My Thoughts on Your Midterm Presentation

Dear Sports and Gaming Blog Team Members,
As my first post to your blog, I thought I would give you feedback on your presentation yesterday in class, on the Sacramento Kings, their new arena and the role of sports in society.
First, Hamid, you did a terrific job of opening and closing the presentation, providing a framework and structure for the other group members' presentations and explaining how sports events help foster a sense of community in keeping with a pursuit of happiness. I particularly appreciated the GLOK acronym for dealing with an active shooter situation, which seemed particularly appropriate given what had happened earlier in the class! I am pretty sure everyone was listening very carefully to the instructions!
Then, Anthony did a really good job of laying out the use of the new arena and the potential uses for the old one. I think the use of the video showing the new arena was extremely helpful in understanding the new arena and its different uses, and how it will interact with the surrounding community. Using the EIR report was effective in understanding the level of legal analysis such a big venture entails. I was interested in the local city councilwoman's efforts to keep Sleep Train from being demolished, and the short timeframe in coming up with an alternative use. Frankly, I would be surprised if they pulled it off, but it's worth trying.
Next, Charlotte's explanation and analysis of the Kings' decision to stay in Sacramento was extremely useful in understanding the ways Mayor Kevin Johnson had to work with the NBA and the Maloofs to stave off an attempt by Anaheim first, and then Seattle, to purchase the team. Knowing the numbers was very helpful in understanding that it was no easy feat to get them to stay.
Then, Robert laid out the cost of the arena, the $448 million building and its 18,500 seats, and talked about the purchase of the old Macy's store downtown, and the city's role in purchasing the property from its owners.
Finally, Sonya went through the economic analysis, showing the $700 million benefit of the arena over 30 years. She explained that the arena would be built with $190 million from the Kings ownership, and $258 million from the city, and that the city's portion would come from parking fees, parking meters and sales taxes.
To conclude, you can see that I learned an awful lot that I didn't already know from your presentation.  You should all be proud of how well your presentation went.  Congratulations!
This is for Robert, who is still skeptical about the cost and worthiness of the project:

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die.” - Architect Daniel H. Burnham.

King's New Arena

Sonya Wall

Professor Ellerman

Business 345

March 23, 2014

Sacramento King’s New Arena

How much will the new Sacramento King’s Arena cost to build?

• The arena will cost roughly 448 million dollars.

What will happen moneywise after the arena is built?

• The entertainment and sports complex, when located downtown, is expected to bring over 7 billion dollars of economic impact to the region over the next 30 years.

• It will generate just over 157 million dollars in revenue for the entire region on an annual basis.

• Including 100 million dollars in downtown Sacramento.

• Also, 116 million dollars in the City of Sacramento.

• And, 131 million dollars in the County of Sacramento.

An Entertainment and Sports Complex can also help other business with financial issues, for example it will attract 3.1 million new visitors to Downtown Sacramento on an annual basis which causes hotels located within walking distance of the facility in Downtown Sacramento to see an increase of over 300,000 guest who choose to spend at least one night in a downtown hotel.

• This increases the money going into these hotels.

Fiscal benefits for government agencies created by 3.1 million new visitors will include approximately 6.7 million dollars annually generated by 5.8 million dollars in sales taxes and over 900,000 dollars in transient taxes.

Additional revenue would be expected to be generated by increase in other sources of revenue such as property taxes.

How will they receive that money?

Who they will get the money from?

• $448 million: estimated cost of construction for the new downtown Sacramento arena.
• $190 million: amount the Kings' new owners will pay for the construction of the arena.
• $258: estimated amount the City of Sacramento will pay for the construction of the new arena. The city has agreed to pay for the arena by selling real estate and leasing its parking operations.

Thats about 58 percent of the 448 million dollar price tag for the new arena.

In order to get the $212 million in cash, the city will have to sell bonds. All of the money will be paid back from the revenue the city collects from its parking meters, tickets and garages.

The remaining money needs will be covered by advertising, sales of public lands, and sponsorship campaigns.

The Sacramento kings arena is a highly controversial topic that i believe should have never been taken this far because the old arena could have just been remodeled to a more modern style. the agreement to build a $448 million dollar arena is just ridiculous. considering just the price is not reasonable for the city when the money could be used in better ways such as the current dramatic water shortage the state is facing. A more reasonable amount of money for the residents to pay in taxes to keep the kings would be about $100 million to build a new arena in not so heavily populated area where you also don't have to destroy a perfectly fine building. the kings aren't even good why keep them?      

CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEW DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS CENTER

Now that the Sacramento Kings have been given the OK from a Federal Judge to go ahead with building the new arena and struck down all petition's from people and company's to stop the process; a Sacramento Superior Court Judge has awarded the Kings ownership of the old downtown Macy's store, theres not any legal issues remaining.   Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento Kings President Chris Granger, Sacramento-Sierra Building and Construction Trade Council President Dennis Canevari and other top region and state leaders announced the signing of the Community Workfoce and Training Agreement (CWTA).

The CWTA will govern the hiring, training and oversight of an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 on-site workers during the construction of the new downtown entertainment and sport center (ESC).  As part of the CWTA, the parties agree to target hiring at least 60% of construction workers and 70% of apprentices from the City of Sacramento and surrounding region.

Chapter 17.442 Entertainment and Sports Center Special Planning District give more details and breaks down each section of the construction, requirements and boundaries that must be followed.
All the above information and much more can be found on www.cityofsacramento.com or www.nba.com websites.

King Stay in Sacramento

1. Set to leave Sacramento

• In 2011 the kings were determined to move to Anaheim
• kings were then set to move to Seattle as the Supersonics since January of 2013
• the deal was set for 525 million, beating the NBA record
• also had plans for new arena in Seattle

2. King will stay

• Major Kevin Johnson pledged not to lose the team without a fight; called Ranadive
• in 2010 Ranadive joined a team in buying Golden state Warriors; wasn't his first rodeo
• Ranadive saw something in the Kings and Sacramento: they had sold out home games despite the losing streak
• quote Ranadive, " at some point I felt that it would be just a tragedy if this team that the city loved, was moved."
• the kings had been owned by the Maloof family since 1998

3. The vote

• the deal was only finalized once the city council approved it through vote
• when the vote took place the council chambers were packed fullwith 500 people 
• - people wore supportive shirts and held signs
• residents of Sacramento snaked around city hall
• during the meeting, those against the deal proposed that sports arenas dont produce any economic benefit
• those supporting the deal said the economic loss if the kings left would be worse than if they stayed

4. The deal

• the deal was set with Seattle until Johnson fought back and made it too hard for the Maloof Family to allow the Kings to move to Seattle
• NBA approved the sale on May 28, 2013 and on May 31 escrow closed on the sale of the Kings to the Ranadive ownership group
• The sale of the Kings closed for $534 million, which topped the NBA record sale of $450 million
• Deal included a promise for a new 18,500 seat arena

5. YouTube: Sacramento Kings ESC Renderings 

What Do We Do With the Sleep Train Arena!

Sleep Train Arena Arial Photo

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Ideas ranging from demolition to a new state-of-the-art medical facility, a re-purpose plan for the Sleep Train Arena due by this months end is of much discussion.  City council members met earlier this month in Natomas to discuss it's plans for the coming year that included the new arena planned to take over the Downtown Plaza and what to do with the old Sleep Train Arena. The new arena is planned to be finished for the 2016-17 NBA season and plan drafts need to be proposed so that there is time to gather the funding and resources for the re-purpose of the building, if at all. Because the new arena will host various events ranging from its main occupant, the Sacramento Kings, to concerts and other indoor sporting events. It is revolutionary as well in design, sporting massive retracting glass doors allowing sunlight to penetrate the arena as well as a way to bleed the sounds from the roaring crowds and balconies overlooking Old Town and river as well. In fact, the inside of the arena can be viewed by street level outside the arena. It perimeter will be lined with various food cafes and retail shops with wide sidewalks allowing people to mingle, creating a sense of community. In the Entertainment and Sports Center Environmental Impact Report draft found here, topics of noise pollution and transportation are discussed. As of now, the footprint of the new arena will be a minimal one as plans of light rail and bike paths with feed into the arena reducing the automobile traffic.

The original plan for the old arena was demolition as to eliminate the competition for the new arena forcing events into it. However, recently a city council members Angelique Ashby and Steve Cohn from Natomas started petitioning to have a state-of-the-art medical center. Ashby's main focus is on the HMO Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser has openly announced that they are actively looking for a place to expand in the Sacramento area but has not commented as to who they are talking with or what areas they were considering. Rob Azevedo, the physician-in-chief for the Sacramento-area Kaiser medical group, did not say they have in fact talked to the owners of Sleep Train, but did say that Sleep Train Arena has enough space for the transformation.

