#Michael Bidwill

[robertreich]

The Dark Side of Sports Stadiums

Billionaires have found one more way to funnel our tax dollars into their bank accounts: sports stadiums. And if we don’t play ball, they’ll take our favorite teams away.

Ever notice how there never seems to be enough money to build public infrastructure like mass transit lines and better schools? And yet, when a multi-billion-dollar sports team demands a new stadium, our local governments are happy to oblige.

A good example of this billionaire boondoggle is the host of the 2023 Super Bowl: State Farm Stadium.

That's where the Arizona Cardinals have played since 2006. It was finally built after billionaire team owner Michael Bidwill and his family spent years hinting that they would move the Cards out of Arizona if the team didn't get a new stadium. Their blitz eventually worked, with Arizona taxpayers and the city of Glendale paying over two thirds of the $455 million construction tab.

And State Farm Stadium is not unique. It’s part of a well established playbook.

Here’s how stadiums stick the public with the bill.

Step 1: Billionaire buys a sports team.

Just about every NFL franchise owner has a net worth of over a billion dollars — except for the Green Bay Packers, who are publicly owned by half a million cheeseheads.

The same goes for many franchise owners in other sports. Their fortunes don’t just help them buy teams, but also give them clout — which they cash-in when they want to get a great deal on new digs for their team.

Step 2: Billionaire pressures local government.

Since 1990, franchises in major North American sports leagues have intercepted upwards of $30 billion worth of taxpayer funds from state and local governments to build stadiums.  

And the funding itself is just the beginning of these sweetheart deals.

Sports teams often get big property tax breaks and reimbursements on operating expenses, like utilities and security on game days. Most deals also let the owners keep the revenue from naming rights, luxury box seats, and concessions — like the Atlanta Braves’ $150 hamburger.

Even worse, these deals often put taxpayers on the hook for stadium maintenance and repairs.

We taxpayers are essentially paying for the homes of our favorite sports teams, but we don’t really own those homes, we don’t get to rent them out, and we still have to buy expensive tickets to visit them.

Whenever these billionaire owners try to sell us on a shiny new stadium, they claim it will spur economic growth from which we’ll all benefit.  But numerous studies have shown that this is false.

As a University of Chicago economist aptly put it, "If you want to inject money into the local economy, it would be better to drop it from a helicopter than invest it in a new ballpark."

But what makes sports teams special is they are one of the few realms of collective identity we have left.

Billionaires prey on the love that millions of fans have for their favorite teams.

This brings us to the final step in the playbook: Threaten to move the team.

Obscenely rich owners threaten to — or actually do — rip teams out of their communities if they don’t get the subsidies they demand.

Just look at the Seattle Supersonics. Starbucks’ founder Howard Schultz owned the NBA franchise but failed to secure public funding to build a new stadium. So the coffee magnate sold the team to another wealthy businessman who moved it to Oklahoma.

The most egregious part of how the system currently works is that every dollar we spend building stadiums is a dollar we aren’t using for hospitals or housing or schools.

We are underfunding public necessities in order to funnel money to billionaires for something they could feasibly afford.

So, instead of spending billions on extravagant stadiums, we should be investing taxpayer money in things that improve the lives of everyone — not just the bottom lines of profitable sports teams and their owners.  

Because when it comes to stadium deals, the only winners are billionaires.

[sroctre]

Ex-employee Terry McDonough files lawsuit against Cardinals, Michael Bidwill - https://devishop.gives/ex-employee-terry-mcdonough-files-lawsuit-against-cardinals-michael-bidwill/

[youblogzz]

Former Cardinals executive accuses owner, team of defamation

Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim (left) and owner Michael Bidwill watch the final minutes of their 38-30 loss against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Jan. 9, 2022. Nfl Seahawks Vs CardinalsImage: Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK Terry McDonough, who previously served as the Cardinals‘ vice president of player development, is accusing owner…

[kicksaddictny]

RECAP: Fanatics x Wasserman Luncheon 2.10 w/ Damar Hamlin, Brittney Griner, Kevin Hart, Gavin Newsom and More

On Friday, Fanatics founder & CEO Michael Rubin and Wasserman Founder, CEO and Chairman Casey Wasserman hosted their signature annual Fanatics x Wasserman Luncheon at Etta restaurant in Scottsdale, which brings together the 100 most influential people at the Super Bowl to network, learn and grow from each other.

