Amazing! Truly amazing.
The University of Washington athletic program has been in a slump for the past few years. Once an athletic darling/powerhouse of the Evergreen State, Husky fans have been forced to endure their team sports dominated by universities from all across the nation.
Tremendous pain to Husky fans has been applied in mass quantity from its cross-state rival, the Washington State Cougars.
How does the UW administration seek to right their athletic program?
In a thinly veiled scheme to placate those who are major financial donors to the University of Washington, school administration is quietly trying to steal from the poor to court the rich.
No, this isn't some mean spirited attack by a life-long Cougar. Perhaps shining light on this egregious scheme to bilk hard working Washingtonians out of their precious few earnings may be rationalized by some who might attempt to cover up scandalous and shameful motivations.
Here's the scheme.
The "leadership" (a term used quite loosely in the context of this scheme) at the UW would love to upgrade their football stadium to a facility more luxurious than any college football stadium in the nation.
Then again, what university wouldn't want the very best for their donors? Such a strategy is one way to keep cash flowing into the university coffers. Wine and dine. That's what it takes to encourage donors to contribute mass quantities of cash. Virtually every institution of higher learning employs that very strategy to some extent.
- B/R Ticket Guide
There are degrees of upgrading facilities. "Leadership" at the UW has bounded beyond reason with their expectations.
When they present an upgrade package, the price tag accompanying it is world class. Try this price tag on for size. Let me spell it out. Three hundred and fifty million dollars.
$350 MILLION!!!!!
Haven't seen that level of chutzpa since Ross Perot claimed to be running for president to represent working Americans. Okay, Steve Forbes running for president was almost as brazen, but he didn't even pretend to rub elbows with the rest of us, did he?
"Leadership" of the UW would like every hard working taxpayer in the state of Washington to contribute the "modest" sum of $150 million to build Club seats, Sky boxes, Loges, Suites and fancy private concessionaires restaurant facilities for elite Husky donors. Heck, the people being asked to foot the bill for this proposed stadium upgrade won't even be allowed in! There will be security measures to assure that only the elite will be rubbing elbows at Husky football games in the proposed upgrade.
In return for bilking the taxpayers of Washington out of $150 million in hard earned cash, elite donors to the University of Washington will be expected to contribute another $200 million for the stadium upgrade. Possibly we should all be humbled by such generosity.
This is where you are supposed to pause and sympathize with the burden being placed on elite donors to the UW.
That's enough commiserating.
"Leadership" at the UW must be proud of themselves. In the world of back room politics, they probably are quite proud of lifting the wallets from their fellow state taxpayers who may have ties (misguided and misplaced in their narrow view) to other state schools such as Western Washington, Central Washington, Eastern Washington and yes, cross-state rival Washington State.
If you can't beat 'em on the playing field, exact a tax on 'em until you can.
Though it is risky stuff, trust that the state legislature won't enact tax law to support such nefarious schemes by UW "leadership".
Or will the state legislature do the right thing?
When did college athletics become so important they should be financed beyond fiscal reason by state taxpayers?
By the way, fall football practice begins Tuesday...
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4 months ago
As a Duck fan living in Olympia WA I can only hope this doesn't happen. Then again it would be kind of nie to have a better stadium to go to and laugh at the Fuskies when Oregon comes up and beats them at home.
4 months ago
Hey David,
I'm with you all the way when it comes to seeing your Ducks dominate the Fuskies. That seems to be the case recently, too. Truth be known, the rivalry between Oregon and Washington is as bitterly contested as the Apple Cup.
Then there is the matter of Duck fans. They rank among the loudest at home and classiest on the road.
Don't let the legislature divert hard earned tax dollars to university stadium upgrades. Washington taxpayers deserve better than that. Email your representatives David and make a difference.
Lew
4 months ago
I believe 85% of the state's population lives West of the Cascades so Eastern Washington won't have to contribute much at all.
