Quote:
Originally Posted by ruchase
Clearly there is a benefit to the public from having a sports team. However, the question then should be how do we quantify this benefit?
To simply say that a community benefits is not enough. Particularly when the stadium is NOT considered public property. If these folks want a stadium built by the public, well and good. But in that scenario, the public should own the stadium and the team can lease it - even if it is a subsidized lease.
Any excess revenue generated from parking, concession stands etc, should be remitted back to the public coffers and not into the already deep pockets of these team owners, while ticket revenue goes to the team ownership.
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What has a sports team done for other cities that have had them? The Raiders, for example have moved a time or two. The Browns are another group that come to mind. See what the place was before and see what it is after. Like any business proposition, weigh the risks and benefits. I'm not saying it will work out but it could. It could also flop to the ground.
And should the team collapse or walk away, would you want to own a piece of something that has limited use? I wouldn't. It could, not will, could become like a house that has been foreclosed. Now the bank owns it and has to do things to it before it sells. Talk about making a bad situation worse. You might end up having to sell it for $1 just to get the monkey off your back. Do you want the city to be another Detroit where they sell a house for $1 just so it is off their things to manage list?
Would the city want to get involved with ever more things? What has their deep pockets or not got to do with anything? Perhaps the Packers are a fine example and be community owned. Form your own team and take all the risks and be rewarded sometimes.