I went to an Iron Pigs game the other day. I have to say, that place is the best thing within the city limits.
For starters the parking lots were clean. No litter. Everywhere was well lite up and I felt safe despite not seeing even one police officer. Its even cheaper to park at the game then on Hamilton St.
I didnt hear loud music blasting, loud obnoxious mufflers nor did I see any stupid scooters or dirt bikes.
The game appeared to be sold out, as many are. But does the city actually benefit from this cash cow?
I believe the players stay in a hotel in Bethlehem after games. I am sure the visiting teams stay outside of the city as well. That is embarrassing. They cant even get the players to stay after the game. I mean I am sure the Super 8 on Airport Rd would offer a great deal.
So, how does the city have one of the top attendance minor league clubs in the United States, yet doesn't benefit? That is insane. No one eats dinner in the city before the game, and once the game is over look out route 22. No one stays and spends money.
Remember when the Sands casino (now the Wind Creek) was deciding which city to build its casino? Allentown or Bethlehem. Could you imagine a casino right near the stadium? That would have made for a fun night. Baseball, beer, and gambling. But we all know how that story ended. The Sands wasnt dumb and went to Bethlehem. Yet, despite their move, they still pay the city like 3 or 4 million each year.
The city just cannot capitalize on anything. The NIZ zone does not count either. The fact Allentown is the 3rd biggest city in Pa, with a river running through it is amazing. Yet the river does not draw anyone there except out-of-staters looking to party and litter the waters. I cannot think of another major city that has a major body of water in it that isnt utilized to draw people and make money.
Until our leaders learn how to start generating money for the city vs spending it, the city will never get better and taxes will continue to go up. I have a very nice post on the uncoming budget. Lets just say, you won't be happy reading it if you live within the city.
Lastly, after the game there were fireworks. I gotta say, they were awesome. They werent real long, but I enjoyed them way more than the city's 4th of July fireworks.
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15 comments:
ADDITIONAL revenue to a community is what matters most. That is, money brought into the community from some other out-of-town community, spent here. . . not there. Spending by visitors who would not otherwise be here if not for the attraction.
Obviously, this community is better for these gatherings as they do enhance overall quality of local life. Except for local teen electric bike rallies after hours!
I agree but spending money at the pigs and only the pigs doesnt help Allentown at all.
Iron Pigs: Run by competent leaders
Allentown: Not so much
The iron pigs are successful in spite of their location (Allentown). Their blessing is that they are a safe enough distance from the heart of Allentown that people feel comfortable coming to games. You have a city that is run by second world leadership that incubates third world residents as to cultivate a recipient class that will rely upon the second world leaders to "provide" for them. In return the votes favor the robin hoods (take from those who have and give to those who have not).
The Iron Pigs and their success are a shining example of capitalism (which second world mindset leaders hate). They are the antithesis of a city run by social justice seeking activists (activist is not a profession, it's an affliction).
How can the city benefit from the success of the Iron Pigs? That's a question for AFTER the baseline issues are resolved. Let's start with basic problems that are caused by the recipient class (double parking, loud mufflers, illegal dirtbikes/ATV, etc) and ignored by McPronouns. Next look at road repair and (gasp) snow removal. Then work on that stormwater system that is so important that they have to collect fees to maintain. Then, THEN you can start looking at "benefitting" from the Iron Pigs. And while taxes masquerading as "fees" will bring short term revenue to the City, after awhile that municipal greed will force the franchise to go elsewhere so as to not have so many hands in their pockets. Study how the franchise succeeds and emulate that behavior, don't take the lazy looter route of just assessing more fees so as to redistribute to the voting demographic.
Also learn from other larger second world leader mindsets. Oakland and Chicago come to mind in terms of losing large sports franchises.
Or continue to double down on stupid and watch something nice disappear over time.
Coca Cola park is like an Atlantic City casino where patrons use a parking garage and enter casino without ever having to be exposed to the teeming Atlantic City urban underclass. In the Bronx-ification of Allentown, many game attendees enter via our own mini Grand Concourse (Union Blvd/Tilghman St) none the wiser of Allentown's role as a declining poverty magnet. Bronx-ification refers to Allentown's similarities to the evolution of the Bronx into a filthy, crime-ridden place: 75% Hispanic with a 90 renter-occupancy rate. Allentown is becoming an exact if not much smaller replica.
Come in from the north on 145 traveling south and you can smell the carnival brewing it's bubbling boiling drinkable blue juice. Than take a good look as you pass inner city 7th st it's a open air drug market covered by a little genuine commerce. Only imbeciles like APD and the administration claim ignorance to the facts and from that main artery the infections spreads east and west affecting quality of life issues that go unaddressed because of the 3rd largest 3rd world country unto itself.
The county built the stadium and still pays to improve and repair it. The appropriately-named Pigs have a long-term sweetheart lease that pads their bottom line.
The Iron Pigs are being heavily subsidized by the taxpayers and, as is noted in the article, they do a very good job of siphoning money from those attending. There is little to no benefit to anyone beyond the Iron Pigs and outside of the stadium footprint itself.
They are hardly a shining example of capitalism, and I’m certain that the fact that their profits are being inflated by the taxpayers is of little comfort to the widow who loses her home because she can’t afford to pay those taxes.
The widow who cannot pay her taxes has nothing to do with the Iron Pigs not paying their so-called "fair share" in taxes. The widow's problem is induced by a greedy tax system that feeds a need to redistribute income through taxation. Heavily subsidized by taxpayers is misleading by design and intellectually dishonest. Tax breaks are not a subsidy by any stretch of the imagination. The same break on property taxes extended to the Iron Pigs should be granted to seniors especially because they are on fixed incomes. Their social security should not be taxed nor should they be taxed for drawing money from any investments. Once retired the tax system should thank you for your lifetime of involuntary contributions. The revenue and taxes generated by the Iron Pigs and anyone who serves as a vendor there more than eclipses the property tax breaks extended to the organization. That's the incentive to bring and retain that cash cow.
WHAT is the blue juice a metaphor for????
8:14 - How about we just aim for fairness to all and no tax breaks for anyone?
Also, pease let me know the “cash cow” that is being given to county taxpayers to offset the $400,000 to $500,000 in this coming offseason.
Please break it down by type of county tax collected. I’ll be waiting.
That's Republican ReDD aka Jorgé Aka WeaponX aka Silly Wabbit he drinks Blu juize from the portapottie and it has scrambled his drug addled pea brain, so much so that he is no longer welcome at the green door Saturday night tranny fest
This sounds like the rantings of a whiter than sour cream card carrying klansman, I hope your wife is having sex with the Latino gardener!
Abe,
Per the Casino statement. The city of Bethlehem receives 80% of a $10 million annual host fee (roughly $8 million), with the remaining 20% distributed to
Allentown.
Bethlehem pulls in an additional $1.8 million annually (about $150,000 per month) from its percentage share of slot machines and table games.
BOTH CITIES SQUANDER THIS REVENUE ON BULLSHIT, FRAUD, AND WOKE PROGRAMS. The tax payer and community sees zero benefit from this cash cow. (Unless you are counting the NYC Asians that hunt the pesky Canadian Geese down at the river and steal the wild Ginseng from the greenway trees) 10 million per year with the some of PA’s lowest public school rankings. Your taxes will keep rising no matter how much a casino pays per year. Corrupt Mayors, Corrupt city officials. It’s disgusting.
You mad because he is right?
I am the Latino and she is only having sex with me, not that it is any of your business. It shows how ignorant and closeted racist you actually are to assume that I am white and would have a Latino gardener, as if we are only good enough for such work. Asshole.
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