Bannister Mall: the new home of the Wizards. Watch KC screw this up.

[BigRedChief]

KC will screw this up. They had Bass Pro ready to go in abut they didn't want to give them TIF. Just what tax revenue are they getting now from that area? It's a wasteland.

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/391605.html

Funkhouser opposes Super TIF for Bannister Mall redevelopment


By KEVIN COLLISON
The Kansas City Star Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser said Wednesday that he opposed extraordinary tax breaks to help the Bannister Mall area redevelopment plan — incentives that backers say are vital for success.“It’s a wonderful project. I’m ready to sign off,” Funkhouser said at a development forum where he made a public appearance early in the day. “But I can’t stomach 23 years of Super TIF.”

Funkhouser later elaborated in a statement saying that while he was “excited” about the prospect of redeveloping the vacant mall property in south Kansas City, he wouldn’t support the $43.5 million in Super Tax Increment Financing being requested as part of the package to help finance the development.
Under Super TIF, all rather than just part of the local taxes generated by a project are diverted to help defray eligible costs.

The ambitious Three Trails redevelopment proposal, valued at almost $1 billion when fully built over 10 years, calls for a mixed-use development anchored by a new stadium for the Wizards professional soccer team. It would include a 12-field tournament-style soccer complex; a 250-room hotel; 609,000 square feet of retail space; and 610,500 square feet of office space.

The developers are seeking $273.3 million through a variety of local and state tax incentives to help finance the project.

“I want to see the Three Trails redevelopment happen,” Funkhouser said. “But I don’t intend to support the current plan without more thorough discussion and, at least, the removal of the Super TIF requirement, which redirects 100 percent of any new property, sales and earnings taxes back to the project.”

The development group backing the project, which includes top executives of Cerner Corp. and Lane4 Property Group, contends that Super TIF is needed to fill a financial gap for the project.

It remains unclear what effect Funkhouser’s position with have on the development group’s pursuit of the project at the Bannister Mall site. The developers have sought a decision by the Kansas City Council by the end of December to meet a construction timetable that calls for the soccer stadium to be open by spring 2010.
Project backers, who have considered alternative sites elsewhere in the area, could not be reached for comment after Funkhouser’s statement.

Besides the use of Super TIF, Funkhouser also objects to the plan’s provision that the city own the soccer stadium, saying it would require long-term expense and attention.

“The construction of the city-owned Sprint Center required a new tax and public vote, yet we are considering this plan with neither,” Funkhouser said in his statement. “I want to be sure we have thought through that decision and its fiscal impact on the city.”
The mayor’s announcement threw a new twist into a discussion that already had gotten off to a poor start earlier in the day.

At a meeting of the council’s Finance and Audit Committee, at which dozens of people testified, most favored the project. But Chairwoman Deb Hermann postponed a recommendation on the project after becoming frustrated by widely differing economic impact estimates submitted to her panel.

The city’s Finance Department issued an analysis indicating that the city would have a $41 million negative impact over the 23-year life of the project’s proposed financing. An analysis by the Economic Development Corp., in contrast, indicated a $45 million net benefit over the same period.
Both groups use different ways of evaluating the economics, and Hermann decided to seek additional time to sort out the issue.

Her committee has one more meeting scheduled before the end of the year.

“You just can’t give me a scenario with an $86 million swing,” Hermann said. “I’m not a financial expert. That’s why we have a Finance Department.”

Further complicating matters, Councilman John Sharp, a strong supporter of the Three Trails project, said Funkhouser had received a letter from state officials stating that any state aid for the project was contingent on the city’s granting the Super TIF assistance.

The project seeks $20.7 million in state tax-increment financing and $10 million in state tax credits.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

If after the US has won a couple of world titles they still can't sell the sport then it likely will not ever be sold. But until we have that accomplishment under our belt we are just guessing what it's impact might or might not be.

"A couple of world titles?" That's more than England has and they seem to sell it just fine. There are only about 4 teams that have ever even won it twice.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Cochise

"A couple of world titles?" That's more than England has and they seem to sell it just fine. There are only about 4 teams that have ever even won it twice.

Yes, that is what it will take for the world's super power to be considered a DOMINANT force in the sport.

[BigRedChief]

Soccer is the most participated sport in elementary school because its easy to learn and no one gets hurt. When they hit middle school almost 75% of the kids drop out. Why? Because they figured out they are not that good and running around chasing a ball is no longer fun.

It use to be baseball was king in elementary school but now when little Johnny gets hit with a pitched baseball its all of a sudden not fun anymore.

Football? Very few kids try that more than one year. Again, people are hitting you and it can sometimes hurt.

Look for tetherball championships soon.

[dtebbe]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Football? Very few kids try that more than one year. Again, people are hitting you and it can sometimes hurt.