Other ideas not in the spot light are to convert the old arena to a College or Tech campus. No further information is available at this time. For more information on this topic and other news from Sacramento Bee, click here.

The current controversial issue I decided to bring up is the barbie doll on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2014 and whether or not Sports Illustrated should have put barbie on the cover or one of their original models. I personally do not have a preference of what is on the cover of sports illustrated and i think it was a bad decision on sports illustrates behalf to put barbie on the cover. barbie should not be on the cover because in my prospective barbie is a child's toy and sports illustrated swimsuit is a magazine advertised to an older audience. I believe this is just a public dispute and has nothing to do with federal or state laws. the fundamental right involved with sports illustrated I believe would be the facts that they can basically put whatever they want on the cover of their magazine. sports illustrated as a company has an interest in making money by selling magazines and by putting barbie on the cover i believe attracted more of an audience toward children and endangered the audience they already had by going toward children rather than adults.   

Move over, Barbie, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is here

• BY CINDY BOREN

• February 18 at 11:02 am

Sports Illustrated’s special annual issue saluting The Swimsuit Industry hits the stands Tuesday and, this year, there was a bit more controversy than usual surrounding it.

It had nothing to do with the choice to de-emphasize breasts in favor of backsides on the cover or about how little swimsuits actually have to do with the annual skinfest. Instead, it concerns a nearly 55-year-old known for an iconic black-and-white swimsuit and a physique that put the bod in bodacious decades ago. Yep, we’re talking Barbie, who, it should be noted, isn’t a real person.

Still, it can be argued that the combination of the swimsuit issue and the iconic doll is a natural. Swimsuits (and unrealistic body images) were never the same after the first doll rolled off the assembly line in 1959 and this is, after all, Sports Illustrated’s 50th anniversary swimsuit issue. There are magazines and toys to be sold, which made for a seemingly logical “ad wrap” for the issue. Never mind that distribution was limited. That didn’t tamp down the outrage.

This image provided by Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2014, shows the cover-wrap of the magazine’s 50th anniversary annual swimsuit issue. (AP Photo/Sports Illustrated

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/02/18/move-over-barbie-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue-is-here/?tid=hpModule_c7c1f590-868f-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394

(CNN) -- When Barbie burst onto scene in a black and white swimsuit in 1959, she was considered a rebel who embodied both "the sensuality of Marilyn Monroe and the innocence of Debbie Reynolds."
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/14/living/barbie-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-edition-parents/


Barbie might be #unapologetic, but Sports Illustrated shouldn’t be. It should be embarrassed.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/teresagenaro/2014/02/20/barbie-is-unapologetic-but-sports-illustrated-should-be-embarrassed/

Federal government getting involved with drug issues in sports

There are many issues involving drug use to enhance sport performances. Many different forms of drugs are illegal to be used during sport careers but some athletes have gotten away with it. The federal government needs to focus on state issues other than drug usage in sports. If drug us is a major issue in sports, authorities should be the ones to get involved.

Should College Athletes Get Paid?

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In an article by CNBC found here, the term "student-athlete" is debated. The issue is whether or not student-athletes should be paid for playing. In the year 2012, some $10.6 billion was generated from college sports. So how is it that people can work ad train hard to ear money for their company (college) and not be compensated? The colleges argue that the fact they are a STUDENT-athlete means that being a student comes first, and that they provide scholarships to student-athletes, therefore cannot pay them for playing. However, 86% of student athletes on "full" scholarships who live off-campus live below the federal poverty line. Who is helping who?!

The the part where this year a group of college student-athletes asked to form a union in order to have a voice in the say of their rights as student-athletes. Mark Conrad, a professor of sports law at Fordham University stated, "You'd have to deal with labor laws, and those would be difficult to enforce at the college level." This brings in various federal and state labor laws, which in fact can be daunting to enforce, but something must be done.

But what really is in question is, are college athletes employees of the school? Black's Law Dictionary defines "employee" as "a person in the service of another under any contract of hire, expressed or implied, oral or written, where the employer has the power or right to control ad direct the employee in the material details of how the work is to be performed." So would a player fulfill these requirements to be defined as an employee?

But lets not try to make them employee of the college, but rather an employee of themselves. Would it make more sense for the athletes to consider themselves independent contractors rather than employees? A "independent contractor, according to Black's Law Dictionary is someone who, "in the exercise of an independent employment, contracts to do a piece of work according to his own methods ad is subject to his employer's control only as to the ed product or final result of his work."

