Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 bid?

[einnod23]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

Ok, we sent the rats after ya in '91. In 012, we're gonna send the roaches!!!!!!! And they got signs that say "GH" posted in all 20 billion of their lockers!!!!!!

[donley2]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

I don't know whether to cheer for New York or not, but my one and only olympic trip (Atlanta 96) nearly ruined the concept of going to another olympics. The treatment of the fans, price gouging, combined with lousy seats really left a bad taste in my mouth. I have been to 2 world champs (Rome 87 and Edmonton 01) and I for one may go to several more of those before I ever go to another Olympics.

[CookyMonzta]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

That is why I'd rather that Paris, London or Madrid get the XXX Olympiad in 2012; and whoever among the remaining two should get the XXXI Olympiad in 2016. If my city gets the 2012 Olympics, you can bet your ass that we will be paying through the nose in subway fares to pay for the construction of the stadium and the extension of the number 7 line under 42nd Street.

Right now, it is $2.00 a ride, and it is likely to go up to $2.50 by this summer or the beginning of 2006. Bet the farm that by 2010 it'll cost $5.00 a ride, maybe even $6.00!

One other thing: The initial cost of the stadium was $1.4 billion last fall. It has now been quoted at $1.7 billion. This stadium will be a money pit, ladies and gentlemen; mark my words. By 2010 the cost will be at least $3 billion, maybe even $4 billion, and perhaps an outside chance at $5 billion! If you think Montreal had problems, and Athens is having problems, they will not compare to what NYC will face when the Olympics are over; a debt so astronomical that even the GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN of today's residents will still be paying for it at the beginning of the 22nd century.

[det]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

We had Uberroth to run the Olympics in L.A. Maybe NYC can get Donald Trump to run the show in '12.

[MJR]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

Everyone would be told "You're Fired", not that there's anything wrong with that.

[kuha]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

The idea that it's some great "honor" for a city to get the Olympics is something of a joke. How long did it take Montreal to pay off the debt from '76? And the costs from Athens were staggering. The short-term pleasure that some take from the Olympics (I remain agnostic) is more than balanced by the physical and economic stresses and strains that result. Frankly, it won't be long before the Games are unaffordable by any city except those in horribly repressive regimes and/or oil-rich dictatorships (otherwise known as horribly repressive oil-rich regimes).

[KevinM]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

>We had Uberroth to run the Olympics in L.A. Maybe NYC can get Donald Trump to
>run the show in '12.


Maybe we can use his acumen in driving casinos into bankruptcy to our advantage somehow.

[gh]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

>The idea that it's some great "honor" for a city to get the Olympics is
>something of a joke. How long did it take Montreal to pay off the debt from
>'76? >>

If I'm not mistaken, the question for Montrál is how long WILL it take. Far as I know, the legacy of Johnny Flag lives on 30 years later.

[deltre]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

>I don't know whether to cheer for New York or not, but my one and only olympic
>trip (Atlanta 96) nearly ruined the concept of going to another olympics. The
>treatment of the fans, price gouging, combined with lousy seats really left a
>bad taste in my mouth. I have been to 2 world champs (Rome 87 and Edmonton 01)
>and I for one may go to several more of those before I ever go to another
>Olympics.


Agreed. I went to Atlanta and subsequently to the WC's in Edmonton and Paris. For T&F devotees the latter two were far superior to the '96 OG's. There is no comparison between LA in '84 and NYC in'12. The LA Colosseum already existed. Also, Peter Uberroth was an astute businessman. Donald Trump is a bankrupt egotist with a bad hairdo.

[kuha]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

I love to pile on: and agree with all of the above. I, too, went to Atlanta, and it absolutely HAS killed my interest in (very probably) ever going to another Olympics. A couple days after (happily) returning home from Atlanta, I got on a plane for Europe, where I had the world's best time at Monaco and Zurich. There was absolutely NO comparison between the two experiences: one was painful, the other was sublime.

[Vince]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

Kuha, I didn't go to Atlanta, could you expand on your reasons for disliking the experience so much?

PS: London is gonna get 2012. Seb Coe wins another race.

[deltre]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

>Kuha, I didn't go to Atlanta, could you expand on your reasons for disliking
>the experience so much?

PS: London is gonna get 2012. Seb Coe wins another
>race.

Vince, hear are a few things that made Atlanta '96 a distasteful experience. No hotel rooms within 40 miles of the stadium. We sublet a two bedroom condo close to Macon, 80 miles from the stadium, for $2800 for 12 days, and we were happy to get it! The streets within 5 miles of the stadium were off limits to vehicular traffic. Public transportation to the stadium was free but required several changes. After the bombing in Centennial Park, the security lines to enter the stadium were endless. The marathon started at 7:05AM. We arose at 4:30AM, left the condo at 5:00AM, and still missed the start by plenty. Concessions in and around the stadium were more like grand larceny. Our ticket prices averaged more than $100 per day for seats that were only ordinary. A day at the stadium, includung travel coming and going, was over 12 hours long and cost about $200 per person. And these were "96 prices. In contrast, at the WC's in Edmonton and Paris, our tickets were about half as much for better seats, the day was half as long and half as expensive, and the events were at least as good. Transportation was no problem. For T&F fans the World's are far superior P.S. With Atlanta as a precedent, one can only imagine what kind of gouging would prevail in the Big Apple.

[SQUACKEE]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

WOW! sounds like a nightmare. i went to the trials in atlanta and it wasnt too bad. before i die i wanna experience a top meet in europe.

[einnod23]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

Ok, from the posts here, it seems like there are two camps:

1) Those who do not like the Olympic experience at all, due to the Olympic hassles, and
2) Those who just don't want to come to New York!

[az2004]

Re: Are non-New Yorkers on this board scared of a NYC 2012 b

since I'm in philly, I get to listen to francesa and russo pretty regularly and they've BOTH benn veru anti-olympics PRIMARILY because of the tax liabilities to the average citizen...

big business is into making big bucks by PUBLIC financing of SPORTS stadiums...

and doesn't NEW YORK have enough other MORE suitable problems to throw ones tax dollars at??

support the olympics in new york if you want the rich few to continue getting richer....clearly the well being of the average citizen isn't of primary importance...

other wise why does the usa have the greatest rate of poverty amongst the industrialized nations??