What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
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When teams like the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings want new or upgraded stadiums, they face all sorts of financing hurdles, from skeptical civic leaders to tightfisted taxpayers and lawmakers and sometimes all of the above.
It’s not that complicated in Titletown.
In a clear example of how rabid their cheesehead fans are, the Green Bay Packers have raised $67 million the past six weeks by selling shares of stock for $250 apiece. The stock has no cash value, but it does grant shareholders the official privilege of calling themselves owners of the NFL’s only publicly owned team.
Other teams can only wish their financial issues were as easy to resolve. The Rams just rejected a $124 million proposal from St. Louis officials to make stadium improvements that would have cost taxpayers about $60 million, and the Vikings are currently wrangling with Minnesota leaders over a new $975 million stadium that could involve nearly $550 million in taxpayer contributions.
