The Taxpayer Fraud in regards to the Yum! Center

[Scrap Irony]

I also live in Louisville. The YUM and its cost is definitely a topic of conversation around our water cooler.

Most of those water cooler guys hate UK. Some of them love UofL but recognize how unfair the situation is to the common taxpayer.

A science teacher who used to teach in northern Kentucky compared the YUM lease to Paul Brown Stadium and the Cardinals to the Bengals.

All the benefits, none of the risk.

I think I agree with that.

[Joseph]

Originally Posted by WMR

You should read that report and educate yourself. The YUM!, to this point, has been HORRIBLE for everyone in the city of Louisville from a financial standpoint.

The arena is hemorrhaging money and has done so since it opened its doors.

Don't have to read the report, my wife works for the city, in budgeting. I'm a UK guy WMR, not trying to undermine that there are problems, but its probably not as bad as being portrayed in this forum.

I'd rather have the YUM in town than not have it. The money will get worked out in time. No, its not ideal, but the taxpayers have a limit that they are out each year. 9. something million, can't remember the exact number, and the first couple years have been UNDER that number. I'm not suggesting thats great, but it's not as negative as it could be.

Josh is right, the rest of the area hasn't exploded like anticipated. We have a downtown, but its not like the Banks in Cincy just yet. It's a little too generic overall, but over the last year thats starting to turn with new restaurants like Manny and Merle, and others in the old Whisky row.

Yes right now its not a great situation, long term though YUM will benefit downtown and the city more than it will hurt taxpayers.

WMR, love ya brother, but you are pointing the finger at little brother here and honestly its coming off as more of that UK arrogance we always get blamed for. I want to beat UofL every single time we play, basketball, football, table tennis, tiddlywinks, I don't care the sport, but I won't suggest the whole university is out to screw over the state much less the people in the town in represents. There are a lot of good people at that school who want the STATE to grow just as much as the city or university. Louisville is different than the rest of the state, I can attest to that, but they are still part of that state.

I'm not saying theres not a discussion to be had here, but let's turn it into that discussion and not UK vs UofL.

[joshnky]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

I also live in Louisville. The YUM and its cost is definitely a topic of conversation around our water cooler.

Most of those water cooler guys hate UK. Some of them love UofL but recognize how unfair the situation is to the common taxpayer.

A science teacher who used to teach in northern Kentucky compared the YUM lease to Paul Brown Stadium and the Cardinals to the Bengals.

All the benefits, none of the risk.

I think I agree with that.

Except UofL couldn't threaten to leave. The only leverage they had was that they wanted an on campus arena. To get them to agree to a downtown arena the city gave them a sweet deal.

I think you can lay a lot of blame at the feet of the city for this but I'm not sure why the university gets blamed for looking out for their own interests. The city could have taken a harder negotiating stance and UofL would have eventually given in. Instead they're trying that approach now and, unfortunately for them, UofL now has all the leverage