By the way, do you know for what 58-37-5 and 65-29-6 stands?
from 4 months ago
all time records are great but 4-0 in in the last 4 is better because it is actually relevant. the kids on the field now are not the ones that played 50 years ago and the results of those games have no impact on who wins this year. desperate fans of flailing programs tend to fall back on history.
from 4 months ago
Hey College,
Your percentage might be a bit on the high side, but your point is made. But does where the greatest density of population determine the validity of using tax dollars for stadium renovations?
Lew
4 months ago
So what? What did it do for you? Did you win a Rose Bowl? Did you win a National Championship? Winning Rose Bowls and National Championships is the end game, not getting blown out and embarrassed by BYU on national television in the Las Vegas Bowl. By the way, OSU has been the class of the Northwest recently and they are 4-2 against the Yucks in the last 6.
Do you know for what #110 stands?
from 4 months ago
sorry your right shouldnt have gotten blown out by BYU. how did washington do in their bowls over the last 5 seasons??
from 4 months ago
oh and as for Oregon State being the class of the northwest over the last 10 years the win % for the northwest have been
Oregon .68
Oregon State .61
Washington State .50
Washington .47
4 months ago
Again, what have you done worth bragging about? Did you win a Rose Bowl the last 5 years? Did you win a National Championship? Please enlighten me, I'd love to know what Oregon has accomplished.
Do you know for what #110 stands?
from 4 months ago
Hey College and David,
Thanks for elaborating on the rivalry between Oregon and UW. You guys are awesome!
Lew
4 months ago
No problem Lew. I enjoyed watching the WSU/Michigan Rose Bowl in the late 90's. Very pleased that our two state schools have been to a Rose Bowl more recently than the Zeroes (and UW won). Did you know that the Yucks haven't won a Rose Bowl since 1917?
from 4 months ago
If only we could have been allowed a final shot at the endzone at the end of that game. Then again, Leaf whining about the officials running the clock out on him revealed his maturity. If that didn't, his brief stay in San Diego sure did.
By the way, the Apple Cup that year was a great game, too. Down to the final attempt at an onside kick that thankfully failed. If I'm not mistaken, that was one (of many) of the seasons WSU was projected to finish last in the Pac-10 and UW was supposed to win the title. And just another year where trying to project who can make it through the gauntlet of competitors in the Pac-10 is a crap shoot at best.
Great memories for Cougar fans.
Lew
from 4 months ago
You and everyone else knows Oregon would have been in the 2001 Rose Bowl if 1) it wasnt the NC that year and 2) should have been in that NC game anyway.
I would still rather be able to say Oregon won the Sun Bowl last season and has been in bowls instead of talking about games from the 90's. here and now is more important that what happened before my parents were born.
from 4 months ago
and missing the Rose in 2001 Oregon still played and won the Fiesta Bowl. BCS bowls are BCS bowls.
4 months ago
sorry your team on the east side of nowhere sucks ass. just go back to the bar. your beer is getting warm from the time you spent crying in this horrible blog.
4 months ago
I read that stupid report after finding a misleading link on news.google.com I'm currently a UW student, and I not surprised by the expense (though you may have inflated the numbers, there was no provided source).
I wish my school would spend money on renovating the Odegaard Library and the overcrowded dormitories. UW tower was an unnecessary expense too (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/282923_safecotower29.html). The comment about the nebulous leadership is definitely true; Mark Emmert supposedly delegates his presidential responsibilities to the deans, which obviously leads to a disordered and bureaucratic university. Btw Washington State is not our rival. We play football with them once a year, and that really does not effect my education. We compete with other out of state public schools with similar standards to UW, if there is any competition...
from 4 months ago
Hey Ricky,
The primary source for this article was SB6848, circulating through the state legislature.
As for the rivalry between the two schools, the effect on a student's educational experience is personal. It would seem the two of us don't share any perception of spirited rivalry. Would agree with you that the UW is one of the top public schools on the west coast.
Lew
4 months ago
Ha, coulda, woulda, shoulda, the favorite pastime of a Yuck fan. By the way, UW won its latest Rose Bowl this decade not the 90's. If you want to talk about the 90's, that's when Washington won the National Championship.
from 4 months ago
again history is exactly that. whats washington done lately?? finished last in the Pac 10.
