As Super Bowl exits NJ, taxpayers on hook for many expenses
" As the NFL packs out of town, with their self-proclaimed all-American extravaganza, we should say good riddance, and make sure they dont come back with their big money, big everything, big game.
Because you, New Jersey taxpayer, are on the hook for the leagues big party for itself.
Consider these facts:
The NFL pays nothing for security. Its right there in the bid contract, which was obtained by The Star-Ledger. So who pays for the 700 state troopers who patrolled the game and circled overhead in two choppers? Or the New Jersey National Guard in their Humvees, who guarded the rail lines and stadium perimeter? Or the local police from a few dozen towns from New Milford to Millville (yes, there was a canine unit up from Cumberland County)? And this was just for game day. Add to that the security at the team hotels, Media Day in Newark, and the police escorts that the NFL required for teams, officials and media during Super Bowl week.
The NFL bid contract forbids host states from collecting sales tax on ticket sales, parking, luxury box sales, etc. It keeps 100 percent of the revenue, so there was no state tax benefit to offset our costs.
New Jersey hotels and restaurants "got almost no bounce compared to what they expected," said Mark Giangiulio, general manager of the Summit Hotel and chairman of the New Jersey Hotel and Lodging Association. No bounce means no hotel taxes, nobody but the regulars in the local restaurants. Again, not much revenue to offset costs.
New Jerseys NFL-designated host cities got no support for their celebrations. Secaucus and East Rutherford threw their own "non-sanctioned" parties. Good for them. Places like Montclair and Rutherford didnt bother.
The NFL transportation plan all but forced tourists to New York. There were only four New Jersey FanExpress sites offering $51 bus ride to the game and they quickly sold out. Why? With 2,200 available hotel rooms in Harmon Meadows, the FanExpress only had four buses running.
The NFL made driving to the game almost impossible. One source very familiar with Super Bowl transportation plan said there at least 2,500 available private property parking spaces within walking distance of the stadium, but the league banned pedestrian traffic and passed on purchasing the additional parking. " ...There's more to the article; I just highlighted this much.
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Just another example of how the tax payer gets screwed by the NFL..Oh, I almost forgot, their non-profit...
It sure looks that way. Thank you for commenting, Kav!