The Sicatoka

The sales tax to pay for FargoDome was supposed to "sunset" when it was paid for. It's paid for, yet the tax lives on. Everyone seems to get nailed. See what I said to 'Goon': "... everyone's taxes always seem to go up everywhere for whatever reason."

Fargo special assessments for new brand new neighborhoods are running about $250 per linear foot of frontage. (Some in the new Osgood development could approach $400 per foot.) If you have an 80 foot lot, that's $20000 you have to pay off over 15 years. Figuring 5% interest and 1/15 of the principal and you're looking at $2333 in just specials on the lot the first year and roughly the same for each of the following 14 years. Yes, just for the lot. Put your house on it and you pay the assessed value of that in consolidated taxes, in addition to the example $2333 for the lot. Your numbers seem reasonable.

Goon: It was already in the budget, thus, there's nothing new because of this. However, everyone's taxes always seem to go up everywhere for whatever reason.

Here's a link to the story in the GF Herald. Key points: - Alerus asking for $250k as a line-of-credit for concert coverage. The City of GF had already budgeted that money (actually more) for promotions of Alerus and the Canad Inn (as part of the Canad deal). "It acts like a line of credit," Alerus Center Commissioner Evenson said. "We'll take the money and go get concerts, and when the shows make a profit, we'll pay it back." - Alerus revenues are about $450,000 under projections. However, its actual net-income loss for the second quarter of the year is almost exactly what it was at the same time last year. Last year ended about "break even". - Alerus Center that would give Fighting Sioux football a bigger presence. It could cost an estimated $287,000 and would be paid for under a cost-share plan that includes the Alerus Center, UND, the city and private sponsors and donations. I believe a review of FargoDome books will show a similar approach was used for Bison signage there. - Contract negotiations with UND continued. Under the current three-year contract, UND pays the Alerus Center $17,500 per game, not counting playoff games. The Alerus Center keeps revenue from concessions. I couldn't find the Alerus Center commission having to fire the Center's director for mishandling funds.

bisonguy: Are you including Fargo's beloved "special assessments" in your numbers? Are the GF folks? There one key difference here: Fargo special assesses just about every project. GF tends to budget for new major streets over the entire city in the overall budget. (The merits of each approach can be debated to the end of time.) Ask the right person in Fargo and their taxes are low; ask the wrong person, near a major street being redone, and they nearly cry. And no, the money for Bison lockers wasn't in place. Initially, NDSU asked Fargo to pay for the locker rooms and to pay Fargo back in installments over time. I'm not sure what the plan is now. And let's do a simple "reality check" here: UND and The Alerus Center are renegotiating the contract for use of the facility. UND wants lower fees and a cut of concessions. Alerus doesn't want to give up anything the current deal gives them. Does Alerus crying "poverty" right now really surprise anyone? Dare I say "tactic" in the negotiations?

Folks in Fargo should be far from chuckling about domed stadium operations and budgets (improper advance to a "promoter" ring a bell?) and city property taxes. Both apply just about as well. And space and dollars for the local university's football program, like locker rooms (does that ring bells too)?

We're talking in the Football forum of SiouxSports.com: Athletics realm. Athletics conversation. That's where my post was aimed. (For another forum and another time, UND and NDSU are each members of the NDUS. As arms of the same 'company', why did one arm duplicate an existing corporate product line recently? Would a division of Microsoft start marketing another spreadsheet to compete with Excel?) As far as the WYOBISONMAN scenario, UMary and UND win: They got attention from WYOBISONMAN that they wouldn't have otherwise gotten.

star2city said, "As far as UND vs NDSU athletics, a rivalry will continue, only the form has changed to a business rivalry." There is no flaw in that statement (note the word athletics). They are competing for the area sports fan's attention, and dollar, and there is no distinction between divisions in that realm: "Who (which players, team) does the fan want to watch, who catches their attention, and why?" The answer to that will be different for each fan. Each athletic program will do what it deems necessary to try to capture fans (aka market share).