The third annual event, which began in Miami in 2020, hosted a who’s who from sports, entertainment, business and politics including three sitting Governors (CA’s Gavin Newsom, PA’s Josh Shapiro and AZ’s Katie Hobbs), a myriad of athletes and entertainers (Damar Hamlin, Brittney Griner, Travis Scott, Kevin Hart, Meek Mill, Peyton Manning, Shaq, Michael Strahan, Lil Baby, Steve Aoki, Odell Beckham, Jr., Russell Wilson and Ciara, Gayle King, The Chainsmokers and more), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, an array of NFL and NBA team owners/senior executives  (Patriots Owner Robert Kraft and his son, Patriots President Jonathan Kraft, Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, Panthers owner David Tepper, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment owner Stan Kroenke and son, Vice Chairman Josh Kroenke, 49ers owner Jeff York, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, Eagles EVP Howie Roseman, Vikings President Mark Wilf, Cowboys EVP Jerry Jones Jr., Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, 76ers owner Josh Harris and team partner David Adelman, Minnesota Timberwolves owner and MLB Legend Alex Rodriguez, etc.), and a number of top business leaders (TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, SpringHill Founder Maverick Carter, 35 Ventures Partner Rich Kleiman, NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio).

[truck-fump]

The Dark Side of Sports StadiumsBillionaires have found one more...

New Post has been published on https://robertreich.org/post/708920359497482240

The Dark Side of Sports StadiumsBillionaires have found one more...

The Dark Side of Sports Stadiums

Billionaires have found one more way to funnel our tax dollars into their bank accounts: sports stadiums. And if we don’t play ball, they’ll take our favorite teams away.

Ever notice how there never seems to be enough money to build public infrastructure like mass transit lines and better schools? And yet, when a multi-billion-dollar sports team demands a new stadium, our local governments are happy to oblige.

A good example of this billionaire boondoggle is the host of the 2023 Super Bowl: State Farm Stadium.

That’s where the Arizona Cardinals have played since 2006. It was finally built after billionaire team owner Michael Bidwill and his family spent years hinting that they would move the Cards out of Arizona if the team didn’t get a new stadium. Their blitz eventually worked, with Arizona taxpayers and the city of Glendale paying over two thirds of the $455 million construction tab.

And State Farm Stadium is not unique. It’s part of a well established playbook.

Here’s how stadiums stick the public with the bill.

Step 1: Billionaire buys a sports team.

Just about every NFL franchise owner has a net worth of over a billion dollars — except for the Green Bay Packers, who are publicly owned by half a million cheeseheads.

The same goes for many franchise owners in other sports. Their fortunes don’t just help them buy teams, but also give them clout — which they cash-in when they want to get a great deal on new digs for their team.

Step 2: Billionaire pressures local government.

Since 1990, franchises in major North American sports leagues have intercepted upwards of $30 billion worth of taxpayer funds from state and local governments to build stadiums.  

And the funding itself is just the beginning of these sweetheart deals.

Sports teams often get big property tax breaks and reimbursements on operating expenses, like utilities and security on game days. Most deals also let the owners keep the revenue from naming rights, luxury box seats, and concessions — like the Atlanta Braves’ $150 hamburger.

Even worse, these deals often put taxpayers on the hook for stadium maintenance and repairs.

We taxpayers are essentially paying for the homes of our favorite sports teams, but we don’t really own those homes, we don’t get to rent them out, and we still have to buy expensive tickets to visit them.

Whenever these billionaire owners try to sell us on a shiny new stadium, they claim it will spur economic growth from which we’ll all benefit.  But numerous studies have shown that this is false.

As a University of Chicago economist aptly put it, “If you want to inject money into the local economy, it would be better to drop it from a helicopter than invest it in a new ballpark.”

But what makes sports teams special is they are one of the few realms of collective identity we have left.

Billionaires prey on the love that millions of fans have for their favorite teams.

This brings us to the final step in the playbook: Threaten to move the team.

Obscenely rich owners threaten to — or actually do — rip teams out of their communities if they don’t get the subsidies they demand.

Just look at the Seattle Supersonics. Starbucks’ founder Howard Schultz owned the NBA franchise but failed to secure public funding to build a new stadium. So the coffee magnate sold the team to another wealthy businessman who moved it to Oklahoma.

