The Charlotte Business Journal reports today on a new deal for NASCAR. In 2006 NASCAR gave Charlotte the great privilege of housing its Hall of Fame museum. Charlotte taxpayers get to fund the museum, a ballroom shared with the convention center, a parking deck and a $1 million light to illuminate the ribbon on the exterior of the building. The early ask for the Hall of Fame was for $13 million but council members approved $30 million today. All of this is paid for with public money with most from a 2 percent hotel tax and dedicated hospitality taxes. In exchange, the good folks at NASCAR promise to ?offer assistance promoting and designing the 150,000-square-foot tribute to stock-car racing.?
Never mind that Charlotte?s roads are among the most congested, it?s schools the most crowded and it?s crime rate the highest. After all, what should public money be used for if not NASCAR?
For more on convention centers, see Sanera’s great report on Raleigh’s here.
