tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1021348172235346593.post7361480100637175897..comments2024-03-03T06:01:35.285-05:00Comments on Shadow of the Stadium: Trib Editorial Backs Florida Stadium-Ranking BillUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1021348172235346593.post-852526573700318632014-04-12T00:16:03.158-04:002014-04-12T00:16:03.158-04:00Oha, so we the people own the stadiums, but want t...Oha, so we the people own the stadiums, but want these owners foot the bill for them? Sounds like we're the crooks...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17525411555797614762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1021348172235346593.post-59935051616666755692014-04-09T08:40:09.284-04:002014-04-09T08:40:09.284-04:00James L. Rosica of the Tampa Tribune wrote a very ...James L. Rosica of the Tampa Tribune wrote a very informative article regarding this bill (HB7095/SB126) on 4/2/2014 http://tbo.com/news/politics/legislation-sets-up-process-to-allow-public-money-for-sports-stadiums-20140402/ entitled “"Legislation sets up 'process' to allow public money for sports stadiums.<br /><br />The list of criteria can be found in the draft house bill document<br />http://flhouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=PCB%20EAC%2014-02.DOCX&DocumentType=Proposed%20Committee%20Bills%20(PCBs)&Session=2014&CommitteeId=2706 <br /><br />I suggest that most of the criteria are subjective, not measurable, and therefore unenforceable. And if the project is capable of having a positive return on the state’s investment, why would any of these projects need state support at all? Why would the private entities applying want to share the profits with the government? So I do not see this as a good use of up to $12 million per year of taxpayers money.<br /><br />James points out in his article that the state already directs up to $2 million a year in sales-tax dollars to each of eight sports centers (up to $16 million per year total): Sun Life Stadium, Everbank Field, BB&T Center, American Airlines Arena, Amway Center, Tropicana Field, Raymond James Stadium, and the Forum.<br /><br />I think it is interesting to note that the net worth of the 8 owners of the sports franchises that use these venues range from a minimum of $500 million to a maximum of $7.2 billion as shown here.<br />Stadium City Team Owner Owner net worth<br />Sun Life Stadium Miami Miami Dolphins Stephen Ross $5.5 billion<br />EverBank Field Jacksonvile Jacksonville Jaguars Shahid Khan $4.3 billion<br />BB&T Center Sunrise Florida Panthers Vincent Viola $1 billion?<br />American Airlines Arena Miami Miami Heat Micky Arison $6.2 billion<br />Amway Center Orlando Orlando Magic Richard DeVos $7.2 billion<br /> Tropicana Field St. Petersburg Tampa Bay Rays Stu Sternberg $800 million?<br /> Raymond James Stadium Tampa Tampa Bay Buccaneers Glazer Family $4.6 billion<br /> Tampa Bay Times Forum Tampa Tampa Bay Lightning Jeff Vinik $500 million?<br />==============================================================================<br /><br />So instead of giving this money to billionaires, I suggest that these funds (up to $16 million) could be better spent on replacing broken down school buses, increasing the pay of special needs aides, reducing the cost of after school care for working parents, and other such 'mundane' needs.<br /><br />Or, how about this? Take that $16 million per year and add it to the Port of Tampa capital budget so that they can accelerate enhancements to the port to increase its container and automobile shipments that will create permanent (not temporary) high paying jobs. I’m sure the ports of Miami and Jacksonville could similarly benefit.<br />scott myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02612909222047091812noreply@blogger.com