Obviously this is a very complicated issue which will be battled for some time. Do you think college athletes are right to fight for monetary compensation?

Black's Law Dictionary can be found here. Enjoy!

Public Service Refusal

I believe that businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone. They have the right since its their business or they are working for them. In defense of the rejected customer, if they think the refusal of service was due to racism or gender, they can take the offense to the people which can create a case depending on the votes. The people can have their own opinions on what is right or wrong but businesses have the right of public service refusal to an individual at any time.

Refusing service to ANYONE! (unless majority votes otherwise)

I believe to match our groups constitution each business has the right to refuse service to anyone. If that upset some people., or they feel as if they are being discriminated against they should speak up to the rest of the country on the issue. As i will remind you we value the majority rules vote. Say for example, people felt they were being discriminated to a point that a law should be passed on it, they should bring it up with the representatives. From there it can be put on a ballot for vote, if majority rules then the law may be passed but as of now under our constitution business owners have freedom of speech to say and choose who they serve.

The Right of Service Denial

Per the Constitution of Giocatori, a business has the right to deny service to anyone they wish. Because there is no law stating that they must provide the service, according to the Tenth Amendment if no power over the situation is given to the government or state, it then goes to the people. In this case it does, therefore the business has the power to make it's own decision on the issue. It is in no way prohibiting the practice of a religion, but in fact allowing the practice of the business' religion.  Of course this is a fine line, but ultimately, if I were to try to go to a business and they would not serve me for any given reason, all the power to them. They will lose the business of many people, so there is ramifications to their decision, no need to compound them. I will go find somewhere else to go, and if there is not another place, then I'll see the opportunity and start the business myself to serve other in my situation.

taxes

TAXES
"Everybody cries when they have to pay taxes."

Taxes are collected from all sales, properties, businesses, people, and income tax. All tax money generated will be stored at the treasury department. The amount of tax money generated and where its spent will be available for the public to see. Disbursement amounts of tax money will be decided by the people for schools, military, roads, etc. New ways that taxes can be collected is also an option for the people to present to their representatives to be sent up to the council for review and possibly enforced into new laws.

Hhere is a little extra isn't part of our assignment just wanted to share it.

Overview[edit]

Pieter Brueghel the Younger, The tax collector, 1640

The legal definition and the economic definition of taxes differ in that economists do not consider many transfers to governments to be taxes. For example, some transfers to the public sector are comparable to prices. Examples include tuition at public universities and fees for utilities provided by local governments. Governments also obtain resources by creating money (e.g., printing bills and minting coins), through voluntary gifts (e.g., contributions to public universities and museums), by imposing penalties (e.g., traffic fines), by borrowing, and by confiscating wealth. From the view of economists, a tax is a non-penal, yet compulsory transfer of resources from the private to the public sector levied on a basis of predetermined criteria and without reference to specific benefit received.

In modern taxation systems, taxes are levied in money; but, in-kind and corvée taxation are characteristic of traditional or pre-capitalist states and their functional equivalents. The method of taxation and the government expenditure of taxes raised is often highly debated in politics and economics. Tax collection is performed by a government agency such as the Canada Revenue Agency, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States, or Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the United Kingdom. When taxes are not fully paid, civil penalties (such as fines or forfeiture) or criminal penalties (such as incarceration)^[1] may be imposed on the non-paying entity or individual.

Purposes and effects[edit]

Money provided by taxation has been used by states and their functional equivalents throughout history to carry out many functions. Some of these include expenditures on war, the enforcement of law and public order, protection of property, economic infrastructure (roads, legal tender, enforcement of contracts, etc.), public works, social engineering, subsidies, and the operation of government itself. Governments also use taxes to fund welfare and public services. A portion of taxes also go to pay off the state's debt and the interest this debt accumulates. These services can include education systems, health care systems, pensions for the elderly, unemployment benefits, and public transportation. Energy, water and waste management systems are also common public utilities. Colonial and modernizing states have also used cash taxes to draw or force reluctant subsistence producers into cash economies.