My son was like that at first, but once he figured out he could just wait a few plays and give it back, he suddenly liked football... A LOT.

Last year was his first year, it will be interesting to see if he wants to do it when it comes time to sign up again. Hopefully I can pack a few pounds on him this offseason

DT

[Eleazar]

football makes kids violent, it's not appropriate.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Soccer is the most participated sport in elementary school because its easy to learn and no one gets hurt. When they hit middle school almost 75% of the kids drop out. Why? Because they figured out they are not that good and running around chasing a ball is no longer fun.

It use to be baseball was king in elementary school but now when little Johnny gets hit with a pitched baseball its all of a sudden not fun anymore.

Football? Very few kids try that more than one year. Again, people are hitting you and it can sometimes hurt.

Look for tetherball championships soon.

No one gets hurt?

Let's see, I've seen a concussions, broken arm, broken ankle, fractured leg just from kids that I know who have played varying in age from 10-16. I'm talking premier to High School level. NOT Rec soccer.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

Many soccer leagues have flopped in this country and yet it's still one of the top participated sports as far as youth in the country. Johnson County has one of the highest per capita ratios of players to population in the country. As such, funding a new stadium that will also serve as a marquee for top tournaments and exhibitions is a good idea.

Then perhaps Johnson County should offer up an incentive package.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by bunnytrdr

So what you are saying is we are being taken over by foreigners. Count me among the non sports fan if Soccer becomes preeminent in this country. I simply cannot get excited about 60 minutes of 1-NIL football. The only thing more annoying than that, is the ref being the only fool in the stadium that actually knows when the freaking halves are over with.

Technically, it's 90+ minutes.

And no, we're not being "taken over by foreigners." But like it or not, immigrants are coming here and will probably continue to come here and their entertainment dollars will start to help dictate what gets covered in this country.

To me, soccer is more consistently interesting than baseball and football. Non-stop action for 45 minutes. There are commercial time outs or people waiting around for a ball to fly over home plate every 45 seconds. It's infinitely more interesting than NASCAR, but people each have their own idea of what they like.

I'm not saying that anyone HAS to like soccer. I really don't care if you do or you don't. But it being here will help bring entertainment dollars to this city and that can only be a good thing.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

Then perhaps Johnson County should offer up an incentive package.

I wish they would. It sure beats driving to MO and giving them our $. But, I digress, the last initiative was bad though I still supported it. It lost badly.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Valiant

I wouldn't want the superTIF to pass either.. The private enterprise there wants it for 23 years, and that is not counting all the other discounts the city is giving them.. They literally want everything free to them..

I do find it funny that the amounts are so different when you hear them from the developers side and the city's side... Going to side on the city since they are the one footing the bill..

They also want the city to own the stadium. I think the mayor is right in this case.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

win a WC or two

Not likely to happen in our lifetimes. I'd just be happy with consistently being able to move out of the group stage in the WC and win 1 or 2 games in the semis.

Of course, I never thought I'd see England fail to qualify for Euro 2008, either.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Silock

Not likely to happen in our lifetimes. I'd just be happy with consistently being able to move out of the group stage in the WC and win 1 or 2 games in the semis.

Of course, I never thought I'd see England fail to qualify for Euro 2008, either.

I think it's quite likely they'll win one. Think of how far they've come in a relatively short time. They are serious contenders now. That is the first step.

[007]

This marks the end of soccer in KC.

Good riddance.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

Yes, that is what it will take for the world's super power to be considered a DOMINANT force in the sport.

Not at all. We'll be considered a force in the sport when we consistently have our starting 11 players playing overseas and STARTING in their leagues. Currently, the only real *star* we have is Tim Howard, and he's a keeper. Dempsey is impressing at Fulham, as did McBride. Bocanegra is okay, but still wouldn't start on one of the better teams in the EPL. Freddy Adu could be great, as could Altidore, but the jury is still out on them.

Until the US develops a great striker and a couple of midfield players who can actually link up with that guy, we won't ever do anything in international soccer.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Soccer is the most participated sport in elementary school because its easy to learn and no one gets hurt. When they hit middle school almost 75% of the kids drop out. Why? Because they figured out they are not that good and running around chasing a ball is no longer fun.

It use to be baseball was king in elementary school but now when little Johnny gets hit with a pitched baseball its all of a sudden not fun anymore.

Football? Very few kids try that more than one year. Again, people are hitting you and it can sometimes hurt.

Look for tetherball championships soon.

No, people drop out of soccer because there's not the promise of full-ride scholarships followed by multi-million dollar pro-sports contracts. If pro soccer paid as well as the NFL or MLB, I guarantee you people wouldn't drop out so quickly. And people aren't dropping out as quickly as they used to.