C. La Transviejo wrote:
Thanks boys. You talk about a nice looking place, I bet that cost a pretty penny. Those old country boys may not be able to play in something like that. But I bet that they will give it their best shot.
As a former taxpayer of the City of San Antonio at the time that the Alamodome was built, I will accept your thanks. The dome was built through a 1/2c additional sales tax for five years that was administered through the VIA bus system (that's why there is a virtually unused "transit center" in front of the joint). I did support the dome and was really suprised when the tax expired that the pols didn't find a way to keep the money rolling in for something else.
The only "permanent tennant" of the dome is now UTSA football (had 50,000 for their first game a couple weeks back), but it has hosted the Spurs (won their 99 and maybe 2003 title there), NCAA basketball finals (men & womens), college football games including the annual Alamo Bowl, and the New Orleans Saints played some of their 2005 home schedule here.
The Dallas Cowboys have held their training camp here in recent years (no decision on 2012 and beyond--rumor is that Jerry likes California).
But I once heard that actually professional sports tenants are "money losers" for domes because of all the sweetheart deals passed around. Concerts, special events, trade shows, etc. actually make more money for those venues, although the spillover effect (hotels, restaurants, tourist $$$) are big for many of the sporting events.