4 months ago
Um, if they couldn't get state money to keep the Sonics in Seattle, this has zero shot of happening.
from 4 months ago
Hey David,
Funny you should mention the Sonic situation. Actually there is a desire to tack on funding to create an attractive situation for the NBA to return to Seattle. That's after the taxpayers are done footing the bill for upgrades for both the Seahawks and Mariners.
Hope you're right that the chances of the Husky Stadium upgrade are about the same as the Cubs winning a World Series.
Lew
4 months ago
WSU athletics has existed on a state subsidy for 100 years because who wants to drive to Pullman to see a football game?
Washington on the other hand has never had a handout over the the same time period, and they have an athletic department that pays for itself and contributes to the local Puget Sound economy by filling 72,000 seats on Saturdays during the fall.
UW is justified in it's pursuit of state funding for 1/2 of the coast of stadium upgrades because who owns the stadium? Well, it is the state of Washington.
It is a great investment, and Coug losers should get on the bandwagon and figure out if they ask nickey they can also qualify for part of the pie to upgrade their own dump.
from 4 months ago
Hey John,
You silver tongued devil! Gotta love the way you have rationalized your position. You swerved well away from my point though my Husky friend.
Taxpayer earnings, including yours John, have not been used to upgrade Martin Stadium in Pullman. The previous upgrade in Seattle wasn't completed by placing an additional tax burden on Washingtonians either. UW supporters have ponied up money in the past to enhance athletic facilities and should continue to do so in the future. WSU supporters can and will be willing to do the very same thing.
To put it another way, the UW isn't asking for a piece of the pie. They want a whole new pie for themselves. And, they want you to pay for it whether you choose to or not John. Perhaps you might not be so "gung ho" for such schemes if it were WSU getting your hard earned money just because you're a taxpayer in Washington and the loyal supporters of Husky athletics rightfully paid their own way. I'm guessing that wouldn't sit very well with you.
As for your attempt to place your school in a favorable light when comparing it to WSU, the facts make you appear a bit confused. WSU has won 4 out of the last 5 Apple Cups. WSU has won the last seven consecutive basketball games. Sorry my friend, those facts won't back up your inappropriate label used in reference to Cougs...at least not in terms of athletic achievement.
The UW athletic program is one of proud tradition. Make no mistake, it's financially sound. Win or lose, Husky fans support their teams. There is a long proud tradition of loyalty within Cougar Nation as well. It's no wonder there is a long standing rivalry between the two schools.
We'll see ya' in November.
GO COUGS!!!
Lew
4 months ago
with the cost of tuition I dont see how they couldnt afford part of the funding from the money they take from the kids.
from 4 months ago
There are a variety of ways to fund stadium upgrades. Taking a portion of student tuition, much of which is funded through student loans, is not the way to get the job done.
Pointing out escalating tuition costs is a well taken issue for another time David.
Lew
4 months ago
Yes, recently both Washington and Oregon have not won anything of note; and the overwhelming difference, however, is that Washington has (Rose Bowl in 2001, National Championship a decade earlier) while Oregon has never.
from 4 months ago
With the defense the Ducks have on paper, this just might be their year to change that.
Lew
from 4 months ago
2001 Fiesta Bowl isn't exactly something to just ignore. Finishing #2 either. when was the last time UW was ranked??
4 months ago
I agree that exacting the money straight from taxpayers is unfair to the other athletics programs in the state, without question. I just want to point out that the upgrade isn't just elite kind of accessories, theres a going to be a new upperdeck, they are taking out the track, adding permanent seating in the east endzone, fixing the bathrooms, adding better transportation into the stadium, along with all the luxury accomodations as well.
I honestly don't know if the project will get done at all, but it is one of the oldest stadiums in college football, she really needs a facelift:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/huskies/333325_stadium27.html
The 350 million dollar project is asking a bit much I'd say, but I think some improvement is needed too.
from 4 months ago
Hey Ian,
Couldn't agree with you more. Renovations and maintenance are just part of keeping a football program competitive. It would be irresponsible to fans and supporters not to follow through on both basics.