Governments use different kinds of taxes and vary the tax rates. This is done to distribute the tax burden among individuals or classes of the population involved in taxable activities, such as business, or to redistribute resources between individuals or classes in the population. Historically, the nobility were supported by taxes on the poor; modern social security systems are intended to support the poor, the disabled, or the retired by taxes on those who are still working. In addition, taxes are applied to fund foreign aid and military ventures, to influence the macroeconomicperformance of the economy (the government's strategy for doing this is called its fiscal policy; see also tax exemption), or to modify patterns of consumption or employment within an economy, by making some classes of transaction more or less attractive.

A nation's tax system is often a reflection of its communal values and/or the values of those in power. To create a system of taxation, a nation must make choices regarding the distribution of the tax burden—who will pay taxes and how much they will pay—and how the taxes collected will be spent. In democratic nations where the public elects those in charge of establishing the tax system, these choices reflect the type of community that the public wishes to create. In countries where the public does not have a significant amount of influence over the system of taxation, that system may be more of a reflection on the values of those in power.

All large businesses incur administrative costs in the process of delivering revenue collected from customers to the suppliers of the goods or services being purchased. Taxation is no different, the resource collected from the public through taxation is always greater than the amount which can be used by the government. The difference is called the compliance cost and includes for example the labour cost and other expenses incurred in complying with tax laws and rules. The collection of a tax in order to spend it on a specified purpose, for example collecting a tax on alcohol to pay directly for alcoholism rehabilitation centres, is called hypothecation. This practice is often disliked by finance ministers, since it reduces their freedom of action. Some economic theorists consider the concept to be intellectually dishonest since, in reality, money is fungible. Furthermore, it often happens that taxes or excises initially levied to fund some specific government programs are then later diverted to the government general fund. In some cases, such taxes are collected in fundamentally inefficient ways, for example highway tolls.

Some economists, especially neo-classical economists, argue that all taxation creates market distortion and results in economic inefficiency. They have therefore sought to identify the kind of tax system that would minimize this distortion.

Since governments also resolve commercial disputes, especially in countries with common law, similar arguments are sometimes used to justify a sales tax or value added tax. Others (e.g., libertarians) argue that most or all forms of taxes are immoral due to their involuntary (and therefore eventually coercive/violent) nature. The most extreme anti-tax view is anarcho-capitalism, in which the provision of all social services should be voluntarily bought by the person(s) using them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax#Kinds_of_taxes

Constitution

Form of Government:

Democracy- Power of the people. There will be a Council of three people, this being the top of the chain. Below that are the three groups of Representatives. The three branches are Dept. of Legislature  (representing society and all aspects of it), Dept. of Armed Forces ( branch representing armed forces and police), and the Dept. of Commerce ( representing and regulating trade and commerce). 

Limitations imposed on the Government power:

The Government is a Democracy, so all power will reside in the people. 

Passing Laws:

1. People bring up idea to representatives.

2. Representatives put ideas together into a proposition. Then put proposition onto ballet for people to vote on.

3. People vote on propositions.

4. Majority rules (over 50% majority) on passing or failing propositions.

5. If majority rules, the proposition is then sent to the Council for final approval and finalization of the law.

Elections:

Anyone can run to become a Representative of any branch of their choice. They are then voted on by the people to become part of the Representatives. Elections are every 5 years. Each branch of representatives are then voted on by the people to decide who will be the next Councilman for that 

branch.  Minimum requirement to be a Representative is that you are a U.S born or Naturalized Citizen.

Court:

The courting system will also come from the Council and the Representatives. The Council will be like the Supreme Court. The three branches of Representatives will be the local and state courts. The topic of interest being tried will come from the people. The people recognize something as wrong, then it is taken to the branch of  representatives in which the problem falls under (Dept. of Legislature, Armed Forces, or Commerce). If the problem is resolved at the local/state courts then thats is where it ends. If the problem needs to be speculated at a higher level, it goes to the Council, which is the Supreme Court. If a law needs to be amended to resolve an issue, that law then goes back on the ballet for the people to vote on. 

Taxes: will be discussed in another post

Carta dei Diritti (The Bill of Rights)

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The Carta dei Diritti

The Legislazione dei Giocatori
begun and held at the City of Placerville, on
Wednesday the sixth of March, two thousand and fourteen.

The conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Council, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
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Amendment I
The departments shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Council for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of the people, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by the Representatives of the  department wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor.

Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by Representatives shall be preserved, and no fact tried by the Representatives, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Tribunali dei Giocatori (courts), than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the Council dei Giocatori by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Amendment XI
The right of the people to overturn law previously standing by majority vote.
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