The suspense is over – NASCAR’s Hall of Fame is going to Charlotte.
Officials
announced today a deal that will bring the Hall of Fame to the sport’s
economic center at a cost to taxpayers of about $4 million for parking
spaces and a 2 percent increase in hotel taxes. The city will give the
land for the center to NASCAR for $1 per year.
My question is why
do taxpayers have to pay for this facility? Public money should never
be used to finance sports arenas or venues, regardless if it is a new
football stadium or a hall of fame for a sport that has a base in the
state. I’m not opposed, however, to user fees on the price of admission
to pay for the hall of fame. It would make those who will actually
visit the Hall of Fame – like myself – pay for the building.
