# Do major sports really need government handouts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 22, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332 "2009-08-22T18:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332/41 "2009-08-25T13:40:34Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Not really, the owners of the Pirates were threatening to walk if they didn’t get something new. The only way to give them something new was to do two separate buildings. Three Rivers was going to have to go. So that’s how it went down. Okay, that makes me feel better. I grew up well within the sphere of influence of Pittsburgh (Altoona), and the Stillers and the Rooneys were almost mythic during my childhood (the 1970s/early 80s). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332/42 "2009-08-25T13:49:57Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I disagree that this is necessary. Does it really matter if the team leaves? Sure. It matters to a lot of people. It doesn’t really matter in terms of money and profit, but it can mean a lot to the residents of a city to lose a sports team. There’s a lot of serious talk about the Buffalo Bills moving to Toronto once Ralph Wilson dies, and I can tell you that if that happens it’ll be an awful punch in the gut to a lot of folks in Western New York. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332/43 "2009-08-25T14:27:18Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I disagree that this is necessary. Does it really matter if the team leaves? A lot of places have a strong cultural connection to their sports teams. New York Yankees being a prime example I think. You may not think that matters. I may not think that matters. There are, however, a lot of people who think it matters. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332/44 "2009-08-25T15:34:38Z")
It is a distraction for the people into meaningless things of life, another opiate for the masses that stand in the way of people finding the real meaning of life and a way to vent anger and frustration. They also encourage group think, that they like their team, and people are ostracized who refuse to conform. As such they serve the state and protect their power structure and control of the people, much like the Colosseum did in Rome. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332/45 "2009-08-25T16:35:00Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > A lot of places have a strong cultural connection to their sports teams. New York Yankees being a prime example I think. You may not think that matters. I may not think that matters. There are, however, a lot of people who think it matters. Which is precisely why the local government is so invested (ha!) in sports pretty much everywhere in the western world, besides the not-inconsequent amount of pork barrels on top of that. _Panem and circenses_ is still fress. Keep the proles howling about the Yankees, or Liverpool, or Michael Jordan or whatever, and the proles don’t have the braintime to think about how badly they’re being fucked and grab the nearest pitchfork. ETA : holy crap - \*\*kanicbird \*\*and I have the same opinion. I think I need to go and lie down. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332/46 "2009-08-26T00:37:51Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > ETA : holy crap - \*\*kanicbird \*\*and I have the same opinion. I think I need to go and lie down. Me too. I need a cold damp washcloth and a dark room for a couple of hours after THAT thought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-major-sports-really-need-government-handouts/507332.md?page=2)