I would not oppose building new stadium(s) if they REALLY were set up so
that no public financing was used. But I have not seen such a plan
yet. All the plans proposed hide subsidies from the public somewhere
inside them.
For example, the current Metrodome was funded in part by an extra
percent or two of sales tax applied to meals sold near the stadium. But
that was interpreted to mean any meals sold in the downtown area, and at
any time, not just when there was an event at the stadium. So for years,
all of the people who worked Monday-Friday in the downtown area paid extra
foe each days lunch to finance the stadium. Every plan I've seen continues
this fraud.
Every plan I've seen has (like Mr. Jacobsen did) included extra
taxes on hotel & motel rooms to fund a stadium. But the majority of hotel
dwellers are NOT here to attend a sports event. So we are taking money
from unconnected people to fund a stadium. And it applies to all
hotels/motels in Minneapolis, not just the downtown area. So when my aunt
brings my uncle to the Vet's hospital for treatment, and stays in one of
the motels near Hiawatha Ave & Crosstown, she pays extra to fund a
stadium? How is that fair?
And finally, if these stadium(s) are TRULY going to be built with no public
funding (only stadium-related revenues), then why get the government
involved at all. Just do it yourself!
Mr. Pohlad could raise the ticket prices a dollar or two himself,
and use that money to build a stadium. There is no need at all to get the
government involved as a middleman on this. (Unless, of course, there are
public funding subsidies hidden somewhere in your plan.)
Tim Bonham, Ward 12
> Is there an anti-professional sports mentality out there?
> I rarely attend games, though I don't mind that the professional
>sports brings nine figure money into the city every year, providing huge
>tax revenues and providing employment to thousands in hotels and
>restaurants etc. =20
> Both stadium constructions would be funded with bond issues and =
>the bonding can and would be set up so that only stadium revenues and =
>attendent tax revenues are used to retire the bonds, no property tax and =
>etc involved. . . .
> James E Jacobsen
> Whittier
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