Detroit's 6 failed bids for the Olympic Games

[firstandten]

Yeah, the cities usually get hosed. Even when the federal government steps in and pays for stuff - it's a huge drain on city resources. The Olympics committee doesn't pay for anything, all the costs for building stadiums, housing, and public services fall on the hosting country/city. The 2004 games helped to bankrupt Greece - it cost billions of dollars they didn't have.

Unless the city can use the various buildings and facilities afterward it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Atlanta was a good example of needed housing and athletic facilities being used by colleges and universities after the games.

The Olympic stadium became Turner field home of the Braves
The housing village became part of Georgia State Univ which is mostly a communter type school
The swimming and diving venue became part of Georgia Tech
The Basketball venue was taken over by Morehouse College
Centennial Park became part of the downtown landscape


Its seems at least in Atlanta's case it got needed infrastruture improvements as a result.

[JBMcB]

Atlanta was a good example of needed housing and athletic facilities being used by colleges and universities after the games.

The Olympic stadium became Turner field home of the Braves
The housing village became part of Georgia State Univ which is mostly a communter type school
The swimming and diving venue became part of Georgia Tech
The Basketball venue was taken over by Morehouse College
Centennial Park became part of the downtown landscape

That's great - but did Atlanta *NEED* these stadiums? Did the privately owned Braves *require* a new publicly subsidized stadium?

This stuff isn't free. The costs stack up along with the rest of the massive debt we are accruing. Then it has to be maintained. Meanwhile we are laying off teachers, ambulances and buses are breaking down, etc...

If Detroit got a whole bunch of new stadiums and parks, assuming the construction money fell from heaven, with what money will they maintain them with? More money from heaven?

[ghettopalmetto]

That's great - but did Atlanta *NEED* these stadiums? Did the privately owned Braves *require* a new publicly subsidized stadium?

This stuff isn't free. The costs stack up along with the rest of the massive debt we are accruing. Then it has to be maintained. Meanwhile we are laying off teachers, ambulances and buses are breaking down, etc...

...and Atlanta was chastised by the international community for hosting a games that was "too corporate". The City recruited local sponsors--often hocking their wares outside of venues--who weren't official Olympic sponsors. I think I recall the City's response as "Well, that's just American culture."