of millions on the question of a Stadium Tax and The Star typically slanted their press coverage and sold their e-mail list . . . That's why at least some of their layoffs are well deserved.

It gets worse . . . This kind of "tin cup urbanism" hell bent on reviving the urban core has failed to attract big enough crowds to pay for HUGE BILLS all over the nation. It's not simply a question of a bad economy, but the bad planning of theoretical pipe dreams.

KANSAS CITY MUST BLAME OUT OF TOWN INFLUENCE FOR BIG SPENDING ON SPORTS TEAMS, MUSEUMS AND ENTERTAINMENT THAT HAS LED THIS TOWN TO THE BRINK OF FINANCIAL DESTRUCTION!!!

Out-of-towners like Clay Chastain, The Editorial Board of The Star and talk show pundits have led the voters of this City to think that the best way to repair streets is to build a glorified shopping district.

These folks use their influence to contended that giving money to Tyler "panic mode" Thigpen and Larry "Spit a drink at some broad" Johnson is somehow more important than sewers.

Kansas City can no long afford to cater to the lifestyle choices of Johnson County, subsidize their entertainment or allow their influence to continue wasting local tax dollars . . . Especially in a global economic recession . . . Especially given the fact that this strategy has no evidence of economic benefit.

Sadly, this town thought it had elected a leader who really cared about infrastructure and being "Smart with the money." But that was just talk and empty rhetoric.

Look at the actions of Mayor Funky:

He worked for adoption of a multi-million dollar SOCCER stadium upon entering office - For a team with one of the lowest attendence rankings in MLS.

He pushed for light rail which wasn't a transportation solution but rather a ponzi scheme concocted by construction companies and architectural firms in order to line their own pockets and provide toy trains with a negligible transportation or beneficial environmental impact.

The ridiculous "New Tools" and tax free zone on the Eastside is just the other side of this failed strategy that attempts to lure people to a district with good vibes rather than real work on infrastructure, security and public services.

With just a few exceptions on the Council . . . Kansas City still believes in this empty "Tin Cup Urbanism" idea. This town and its media outlets have yet to abandon the notion that flashy big ticket items intended to attract suburbanites and tourists won't save Kansas City despite so much evidence to the contrary.