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Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

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Re: Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

#22
> The bottom line here is very simple: The cost of building and maintaining these facilities should be borne by the people who attend these events via their ticket purchases, and not the people of an entire state and/or metropolitan region, the vast majority of whom will never set foot inside these enormously costly structures.

We shouldn’t subsidize subways and rail transit for the exact same reason. Indeed, more people in any given metro region watch football than ride subways.

Re: Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

#24
post #7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would one propose to make it illegal for an elected government to finance construction of a public building? I mean, yeah, sports stadiums are wasteful. But how would you draft that such that it wouldn't eliminate libraries and museums? I mean, I agree with you in spirit but at the end of the day the whole point of a democratic government is that it's empowered to work to better our collective lives. And that has…

> But how would you draft that such that it wouldn't eliminate libraries and museums Maybe we should. These days, public libraries are little more than homeless shelters. I haven't been to one in at least 5 years for that reason, and printed books are largely irrelevant in today's world anyway. Museums could be operated by private non-profits and foundations. No need to have taxpayers directly finance their construct…

> public libraries are little more than homeless shelters

This was totally false at each of the five public libraries that I've visited over the last two years.

Re: Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

#25
post #22

> The bottom line here is very simple: The cost of building and maintaining these facilities should be borne by the people who attend these events via their ticket purchases, and not the people of an entire state and/or metropolitan region, the vast majority of whom will never set foot inside these enormously costly structures. We shouldn’t subsidize subways and rail transit for the exact same reason. Indeed, more pe…

I think that's different. While driving along the road in your car you're benefiting from the fact that someone else is on a train and not contributing to the traffic ahead of you. You are benefitting, if indirectly.

Re: Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

#26
post #3
post #2

Needs to be made illegal (not just stadiums) http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/on-leadership/col-eco... or at least not federally subsidized https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/134... https://www.goodjobsfirst.org/ is a good general resource on the issue.

How would one propose to make it illegal for an elected government to finance construction of a public building? I mean, yeah, sports stadiums are wasteful. But how would you draft that such that it wouldn't eliminate libraries and museums? I mean, I agree with you in spirit but at the end of the day the whole point of a democratic government is that it's empowered to work to better our collective lives. And that has…

>dumb-but-popular

Do you have a recent example of a new football stadium that had popular support among the constituent taxpayers? My memory can only recall ones opposed by the general public.

Re: Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

#27
post #3
post #2

Needs to be made illegal (not just stadiums) http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/on-leadership/col-eco... or at least not federally subsidized https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/134... https://www.goodjobsfirst.org/ is a good general resource on the issue.

How would one propose to make it illegal for an elected government to finance construction of a public building? I mean, yeah, sports stadiums are wasteful. But how would you draft that such that it wouldn't eliminate libraries and museums? I mean, I agree with you in spirit but at the end of the day the whole point of a democratic government is that it's empowered to work to better our collective lives. And that has…

I don’t think funding is the problem. It’s misappropriation and lack of oversight. I was involved in the construction of two stadiums and the money is unlimited during construction. Very wasteful.

Re: Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

#29
post #22

> The bottom line here is very simple: The cost of building and maintaining these facilities should be borne by the people who attend these events via their ticket purchases, and not the people of an entire state and/or metropolitan region, the vast majority of whom will never set foot inside these enormously costly structures. We shouldn’t subsidize subways and rail transit for the exact same reason. Indeed, more pe…

I’d bet that if we did the same for roads you would be very upset.

Re: Taxpayers Should Never Subsidize Stadiums

#30
post #22

> The bottom line here is very simple: The cost of building and maintaining these facilities should be borne by the people who attend these events via their ticket purchases, and not the people of an entire state and/or metropolitan region, the vast majority of whom will never set foot inside these enormously costly structures. We shouldn’t subsidize subways and rail transit for the exact same reason. Indeed, more pe…

Except, there are lots of reasons to subsidize subways, for example to encourage ridership which in effect can then decrease public roadway congestion. Thus, even the people who don't directly ride the subway still benefit. It also can reduce pollution as well has have local economic benefits. All of which benefits others, not just the riders.

Source: https://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/transitstats... which gets its data from the Federal Transit Administration.

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