Sunday, January 17, 2016

Economic Statistics

January 17, 2016

A few days ago, the Post-Dispatch ran an article about a sports bar owner who is afraid the business will have to close without the revenue from game days.

I know I sound unfeeling, but you’ve had months to consider a fallback plan, including ways to keep the customers coming back even without the games. And if you’re having a hard time thinking of one, there are plenty of business-assistance organizations that can help you.

(One person I mentioned this to said, “Yes, but nobody ever really thought it would happen.” But when you’re running a business, you have to think of it. It’s not like a tornado came through and stripped you clean in 5 minutes; you actually had time to prepare.)

Furthermore, today’s Post-Dispatch has all the statistics about why the revenue loss overall won’t be as great as was feared/trumpeted/hammered into our heads when the city was trying to induce the Rams to stay.

Here’s my favorite: I haven’t checked his math, but columnist Pat Gauen calculated that if St. Louis had built the stadium, and the Rams had stayed for 20 years, the public’s share of the construction would have been $2 million PER GAME.


I think we can easily afford to lose the Rams.

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