Arkansas Blog

The ball park at Springdale is the same as the one in NLRock.....a total waste of tax payer's money. Let the tax payer keep that money to help pay the state's horrible income tax rate.

Yup, Springdale is the other woman who'll have to watch her man like a hawk now that she's gotten him to marry her. We'll see how long it takes the Wranglers to slip the traces. I'd guess about as long as it takes a manufacturer who located around here because of tax breaks. He takes a look at Mexico and decides he wants to be on that side of the fence -- greener, you know.
It seems that cities are as prone to rose colored glasses as some people.
Bigger question. Is there any money making entity in existence which factors benefit to the community into their decisions? Cynic that I am, I'd guess no.

Might want to open a string on the Gary Holt vs. AAA Athletic Association lawsuit. DemGaz really missed the boat this morning - with three photos of Holt, I thought I was reading the High Profile section. The DemGaz story never disclosed the AAA's rationale for the policy. Earlier, Wally wrote to confirm his ignorance. The best coverage to date is Harry King's column from the Arkansas News Bureau:

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2006/07/23/HarryKing/336966.html

Maybe I misread the article - didn't Wichita just build a new ballpark for their team - and they are leaving already?

Doesn't bode well for NW Arkansas . . .

Surely this wouldn't happen to NLR . . . would it?

1. The Travs could never leave because they are owned by a consortium of Arkansas shareholder. The only way they could leave would be if the stadium deteriorated to a state in which MLB said "no mas", which RWF was about to.

2. Wichita did NOT build a new stadium. The renovated the 1934 stadium in 1991 or so and it was a nice stadium until the recent rash of new stadia in the Texas League.

3. Good for Springdale. I hope they didn't have to give away the farm to get the team.

4. I would think Wichita city gov't would have grounds to sue. They may not choose to but I think it's dubious that the "minor breach" was grounds to break the lease.

Does something about the private school multiplier remind you of the three-fifths compromise? How can one person be worth less than another?

There's a lot of people up here in Chickenapolis that are against the ball park because Tax Money will pay for it, instead of private business. I figure nobody's ever going to reduce my taxes anyway, so it won't hurt for some of it to go toward giving people something to do here. Springdale is rapidly becoming the "inner city" of the NWA metroplex. Nobody comes here, except to pass through between Fayetteville and Bentonville/Rogers, the center of the Wallyverse. Fayetteville has the UofA, so they don't have to worry about being "shut out". I think, if Springdale is going to be an inner city, it might as well be one with a ballpark. If the Wranglers want to pack up and move someday (which likely won't happen unless/until the ownership changes), then maybe there will be enough of a fan base built up to court another team. If there's not, we can always boast the world's largest outdoor Mexican flea market.

What about a name?

I nominate the Springdale Sams.

The Nwarks.

The Farkleberries.

The Nouveau Riches.

Any other ideas?

Introducing the Springdale Grande Pollos!

Here's my solution to the AAA multiplier fuss. Prohibit private schools from participating in AAA conference competition if they offer scholarships or financial aid to athletes. Public schools can't do it, it's an unfair advantage when privates buy their teams.

Wichita's stadium is terrible right now. It was time for the Wranglers to move, and i'm speaking as a Royals fan.

Here's the deal: As long as the Glass family owns the Royals, the Wranglers will be in Springdale. The Glass' wanted their minor league AA team closer to home, and they're getting a great stadium out of the deal. Also, with the rate that NWA is growing, this will likely be a good market for a Double-A team for years to come.

Go Springdale Gamecocks!

Glass won't pull the same move on Chickendale. But don't be shocked if he doesn't leverage the city to pay for stadium improvements a few years down the road.

I believe in the free market.

If a parent pays for a private school (on top of their taxes that go to public schools), then they have a right to demand a winning football team in return for the little bit of their tuition that goes to sports.

Conversely, public schools are operating solely on the public teat, which as we know is very generous when it comes to sports in this state.

A multiplier is necessary to make up the difference between massive public sports funding and what is left over after private school academics.

I believe in the free market.

If a parent pays for a private school (on top of their taxes that go to public schools), then they have a right to demand a winning football team in return for the little bit of their tuition that goes to sports.

Conversely, public schools are operating solely on the public teat, which as we know is very generous when it comes to sports in this state.

A multiplier is necessary to make up the difference between massive public sports funding and what is left over after private school academics.

"Here's my solution to the AAA multiplier fuss. Prohibit private schools from participating in AAA conference competition if they offer scholarships or financial aid to athletes. Public schools can't do it, it's an unfair advantage when privates buy their teams."

So kids should be able to attend a public school for free no matter how bad (or good) it is for free, but the same kid should be denied the opportunity to participate in extra-curicular activities because he gets to go to a private school for free. Man, you are brilliant. I am so glad people like you have the best interest of the children at heart and are not motivated by petty turf battles.

Yeh, right, interested observer. Those segregation schools are pouring out those scholarships so those poor 6'3" 240 pounders can get a wonderful education. If you want to go to a private school, fine, but go play in your private conference, too. You just want to have it both ways.

Yeh, right, interested observer. Those segregation schools are pouring out those scholarships so those poor 6'3" 240 pounders can get a wonderful education. If you want to go to a private school, fine, but go play in your private conference, too. You just want to have it both ways.

As I understood it, they're contract isn't up until the end of the 2007 season and they're not playing in Springdale until the 2008 season... they haven't broken any contract...