January 26, 2005
Promises, promises
I've written before of the hazards of throwing stadium money at sports leagues with uncertain futures, like minor-league baseball or pro soccer. (You might include the NHL these days as well.) Apparently someone at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority thinks the same way, because the state agency now says it wants a guarantee that if it builds an $84 million stadium for the MetroStars, taxpayers won't be on the hook for the cost if the team or the league folds. MLS officials insist they're not going anywhere, but are also refusing to agree to the clause. New Jersey would be right to play hardball here - as Anaheim has learned, promises aren't worth a thing if they're not written down.
With all the other cities and munincipalities debating new MLS stadium, NJ is the only state to question whether MLS will fold or not. I bet it's a personal grudge between NJ and Phill Anschultz over the Qwest debacle.
Posted by Bertell Ollman on January 26, 2005 10:50 PM
this harrison stadium thing is getting way out of hand. if i was phil anschultz i would just put up the entire 70 million and get it over with. its not like he cant do it. with bridgeview footing almost the entire bill for the chicago fire stadium, aeg definatly has saved a lot of money. why not spend that money on the metrostars and get them a stadium. the longer this goes on, the more the metrostars loose, the more mls looses. if they want us to be a stable league, build the metrostars a stadium so our league doesnt loose millions on them every year.
Posted by samir on January 27, 2005 12:16 AM