# Military Stadiums **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 11, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597 "2016-03-11T00:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/41 "2016-03-11T20:32:24Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > The Army and Navy game only involves two service academies, their students, parents and alumni which is why it is so small. I don’t see how it would be expensive if you pass on the cost to Uncle Sam and the NFL. You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. First, you think that the Army-Navy game is small. It’s not. It’s held in Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Secondly, you want to argue that filling a military-owned/operated NFL stadium would be easy, because you could just use military personnel, THEN you turn around and suggest that two military academies, students, parents and alumni contribute to a “small” game. Which is it? Third, how the hell does building 32 NFL stadiums on military bases suddenly become cheap, just because you pass the cost to the government and the NFL? All three points are nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/42 "2016-03-11T21:25:48Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. > > First, you think that the Army-Navy game is small. It’s not. It’s held in Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. > > Secondly, you want to argue that filling a military-owned/operated NFL stadium would be easy, because you could just use military personnel, THEN you turn around and suggest that two military academies, students, parents and alumni contribute to a “small” game. Which is it? > > Third, how the hell does building 32 NFL stadiums on military bases suddenly become cheap, just because you pass the cost to the government and the NFL? > > All three points are nonsensical. Yeah thats why its small because its held in an outsized stadium when it should be held at say West Point or Annapolis. On to the 2nd point, yes it would be easy because you have more than just parents and alumni and students. You would have the reserves, other branches plus veterans plus active duty and of course dignitaries from Congress and maybe even a few former Presidents which would raise the profile of these games and make them more dignified. And as to your third point, how do you think Trump is going to build the wall? When there is a will there is a way, and paying for it for a few years isn’t going to hurt the taxpayer or the NFL any now is it? I didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/43 "2016-03-11T21:28:52Z")
I just had a really brilliant idea You could use Mexicans and Americorps to build the stadiums, it would be essentially cheap labor because you could subsidize it and pay below the minimum wage because the Mexicans would be on a specially created guest worker program and Americorps needs the service hours and would be learning a valuable trade of construction. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/44 "2016-03-11T21:30:59Z")
You do realize no professional sports team would involve itself in your idea, right? ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/45 "2016-03-11T21:35:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You do realize no professional sports team would involve itself in your idea, right? I think they would when their owners require them to. And their owners would do it because it would be a huuuugggeee cost savings. You do realize The Donald has done many of these same practices right? Cheap labor works and its the gruel that keeps the sweat shops running at maximum capacity. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/46 "2016-03-11T21:41:06Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I wish MLB would stop with the batshit military and patriotic crap that’s been going on since 9/11. > > God Bless America, soldier of the day, constant military tributes on all summer holidays, the all star game, and all playoff games. Enough is enough. Why would they stop doing something that is making them millions of dollars? The Department of Defense pays tens of millions of dollars for professional sports organizations to “appreciate” their service members. These tributes are not out of admiration, they are profit driven events. ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/47 "2016-03-11T21:44:58Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Why would they stop doing something that is making them millions of dollars? The Department of Defense pays tens of millions of dollars for professional sports organizations to “appreciate” their service members. These tributes are not out of admiration, they are profit driven events. I’m sorry but there are literally people dying for our freedom, the last we can do is show some damn appreciation for it! If a tribute at the game is too much for you to stomach maybe you should go to Sweden or Germany. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/48 "2016-03-11T21:49:26Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > Yeah thats why its small because its held in an outsized stadium when it should be held at say West Point or Annapolis. [Army–Navy Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army%E2%80%93Navy_Game) > [@](#): > > Though the game has been played 115 times, only six of those games have ever been held on the campus of either academy. Neither team has ever played at an on-campus stadium nearly large enough to accommodate the large crowds that usually attend the game, as well as the media and dignitaries. Army’s Michie Stadium only seats 38,000 people, while Navy’s Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium only seats 34,000. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/49 "2016-03-11T21:54:32Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > I think they would when their owners require them to. And their owners would do it because it would be a huuuugggeee cost savings. It would certainly cut into REVENUE quite a lot. If you think it’d be a huuuuuge cost savings, you are painfully ignorant of the economics of professional sports. Do you think professional sports teams pay for their own stadiums now? > [@](#): > > You do realize The Donald has done many of these same practices right? Cheap labor works and its the gruel that keeps the sweat shops running at maximum capacity. Donald Trump’s foray into professional sports is not one of business glory. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/50 "2016-03-11T22:08:24Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > I’m sorry but there are literally people dying for our freedom, the last we can do is show some damn appreciation for it! If a tribute at the game is too much for you to stomach maybe you should go to Sweden or Germany. That would be nice if the teams actually appreciated the veterans, instead of being paid to do what amounts to a commercial for the military. Of all the things wrong with the world this practice is way down there with…my neighbor who overshares when I talk to her, but let’s not be fooled into thinking sports teams and leagues are especially patriotic. