This article was originally published on December 6th, 2019.
Here is this week's dose of “5-Point Friday”. A weekly round-up of the sports news and stories that I find most interesting and enjoyable.
Article I am reading -
Claiming real Rangers fans can't vote for the SNP is treating bears like sheep by Adam Miller (@Oldfirmfacts1). Miller dipped into the topic of how soccer in Scotland has the ability to affect how supporters vote during an election. Focusing on how some sections within Rangers' fan base are shaming other fans who may wish to vote for the Scottish National Party, in the upcoming UK election, on December 12th.
eSports news I am excited for -
Denmark’s Astralis Group, which owns a top Counter-Strike: Global Offensive franchise, has confirmed it is going to become the first professional eSports organization to go public later this month. According to the company’s prospectus, Astralis plans to raise between 125 to 150 million kroner (US$18-22 million), with shares priced at 8.95 kroner (US$1.32) from their IPO on Nasdaq’s Copenhagen exchange from 9th December.
Soccer news I am learning about -
FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that he wants to create a United African Soccer League, as part of a new effort to take the sport in the continent to the “top of the world”.
“We have to take the 20 best African clubs and put them in an Africa league,” Infantino said. “Such a league could make at least US$200 million in revenue, which would put it among the top ten in the world.”
NHL news that concerns me -
Calgary city council has voted to raise taxes on homeowners so that they can continue to help subsidize the new $200 million-plus Flames' arena. This means the average homeowner will see a 7.51% tax hike, totaling about $150 in 2020. The cost of subsidizing sports venues isn’t just abstract dollar amounts, it has real effects on real people when the public cash is suddenly no longer available for other uses. There are many ways to define opportunity cost, but you can’t spend the same money twice is a reasonable shorthand.
Baseball news I am following -
In the same week that the Angels agreed to stay in Anaheim until 2050, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) confirmed that talks about the "shared city" concept with Montreal have ended. In a letter to the City Council, Kriseman said both parties have agreed to abide by the current deal that keeps the team at Tropicana Field until after the 2027 season.
"Should the Rays organization continue exploration of the shared season concept with Montreal, that exploration must be limited to the 2028 season and beyond," the letter said. "I continue to believe that the Rays Organization will come to determine that the Tampa Bay area, and specifically St. Pete, remains the best place to play baseball and to succeed in the long term," Kriseman said in the letter.
Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg responded to the letter, saying "We do not agree that this is the best path forward."
"We recognize that we must now consider our post-2027 options and all that entails, and we remain steadfast in our belief that the Sister City concept is deserving of serious consideration," he said.
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Jonathan
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