Given the level of support and loyalty to Washington football over the years, they deserve the best university leadership can coordinate.
No question that something will happen to maintain an appropriate venue for the Huskies.
That's what capital fundraising is all about, isn't it?
Lew
4 months ago
Ok, so Oregon won the Fiesta Bowl and finished #2. Well, the year before Washington won the Rose Bowl and finished #3. So the last time Oregon actually won something to brag about was 2002 and for Washington it was 2001. Ha, not much of a difference there so I don't know why Yuck fans think they are so great...truly a massive gulf between perception and reality!
from 4 months ago
Oregon has also been ranked been ranked every season since then including top 10 in 20005 and #2 in 2007. Washington hasnt been ranked 1 time since 2003.
4 months ago
Wazzu should just do what every local government does when money is needed for a new stadium, which is to have an 'out of towners tax' which is to add a tax to hotels and rental cars. That way majority of that money comes from people not from the area. Not sure how big Pullman and that may take a while to get that tax money, but they would still need upfront money
from 4 months ago
Hey Jeremy,
Pullman is just big enough to qualify as a "small town". A TO tax can have an adverse effect on hospitality related businesses. Not a good plan for Pullman.
WSU is funding their upgrade through contributors who know what they are buying in to. They aren't out to bilk unsuspecting taxpayers.
Thanks for the comment my friend. Your MWC coverage continues to rock!
Lew
4 months ago
Taxpayers like us don't pay the tax Lew, it is paid by an extension of a hotel/motel tax that is already in place for Safeco Field that has exceeded expectations in revenue. In other words there is a surplus, and since the money was earmarked for Puget Sound sports facilities there is nothing wrong with Key Arena, and Husky Stadium getting a slice since they help generate that erevenue by bringing in millions per year into the local economy.
from 4 months ago
Hey John,
Sorry, but the two teams you are using for discussion purposes are significantly different in their primary purpose. The Mariners are a business. Professional baseball and football are in the game for one reason. Profit. If not, they should get out of the profession. The University of Washington is just that, a public institution for higher learning. The UW is not a for-profit organization. By logical extension, Husky football is not a for-profit organization.
As for the transient occupancy taxes, TOT, they are similar to what brought about the Boston Teaparty. The TOT is taxation without representation. Perhaps that is fine with you to tax those folks who have opted to travel to Washington. Using their tax dollars to assure that Washington remains a wonderful place for travel makes sense. Travelers do put specific burdens on infrastructure. When the TOT is used outside of that scope, that's greed comparable to that of the British Empire.
Before you get to whipped up about UW football bringing new revenue to the local economy, it might be wise to see if what actually happens is little more than keeping money in the local economy. And since you are referencing TOT, the local economy does extend beyond the borders of Husky stadium.
Do the upgrade the right way, one that will stand the light of day. Don't hide funding sources in more taxes on people who may not be interested in supporting Husky football. Chances are, there might just be a few residing locally.
One last thought John. With the travel industry taking a big hit since the recent oil prices escalating beyond any rational expectations, it's not likely that the flow of TOT dollars will flow as freely in the coming months or even years. Should that happen, where will the money come from to replace those TOT dollars?
Lew
4 months ago
Ha, that's another fallacy of Yuck reasoning. It's where you finish that counts! When you're in a casino, does it matter if you're up $1000 at one point, when you leave the casino $3000 in the hole?
Since 2002, the Yucks have finished in the top 25 only twice (2005 and barely in 2007). When you tend to lose to the best program in Oregon State the last 6 years (OSU) in the final regular season game and then lose your bowl games, that happens.
Again, why are Yuck fans so delusional and think your program is so great?
from 4 months ago
I think the real question is why are fuskie fans so intent on bad talking the program that has been better than them over those same 6 years you use to tout the beavers??
from 4 months ago
oh yeah and Oregon won their bowl game.
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