Metro government is considering the idea of building a new convention center, Nashville Mucic City Center, at a cost of over $600 million. This cost doesn’t include the additional money needed to build the accompanying hotel. The construction of a new convention center in Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County is not necessary and a total waste of taxpayer funds. Not only this, but the proposed convention center could have immense negative effects upon the already fragile local economy. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. The fact presented on this page may be used to write letters to the editor or contact elected officials. You can also download a printable PDF format of this list that can be reproduced, distributed, or faxed to friends, associates, or elected officals.
1. The extra local convention space is not needed.
2. Existing local convention space is not being used fully.
3. Many sizes of conventions can already be hosted locally.
4. There is no demand for extra convention space in the local hospitality market.
5. The local convention site market is already over-saturated.
6. No evidence shows that convention centers "revitalize" the local economy.
7. Building a new convention center will not guarantee a flow of new tourists.
8. Local convention sites are already diverse in size, possible uses, and location.
9. Local convention sites are already meeting the needs of convention planners.
10. Local convention sites respond to market needs without government intervention.
11. Government should not run business.
12. Market needs are better met by private businesses than the government.
13. Government run businesses cost more than their private counter parts.
14. Government run businesses hurt the local economy.
15. Government run businesses remove much needed funding from the market sector.
16. Government run businesses provide inferior services compared to their private counterparts.
17. Government run businesses receive more funding when they lose money or perform poorly.
18. Government run businesses do not manage funds wisely.
19. Government run businesses drain money from the local economy.
20. Government run businesses hinder the production of wealth and profit.
21. Running a business is not a proper function of government.
22. The new convention site will probably have to acquired by using eminent domain.
23. Private businesses will have to bear the cost of relocating.
24. Some private businesses will be forced to close as a result of losing their property.
25. Nearby residents and workers will be deprived of these nearby businesses.
26. Seizing land by eminent domain may displace residents of the area.
27. Using the land for private use would be more profitable.
28. Using the land for private use would allow the use to change to meet market demands.
29. Using the land for private use is more likely to stimulate the economy.
30. Using the land for private use respects the property rights of the current property owners.
31. Changing the land from private to government ownership will remove it form the tax rolls.
32. Tax funds will have to be removed from the local economy to pay for the property.
33. Tax funds will have to be removed from the local economy to pay for construction.
34. Tax funds will have to be removed from the local economy to sustain the convention center.
35. These added tax burdens will require local taxes to be increased.
36. Local taxes will become much higher than in neighboring counties.
37. The cost of doing business locally will increase due to local tax increases.
38. This will cause businesses to relocate to neighboring counties.
39. A mass exodus of business will increase the tax burden for local residents and businesses.
40. A change in the location of jobs will cause workers to leave the county.
41. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could be used to educate our children.
42. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could allow for educational choice.
43. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could be used to house the homeless.
44. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could be used to feed the hungry.
45. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could be used for job training.
46. Taxes not collected and wasted wasted on a convention center could provide college scholarships.
47. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could be used to start new businesses.
48. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could be used for real growth.
49. Taxes not collected and wasted on a convention center could give business tax breaks.
50. Money not wasted on a convention center could allow for tax cuts for all in the county.
51. A government run convention center is unfair competition to local convention sites.
52. A government run convention center must not make a profit.
53. A government run convention center will stay in business if it performs poorly.
54. A government run convention center takes taxes from others for its operation.
55. A government run convention center takes business from privately operated ones.
56. A government run convention center is not under the same rules governing private ones.
57. A government run convention center must not pay many taxes.
58. A government run convention center must not pay many fees.
59. A government run convention center can rely on subsidies to make ends meet.
60. A government run convention center is a drain on the economy.
61. The tax burden created by the convention center will harm the economy.
62. The convention center will cause economic decay.
63. The unfair competition advantage will force other companies to close or downsize.
64. Closures and downsizing will reduce the business use of local products and services.
65. Increases unemployment as businesses closing or downsizing will occur.
66. This will reduce the ability of local workers to spend money in the local economy.
67. Money will be removed from the economy instead of infused in to the economy.
68. The market share of the convention profits will shrink.
69. Market diversity in hosting conventions will be diminished.
70. The quality convention hosting will be diminished.
71. Fewer groups will consider the local market for their conventions.
72. Construction jobs created will only be temporary.
73. Service jobs created will be low wage jobs.
74. Increased demands for low wage jobs will make these jobs harder to fill.
75. Jobs created will have little opportunity for advancement.
76. Jobs created will leave people economically disadvantaged.
77. Increased competition to host conventions will force business to cut wages paid.
78. To cut costs competitors will seek less expensive products and services from abroad.
79. Better paying jobs would be created if private business was encouraged.
80. The new convention center will waste valuable resources.
81. The new convention center will be inefficiently used, like the current one is.
82. Problems of the current convention center will not be overcome in the new one.
83. Use of the new convention center will be inefficient.
84. Operations of the new convention center will be inefficient.
85. Privately run convention sites can better meet market needs.
86. Privately run convention centers have the profit motive to ensure they do a good job.
87. Private ownership increases efficiency.
88. Private ownership increase quality of services.
89. Private ownership is proven to work.
90. The tax costs of building a new convention center are too high.
91. The tax costs of maintaining a new convention center are too high.
92. The costs to the tax payers are too high.
93. The costs to local economy are too high.
94. The costs to the job market are too high.
95. The costs to local businesses are too high.
96. The costs to the hospitality industry are too high.
97. The cost of unused convention space is too high.
98. The cost of lost revenue is too high.
99. The cost of property lost to eminent domain is too high.
100. The cost to our freedom is too high.
101. Do we really need a three-quarter billion dollar boondoggle added to our already bloated budget