The most egregious part of how the system currently works is that every dollar we spend building stadiums is a dollar we aren’t using for hospitals or housing or schools.

We are underfunding public necessities in order to funnel money to billionaires for something they could feasibly afford.

So, instead of spending billions on extravagant stadiums, we should be investing taxpayer money in things that improve the lives of everyone — not just the bottom lines of profitable sports teams and their owners.  

Because when it comes to stadium deals, the only winners are billionaires.

[maturemenoftvandfilms]

Top 10 NFL Owners I’d Like to Fuck

Here we have my top 10 NFL owners who I'd love to draft me as a wide receiver or tight end. If you get my what I'm saying. And if you didn't, I mean I want to fuck them.

#10. Art Rooney II - Pittsburgh Steelers Owner

#9. Mike Brown -  Cincinnati Bengals Owner He kinda has a Dave Cummings look to him. And he'll be even hotter if he's hairy and have a cock like Dave too.

#8. John Mara - New York Giants Owner

#7. Woody Johnson - New York Jets Owner

#6. Bryan Glazer - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Owner

#5. Terry Pegula - Buffalo Bills Owner

#4. Michael Bidwill -  Arizona Cardinals Owner

#3. Robert Kraft - New England Patriots Owner Of course Bob is in my top 3.

#2. Joe Ellis - Denver Broncos Owner Damn he's gorgeous.

#1. Jimmy Haslam - Cleveland Browns Owner

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Jerry Jones - Dallas Cowboys Owner

Jerry Richardson - Former Carolina Panthers Owner

[joeydaccord]

michael bidwill tested positive today i-

[usasportsworld]

Ex-New York Giant Jerry Reese interviews for Arizona Cardinals’ GM job

Ex-New York Giant Jerry Reese interviews for Arizona Cardinals’ GM job

Former New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese is drawing consideration from the Arizona Cardinals for their vacant GM job. The 59-year-old was officially interviewed on Tuesday. Buy Giants Tickets It appears @AZCardinals owner Michael Bidwill will focus on GM candidates before coaching candidates. He already has interviewed internal candidates Quentin Harris and Adrian Wilson, and today is…

[unitedfact]

Michael Bidwill Net Worth: How Much He Earned In 2022?

Michael Bidwill Net Worth: How Much He Earned In 2022?

Michael Bidwill is a Businessman and Prosecutor. He was born on December 12th, 1964 in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States. Find out how wealthy he is in the current year and how he spends his money. Find out how he managed to accumulate the majority of his wealth when he was 56 years old. Michael Bidwill Height, Weight & Measurements Michael Bidwill’s height is not currently known due to…

[journalworldwide]

Who is Michael Bidwill? What is Michael Bidwill Net Worth in 2022?

Who is Michael Bidwill? What is Michael Bidwill Net Worth in 2022?

Michael Bidwill Net Worth: Michael Bidwill’s net worth is estimated to be $1.4 billion. And his grandfather, Charles Bidwill, most likely assisted him in becoming a billionaire. The Arizona Cardinals owner took over the team after his father, Bill Bidwill, died in 2019. The Bidwills and the Cardinals first collaborated in 1932, when Charles purchased the team on the spur of the moment for $50,000…

[nfliplnews]