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/51 "2016-03-11T22:26:13Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > I’m sorry but there are literally people dying for our freedom, the last we can do is show some damn appreciation for it! If a tribute at the game is too much for you to stomach maybe you should go to Sweden or Germany. With all the phony patriotism and ‘every soldier is a hero’ being rammed down our throat for the last 15 year, I’d rather they honor Goldman Sachs and hedge fund managers for a change of pace. ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/52 "2016-03-11T22:36:50Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > That would be nice if the teams actually appreciated the veterans, instead of being paid to do what amounts to a commercial for the military. Of all the things wrong with the world this practice is way down there with…my neighbor who overshares when I talk to her, but let’s not be fooled into thinking sports teams and leagues are especially patriotic. Yes they have a financial motivation but Americans are patriotic and thats why they did it. No American is gonna boycott because of it ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/53 "2016-03-12T00:44:15Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > The Army and Navy game only involves two service academies, their students, parents and alumni which is why it is so small. I don’t see how it would be expensive if you pass on the cost to Uncle Sam and the NFL. And enlisted personnel don’t give a shit about future officers running around a football field. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/54 "2016-03-12T00:56:18Z")
So, if an NFL stadium was built on a military base, I imagine it would be made known that the Base Commander desires all personnel to attend. Because whatever bigwig thought this would be a good idea would look bad if the stadium was only 1/2 full for a game. I think that’s right up there with “Morale here is lousy! You’re all on extra duty and NO leave or liberty until morale improves!” Key-rist! If the military has money to spend on football stadiums for the NFL, maybe they could find some money for housing for bachelor enlisted personnel. ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/55 "2016-03-12T01:01:59Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > So, if an NFL stadium was built on a military base, I imagine it would be made known that the Base Commander desires all personnel to attend. Because whatever bigwig thought this would be a good idea would look bad if the stadium was only 1/2 full for a game. I think that’s right up there with “Morale here is lousy! You’re all on extra duty and NO leave or liberty until morale improves!” > > Key-rist! If the military has money to spend on football stadiums for the NFL, maybe they could find some money for housing for bachelor enlisted personnel. They wouldn’t need to, you are assuming that the military hates professional football. What a terrible blanket statement to make! The stadiums would be full every game because who wouldn’t want to go to a football game? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/56 "2016-03-12T01:17:32Z")
This is the best thread. ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/57 "2016-03-12T01:51:14Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > This is the best thread. Thank you \<3 ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/58 "2016-03-12T10:34:23Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > I’m sorry but there are literally people dying for our freedom, the last we can do is show some damn appreciation for it! If a tribute at the game is too much for you to stomach maybe you should go to Sweden or Germany. If the least we can do is show some damn appreciation for veterans, why are you defending the fact that the NFL charges the milutary to show “appreciation”. That is disingenuous to say the least!! Tou think I should move to Sweden because I have an issue with the Department of Defense havig to pay NFL teams 8n order to be appreciated?? Because I think that the NFL should not be paid millions to simply to give out a few free tickets to a game thats not even sold out and let some soldiers go out onto the field at halftime to be paraded around… all while acting as if it is from a genuine support and appreciate of the troops? Thats why I should move to Germany? Spare me that nonsense. Thanks for the lesson on what soldiers sacrifice for our freedoms, though. I had no idea :rolleyes: Maybe the DOD should shell out another $60 million over the next 3 years (like they did from 2012-2015) so that the NFL will pretend to give a shit… ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/59 "2016-03-12T12:52:02Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > If the least we can do is show some damn appreciation for veterans, why are you defending the fact that the NFL charges the milutary to show “appreciation”. That is disingenuous to say the least!! Tou think I should move to Sweden because I have an issue with the Department of Defense havig to pay NFL teams 8n order to be appreciated?? Because I think that the NFL should not be paid millions to simply to give out a few free tickets to a game thats not even sold out and let some soldiers go out onto the field at halftime to be paraded around… all while acting as if it is from a genuine support and appreciate of the troops? Thats why I should move to Germany? Spare me that nonsense. > Thanks for the lesson on what soldiers sacrifice for our freedoms, though. I had no idea :rolleyes: > Maybe the DOD should shell out another $60 million over the next 3 years (like they did from 2012-2015) so that the NFL will pretend to give a shit… If you actually read the thread instead of blowing hot air out your bum you would notice I say the money should come from entitlements and welfare programs. Uncle Sam has more than enough money to spend on stadiums and they’d pay themselves off and the NFL would spend some of the cost too. Its all fair that way. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597/60 "2016-03-12T19:20:27Z")
I know what your stupid idea is. I’m saying the NFL would not bother since they already get the government to pay for their stadiums and they already sell “military appreciation” events to the DOD. This is absolutely the dumbest, most pointless proposal I’ve ever read on this board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-stadiums/748597.md?page=4)