Interesting NYT analysis of publicly-funded professional sports stadiums:
Years after a wave of construction brought publicly financed stadiums costing billions of dollars to cities across the country, taxpayers are once again being asked to reach into their pockets.
Years after a wave of construction brought publicly financed stadiums costing billions of dollars to cities across the country, taxpayers are once again being asked to reach into their pockets.
The article focuses on Cincinnati, where public officials assured taxpayers that both Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ballpark would make the riverfront a destination. I was in Cincinnati last summer for a Reds game and —trust me —they still have a lot of work to do.
In the meantime, sales tax revenue has fallen, leaving a huge gap that will further burden taxpayers. I can’t help but think that taxpayers in Winston-Salem —- with its new publicly-funded downtown stadium —– and Greensboro, with its new publicly-funded aquatic center, will be asked to reach into their pockets time and again. Heaven help us if the G’boro council signs off on the proposed publicly-funded downtown hotel.