[ad_1] Aug 30, 2023, 03:30 PM ETFormer Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks testified that a team executive gave him a burner phone to communicate with former general manager Steve Keim under orders from Keim and team owner Michael Bidwill during Keim's suspension, according to a deposition transcript obtained by ESPN.Bidwill and other team executives communicated with Keim throughout his suspension for drunk driving, including while the Cardinals negotiated a three-year, $39 million contract extension with running back David Johnson, Wilks said. The NFL said at the time it would not impose additional punishment against Keim after the team suspended him."It was a directive from Keim as well as Bidwill," Wilks said in the deposition. "They both knew."Wilks, now the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, testified in California on Friday via videoconference as part of the ongoing arbitration complaint filed by former Cardinals vice president of personnel Terry McDonough against Bidwill and the team. McDonough's complaint alleges gross misconduct by Bidwill, including discriminatory and racist treatment of employees in addition to the use of burner phones.Editor's Picks1 RelatedBidwill and the Cardinals have previously denied the allegations, calling them "outlandish."In response to questions posed by McDonough's attorney, Wilks provided new details about the use of burner phones, alleged incidents he witnessed between McDonough and Bidwill, and his overall coaching experience.Cardinals attorneys later complained to NFL-appointed arbitrator Jeffrey Mishkin that Wilks' attorney did not allow cross-examination during the deposition, according to correspondence obtained by ESPN."As much as we would like to share the truth of what transpired, the confidentiality order in place prohibits us from doing so," the Cardinals told ESPN in a statement. Because Wilks has not yet been cross-examined by Cardinals attorneys, the deposition has not been admitted into the record, according to identical statements from both a team spokesperson and McDonough's attorney. Wilks' attorney and an NFL spokesperson declined comment.According to the correspondence reviewed by ESPN, Cardinals attorneys previously asked Mishkin to destroy the videotape and transcript of Wilks' testimony. Mishkin ruled Monday to keep the material, according to two sources with knowledge of the arbitration proceedings.Wilks, who coached the team for less than 12 months during a 3-13 season, testified that league officials came to Arizona after Keim was arrested for extreme DUI on July 4, 2018, in Chandler.The NFL announced it would not impose additional punishment against Keim after the team said July 17 it was suspending Keim for five weeks and fining him $200,000, and promised that the general manager would be barred from team facilities and prohibited from having contact with the team.Wilks testified that Bidwill initially ordered Wilks and others to have "no communication" with Keim following his guilty plea and suspension.But Wilks said former Cardinals vice president of football administration Mike Disner gave him a burner phone sometime between July 18 and July 20. Wilks said Disner told him that the two of them, along with Keim, McDonough and Matt Caracciolo, the team's vice president of football operations and facilities, received burner phones. He said Disner showed him how his phone had been preloaded with "everybody's initials" and phone numbers. Bidwill himself used a burner phone to communicate with Keim, who had multiple burner phones, according to Wilks."With me being a first-year head coach, I felt uncomfortable from the beginning that I worked this hard to get to this plateau and this opportunity, and then I was presented with this situation with being unethical," Wilks testified.Keim and Wilks had one text exchange, when Keim asked how things were going at practice, according to Wilks' testimony. "That was the only time I reached out to Mr. Keim," Wilks said.But Wilks testified that Keim and Disner communicated during Keim's suspension to solidify a new deal with Johnson. The Cardinals announced Johnson's contract on Sept. 8, 2018, less than three weeks after Keim returned from his suspension.Keim left the Cardinals in December 2022 for health-related reasons. Disner left the Cardinals in January 2019 and is currently the chief operating officer of the Detroit Lions. A Lions spokesperson did not respond to ESPN's request for comment.Wilks said he was uncomfortable with the burner phones, but as a first-year Black coach, he did not feel comfortable going to Bidwill with his concerns and instead asked McDonough to intervene on his behalf.Wilks testified that he called McDonough into his office on July 23, 2018, six days after Keim's suspension, to discuss his discomfort with the phones.Wilks said he witnessed a "heated conversation" between Bidwill and McDonough later that same day. "I don't know exactly what was said," Wilks said. "I was walking off the practice field, might have been 15, 20 yards away. And I just heard Michael [Bidwill] berating [McDonough], so I stopped and looked." He said McDonough did not yell at Bidwill. Bidwill, however, "was definitely irate."McDonough later told Wilks that the argument on the field had been about Wilks' and McDonough's concerns about the phones, according to Wilks' testimony.Before Keim's suspension, Wilks said he felt like he had a good relationship with Bidwill, but Bidwill's "demeanor towards me changed" after the McDonough incident on the field. The owner became "less communicative, very nonchalant," according to Wilks.In an April 2023 news release following McDonough's arbitration complaint, the Cardinals stated that "Mr. Bidwill took swift action" when he learned of the burner phones and "directed the phones be retrieved and communications stopped."But Wilks said in his deposition that, "No one retrieved the burner phones until Keim came back [from his suspension], so it wasn't swift." Wilks said Disner collected Wilks' burner phone after Keim "was back in the building."Wilks also testified that he never witnessed McDonough being "combative towards colleagues in leadership," being willfully insubordinate, or having "friction with his colleagues," all claims previously made by the Cardinals following McDonough's complaint."I felt it was totally false from my experience and relationship being around Terry," he said.Asked if he felt that Bidwill "bullied, belittled, and criticized" McDonough in a personnel meeting following the on-field incident, as alleged in the arbitration complaint, Wilks replied, "Yes."Wilks said Bidwill had also berated him multiple times, including a postgame incident that occurred in front of Wilks' 9-year-old son. He was driving home with his son after a game and called Bidwill, he said. "As soon as he picked up, it was just cuss words and how embarrassed he was about the game and can't really, you know, bring friends or take anybody in the box," Wilks said, adding that his son later asked him, "Daddy, why is that guy talking to you like that?"McDonough has accused Bidwill of chastising him after he introduced three Black players to the owner during a tryout, telling McDonough, "Don't ever do that again." Wilks said he witnessed the interaction and heard Bidwill telling McDonough, "Don't ever do that again," but added, "I didn't know exactly what it was pertaining to."Wilks also said a scout who is Black told him that he had been berated by Bidwill for parking in the owner's spot, an allegation McDonough previously made in his arbitration complaint.Bidwill sits on the NFL's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and Social Justice Working Group. Wilks is a co-plaintiff in former Dolphins coach Brian Flores's lawsuit against the league and several other teams, including the Cardinals, on allegations of racial discrimination in hiring. Plaintiffs attorneys in that case have called Wilks a "bridge coach" who was "not given any meaningful chance to succeed" in Arizona.McDonough is a son of Boston Globe reporter Will McDonough and brother of ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough. [ad_2] Source link