Hockey'sFuture.com thinks the Kings project Murray as a center. (scroll down)

With basketball and volleyball going to The Betty, what events at Hyslop would there be concessions revenues from? Or is UND Dining Services out to get UND Athletics? I've read the May '04 IAC too. (Remember, FY 04 is ending and we're heading into FY 05; that's why I was specific.) No, no concessions income from REA; however, REA's "net profits will be given to the UND Athletic Department." That set-up doesn't bother me. The deal with Alerus is the one that needs to be looked at (which they are as the initial three-year deal is done and renogotiations are on-going). Bison fans sure seem worried about UND's athletic budgets. Shouldn't they be worried about [url="http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=57824

They (119th) needed (had to have?) 23rd Avenue, but it's not really "expansion" space. Is there a map of who-has-what around there? Is there enough space if need arose? And moving both the 119th and the 188th would be a classic "we're from the government and we're here to help" move.

I'm surprised the Grand Forks Herald hasn't reported anything regarding REA. They generally love intrigue and anonymous sources. If there's a story, why aren't they on it?

NDSU grad may be onto something here: If you want to see REA, the $104 MM, granite floor, cherry trimmed marvel, and a UND game, coming up with hockey tickets is tough. Basketball tickets would be much easier to get.

College football players who are enrolled students at the school they play for. Brilliant!

Initially the plan was for conference BB in The Ralph. There seem to be games beyond that. Date conflicts for volleyball maybe? Are they trying to "dial in" what they'll average at each venue? How do the volleyball and hockey schedules cross-reference to that?

Saturday's Fargo Forum: Base fight urged: Haugen says 119th should seek growth I love the expanded role and growth concepts for the ND ANG and ND's two AFBs. I'm not sure if it'll be possible or not. I think that's beyond the scope of the BRAC. I think it's survive the BRAC, then try to grow with new things (like the Air Space Initiative). What could be limiting to growth (if growing becomes a possibility) at the 119th's current location: Space (real estate). They are held in on two sides by major streets (University and 19th Ave N) and I'm not sure how much Hector Airport wants to give up to them (which could stunt their possible future grow if land is needed).

I guess I see things the same way, with the note that it's not just Roger Thomas, but Phil Harmenson and Tim O'Keefe watching also. I base my views on this link to IAC minutes.

No. I've taught you how to fish.

No, unlike Craig Dahl, I didn't spend the weekend by a phone. I wasn't waiting for "the call" from the WHL draft. And to get me they'd have to toss in at least $20 in Red Pepper gift certificates. Congratulations to Kyle Chipchura (the 233rd amateur pick) and Paul Elliott (the 233rd free agent pick). Hope you get more than lunch at the Green Mill.

According to Gopher fans, wasn't that Dean Blais' job? Someone has to pick up that load. PCM's projected timeline makes sense. Imagine trying to move to Grand Forks at the same time all the students are coming in for fall classes.

Spokane, WA, based Gonzaga University, yeah, that Gonzaga, plays in a 4000 seat arena. They'll be moving into a much larger arena very soon: 6000 seats. 6000 seats is "below the ring" in REA. Take a look back into Sioux Basketball history: For how many games per year would 4000 seats not be enough? Let's worry about consistently selling out The Betty before condemning it's size.

Stack was concerned about centers. I think those would be: Genoway, McMahon, Spirko, Zajac, Kaip. (I think Murray and Stafford have centered at some point before UND.) Let's get shooting side into the mix and really confuse the issue. Left: Prpich, Porter, Murray, Fabian, Spirko, Marvin* Right: Bochenski, Canady, Fylling, Genoway, Massen, McMahon, Stafford, Kaip, Zajac * Looking at that list of defensemen, I think Lee will play as much wing as defense this year but the team will probably need him at defense in 2005 so you have to get him some games back there this year.

PCM: UND's starting "left out".

If I recall correctly, PCM was at Saturday's hockey press conference because he wrote a story for USCHO. I wonder who all from UND was there and who he may have talked to ... and about what ... Now I'm intrigued.