Who covers parade Expenses?

[A.E]

Call me crazy but I was totally unaware that the league & franchises actually front none of the cost required to have a Championship parade.

City officials question expense of Lakers parade

What's more important: jobs or a Lakers' party?

That's the dilemma facing Los Angeles City Hall officials, who could be laying off municipal workers or forcing them to take unpaid leave in order to save money for the city as part of a budget crunch.

So what happens to a victory parade if the Lakers win the NBA finals?

"We can't afford to cover the costs," Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. "How could we make a decision about people's jobs and then sponsor the parade?"

In fact, Perry wondered if the Lakers or NBA should be responsible for the estimated $1 million cost of a team celebration. The last Lakers parade, in 2002, cost the city $1.1 million, including police, traffic officers and cleanup.

And Perry isn't the only one questioning the cost of a parade. Barbara Maynard, spokeswoman for the Coalition of L.A. City Unions, also thinks spending money on a party isn't appropriate in this tough economic climate.

"City employees have been asked by their employers to take a massive pay cut," she told the Times. "And we do not believe it is appropriate in this economic climate for taxpayers to be funding a parade."

If the Lakers & the NBA sit back and just watch the city absorb all the cost for a parade, then my tension towards the NBA will continue to mount. We will see and just remember: "The NBA, where caring happens."

 

[dez]

No way can the Lakers sit back and let the city cover it when jobs are on the line.

 

[jarrod2323]

especially, since the Lakers get a bonus for winning the championship

 

[Pugz]

No way can the Lakers sit back and let the city cover it when jobs are on the line.

Exactly, and if the NBA and David Stern let this fly.. I'll be one pissed fan.

 

[dez]

I just heard on FOX News that the city and the Lakers will split the bill, which is like 2 million.

Idk if thats each or all together, but hopefully noone will lose their jobs.

 

[J9]

Wow i always the the NBA payed for this stuff. Thats pretty sad.

 

[A.E]

Private donors to foot bill for $1M Lakers parade

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday defended the decision to stage a victory parade for the NBA champion Lakers, saying it's important to celebrate even at a time of high unemployment and home foreclosures.

Villaraigosa said that some of the city's wealthiest power brokers have kicked in $850,000 of nearly $1 million in city costs for Wednesday's parade and rally. The Lakers and AEG, which owns Staples Center, are paying for another $1 million in production costs.

"We intend to do everything we can to minimize the cost to the city," the mayor said at a news conference on the Lakers' practice court in El Segundo. "If we hadn't had a parade, you've have had a whole bevy of other people criticizing."

Villaraigosa identified the private donors as Casey and Laura Wasserman, Jerry and Margie Perenchio, Haim and Cheryl Saban, Eli and Edythe Broad, Joe and Sharon Hernandez of Melissa's Fruits and Vegetables, Ed and Gayle Roski and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in Highland, Calif.

 

[elcheato]

I don't understand why the team couldn't pay for the entire thing, everyone on that roster makes over one million dollars besides for maybe Mbenga.

 

[Pugz]

Sun Yue doesn't either.. and that kid owns!

 

[cruzg24]

This is pretty embarassing for the Lakers organization...... I have never heard of this before, it must be a precedent.

 

[A.E]

I don't understand why the team couldn't pay for the entire thing, everyone on that roster makes over one million dollars besides for maybe Mbenga.

Hell, Mebenga will probably have to pay in order to attend the parade.