Tax Payer funded Ball Parks

[Wisc Badger]

I thought that paying for a Baseball park with taxes is a bad idea and said so when Miller Park was being debated here in Wisconsin.

I still do not like the idea at all.

That being said did DC make a mistake agreeing to one?

And should other areas such as Miami or Minnesota agree to build playgrounds for rich ball players at the tax payers expense.

I would think that any self respecting Republican type would want market forces to decide stadium issues instead the quote heavy hand of government unquote.

What say you?

[rkc3]

1. It might make sense if the city or state ever realized a gain from it.

I don't think that has ever happened. It has made a few rich guys richer though. That's probably more important than getting some ROI from the park.

[madinmaryland]

2. Well, actually I think the republicans

believe that those less fortunate should subsidize the wealthy. Don't all city subsidize the stadiums so that the wealthy can enjoy the skyboxes and their drive in from the wealthy suburbs.

Thats the amurkin way! it also takes lot of hard werk and no self negotiations.

[KurtNYC]

3. My father petioned for their local stadium to be renamed "Taxpayers'

"Taxpayers' Arena" -- why should Enron put their name on a park paid for by citizens?

And notice how they will want to destroy the old park as soon as the new one is built.

[trotsky]

4. There's your mistake.

Today's Republicans are anything but "self-respecting."

It's all about cronyism and taking care of your rich contributors. In the same way, the people who preach about the wonders of the free market are among the first to run to the government to help bail them out.

[MindPilot]

5. we just went through this in San Diego

Petco Park met with a lot of opposition, and I agreed-especially since I'm not a baseball fan. But after having actually been to a game, I've changed my mind. (About the ball park--not baseball.)

The park is really a very well-designed and pleasing to look at structure. The bulders incorporated a historic building into the design; the fans and the players love it.

It has helped re-vitialize what was a run-down area of downtown. I've come to believe that stadiums and arenas, like roads and bridges do serve the public good and are therefore a legitimate function of government.

That being said however, there needs to be massive financial support from the professional sports organizations since they are the primary users.

On Edit: the NFL is currently holding the city hostage for a new football stadium with threats of moving the team, no more superbowl, etc, etc. I have no problem with the taxpayers kicking in, but the teams MUST be required to pay their "fair share".

[hijinx87]

6. this is probably the exception that proves the rule . . .

but a few years ago, there was a fairly controversial bond measure ($300 million, IIRC) in Brown County to refurbish Lambeau Field. It passed, although not comfortably, and the results have actually exceeded expectations.

having said that, Green Bay may well not be a very good example in this particular conversation.

[KitchenWitch]

7. Aren't the Packers

Owned by the community? Rather than one individual? I thought I had heard the Green Bay Packers sold shares of the team to people in the community, am I wrong?

[HuckleB]

10. Yes.

[mosin]

8. Taxpayer-funded ballparks

I strongly oppose taxpayer funding of ballparks, at least the way the lease agreements with professional teams have been structured in recent years. Cincinnati's stadium deal with the Bengals is offensively slanted in favor of the team. It's just another example of corporate welfare at taxpayers' expense.

[HuckleB]

9. DC's deal will never pay off.

That's why MLB waited and waited, so it would get more taxpayer handouts than it deserved. That said, MLB parks and NBA arenas do have some fair arguments for justifying some taxpayer subsidies, in terms of development of the community, jobs and influx of money. The NFL, with its paltry schedule, does not even come close to making a fair argument that justifies any taxpayer subsidies.