This is an archived version of a Field of Schemes article. Comments on this page are closed. To find the current version of the article with updated comments, click here.
November 26, 2006
How is Newark like London? Cost overruns!
Cities on both sides of the Sea of Atlas are running into the problems of budgeting for sports construction projects, especially when there's a built-in incentive for officials to lowball costs:
- An audit by the city of Newark revealed that the New Jersey Devils arena currently under construction will cost an extra $102 million for roads and infrastructure, bringing the total public cost to $312 million. In addition, the original cost estimates failed to consider "the costs of signing, extra policing, trash removal, and liability issues," according to auditor Paul Fader. But hey, what's a few police among friends?
- The public cost of London's 2012 Summer Olympics is now up to 3.3 billion pounds (about $6.4 billion), thanks to soaring costs for security, management, and other trifles. In response, London mayor Ken Livingstone insisted that "Nothing's a mess. Everything's going exactly according to plan. These games will make a profit," while government spokesperson Don Foster snapped, "We should be celebrating it; I wish people frankly would shut up." Hmm. Is that the first stage or the second?
Also: Today London, tomorrow Halifax!
I don't even know why the devils are getting a new arena. The fans don't even support there team. They should have moved out of jersey.
Posted by dan on November 26, 2006 11:36 PM
The irony here is that the Mayor of London has the reputation of being Red Ken. He has the lefty credentials (certainly to the left of, say, Tony Blair): he pioneered the use of congestion charges for drivers in the central district of London, is such a big believer in the green philosophy that he doesn't even flush after doing a no. 1(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1673233,00.html) and is a big admirer of Hugo Chavez (who, btw, has his own ego-driven stadium-building project in something called Copa America 2007). And, yet, he signed on to this and still stands by it.
I guess when it comes to large, public-building projects that costs a pretty penny and which allow politicians to think they'd be well-remembered for them, ideology goes straight out the window and only the useful idi...I mean, the committed ideologues still yap about watching the pocketbook, insofar as to subtitute that with wasteful spending THEY advocate. Ah, yes, the beauty of politics!
Posted by mad bomber on November 27, 2006 06:03 PM
At lease the Devils is getting a arena, which will be ready in 07. Can't say too much about the Nets. Maybe the Nets should to Newark instead of Brooklyn.
Posted by Steve on November 27, 2006 07:40 PM
The nets will get the arena in brooklyn . The nets arent moving to newark sorry.
Posted by dan on November 28, 2006 10:30 PM
Yea. When will that day be.
Posted by Steve on November 28, 2006 11:59 PM
well all this talk about rising stadium costs . Why doesn t everyone come to Halifax and get these brain surgeons who are saying that they can build a 40,000 seat stadium with an IAAF class A athletes field for 97 million canadain.
Yes virginia there is a santa claus but he doesnt control the cost of stadiums LOL
Paul
Posted by paul on November 29, 2006 03:14 PM
Memo to mayor Livingstone of London go to your wifes doctor.
Like montreal mayor Jean Drapeau in 1976 you will probably be giving birth to a very healthy baby.
(for those who dont remember the Mayor Jean Drapeau stated that the olympics in montreal would be less likely to not make a profit then a man giving birth to a baby) I am sure we can remember the debt
ROTFLMAO
paul
Posted by paul on November 29, 2006 04:09 PM
It will happen in 09 or 10 in january it will be pased and wont be talked about anymore then. Go brooklyn nets
Posted by dan on November 29, 2006 05:49 PM
I believe it when I see it.
Posted by Steve on November 29, 2006 06:43 PM
They will get it enough said
Posted by dan on November 30, 2006 04:51 PM
LOL. Okay, whatever you say buddy.
Posted by Steve on November 30, 2006 05:35 PM
We will see and then you will complain when the arena is built. Then I will be laughing. Icant wait.
Posted by dan on November 30, 2006 06:08 PM
first we take manhattan then we take berlin
Paul
Their is no way that Brooklyn arena will happen. The developers want to much money from the state and after the newark arena reminded everyone of what it takes Brooklyn is not going to shell out the $. If the Jets can't get a stadium theirs no way the who the heck cares about the Nets are going to get their own building
Posted by Greg on December 3, 2006 08:16 PM
If you think the Devils don't have fans then come to Nets games where theirs whole sections available
Posted by Greg on December 3, 2006 08:17 PM
so I fail to see the arena/ stadium quest when you say a recent stanley cup winner the new jersey devils does not draw well in new jersey. Of course we all know it is about becoming corporate welfare bums at the expense of taxpayers. Are teams pricing admission out of the reach of enough people to fill a 18,000 seat arena in the Tri-State Area. I cant think of any big huge contracts Lou is paying out.
Colin White is certainly doing well for a senoir player but I dont think on the scale of a scott stevens yet. If you cant draw wtih a recent stanley cup winner and martin bourdereau I would suggest they would be better off in another market.
paul
The meadowlands is the reason why the Devils don't draw well, which is why they want to move to Newark. Not one team that play in CAA ever had a great attendance. Seton Hall can't even draw well in that building.
Posted by Steve on December 7, 2006 01:18 AM
thanks for the insite into the meadowlands and the Jersey Devils steve . I know from colin whites mother there are enough e bay autograph hounds that would key his hummer if he didnt sign hockey cards LOL. I am sure a new building is the key but what is strange to me is the demographic of newark being african american that the nets would be more suited for that local market as far as the city of newark Cory Booker must be going crazy over the cost increases. Sharpe James left him with a nice parting gift to handle
cheers paul