[countycurrent12]

Michael Bidwill Net Worth: Richest Owners Of NFL Team In 2022

Michael Bidwill Net Worth: Richest Owners Of NFL Team In 2022

Michael Bidwill Net Worth Richest Owners Of NFL Team In 2022: The total wealth of Michael Bidwill is $1.4 billion. He should also give credit to Charles Bidwill, his grandpa, for making him a billionaire. 2019 saw the Arizona Cardinals owner take over the organization from his deceased father, Bill Bidwill. The relationship between the Cardinals and the Bidwill family started in 1932 after…

[newsconduct]

Michael Bidwill Net Worth: Cardinals President’s Family Ownership

Michael Bidwill Net Worth: Cardinals President’s Family Ownership

In terms of wealth, Michael Bidwill is $1.4 billion richer than the average person. Of course, he owes a large portion of his success to his grandpa, Charles Bidwill, who passed on a lot of money to him. When Bill Bidwill Sr. passed away in 2019, his son took over as owner of the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals and the Bidwill family have been partners since 1932 when Charles acquired the team…

[judyreppart]

Governor Doug Ducey, Michael Bidwill, Adam Greenblatt and Bill Hornbuckle Debut BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium (L-R) Governor Doug Ducey, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt, MGM Resorts International CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle and Arizona

[amerikanskshop]

Kliff Kingsbury och general manager Steve Keim förlänger kontrakten till 2027

Enligt de senaste nyheterna meddelade Arizona Cardinals officiellt att de har förnyat kontraktet med tränaren Kliff Kingsbury och general managern Steve Keim till slutet av säsongen 2027. Arizona Cardinals förhandlar också för närvarande om en kontraktsförlängning med huvudquarterback Kyler Murray, och det är mycket troligt att Kyler Murray kommer att fortsätta spela i en billiga nfl tröjor i framtiden. Kliff Kingsbury skrev på ett fyraårskontrakt med laget 2019, och Steve Keims kontrakt löper till slutet av säsongen 2022.

Arizona Cardinals ägare Michael Bidwill sa: "Kliff Kingsburys ledarskap har varit nyckeln till lagets transformation under de senaste tre åren. Vi ser alla fram emot att fortsätta denna process, och dessa två kommer att vara viktiga delar i våra långsiktiga mål."

Arizona Cardinals startade säsongen 2020 5-2, men har bara vunnit 3 matcher sedan dess och förlorat de två senaste matcherna som tog sig till slutspelet. Problemet med svaga senare under säsongen är ännu mer uppenbart 2021. Arizona Cardinals, som började med en segerserie på sju matcher, gick med 3-6 i andra halvlek och förlorade mot Rams i samma zon i wild card-tävlingen . Jag hoppas att denna förnyelse av de två stora aktörerna kan förändra situationen! De senaste Arizona Cardinals Tröja finns till försäljning på denna sida, följ dem tillsammans!