Originally Posted by gbrk:
No one here or in the media or even the State for that matter seems to really know the validity of or chances that this will come to happen. One thing I do know for sure. Our politicians, our own local Governments, and anyone in State government should be trying to do everything possible to insure that those who may invest in such know that they have people in all parts of the State willing to help them and work with them in making this happen.
It's been said that they aren't asking for additional help or funds but then when they come to talk about it then that may be when they ask for finances and support. I, like most, am very skeptical such a wonderful thing could or would happen but I hope it does. Remember that before Disney was even announced or anyone had any idea it might happen that they had already acquired the properties that they would need or want for the parks.
Given this has been announced as a prospect you wouldn't think it would be done unless they already had something sowed up and sealed because if it was real you know property values would escalate greatly and the project cost would be much greater. So time will tell but we can all hope regardless of the theme of the park/entertainment. Remember Branson, MO? It was a hole in the wall, unknown place at one time also.
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gbrk, the announced scope of this Themeparkasaurus, with a projected development cost of $3,500,000,000, is so enormous that the usual considerations of "corporate welfare" in the form of tax relief, employee training, transportation access and the like take on a wholly different color than obtains with projects costing only a few millions to a few tens of millions or even a few hundreds of millions. Contribution from public resources of even one percent of the cost of this project would come to $35,000,000. No public (government) contribution of any such amount should be considered without 100% ironclad assurance that the project proponents have the resources and the assured funding to carry out this grand scheme. If that is not possible, then NO public funding should be committed to. And it might well be impossible for these Disney wannabees to provide an assurance as robust and ironclad as that.
This goes double if the company, based on its own PR information, intends to simultaneously pursue
an even larger and more costly Themeparkasaurus West in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Has ANY private corporation ever undertaken a suite of development projects this costly?
Let us see what the slick spokespersons for this thing say a week from now. I am certain that they have immaculately groomed the dogs and ponies that will be featured in their presentation.