March 18, 2005

Fighting the evildoers

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. took to the rostrum yesterday to back a publicly funded stadium for Real Salt Lake with a barrage of rhetoric. "I'm here to encourage public-private partnerships," announced Huntsman, without saying exactly what public money he would spend, or how much. The governor also declared himself to be part of a "coalition of the willing" looking to work out a stadium deal, though, so maybe the stadium will be paid for by the kingdom of Tonga.

In its article on Huntsman's press conference, the Salt Lake Tribune passed along this curious nugget of information: "Major League Soccer requires its franchises to build soccer-specific stadiums because it says the venues enable teams to be profitable and they provide a better environment for players and fans." So without new stadiums, MLS teams can't be profitable? Does that mean that without public stadium funds, MLS teams can't turn a profit - so that the entire league owes its existence to taxpayer subsidies? Or that MLS teams could turn a profit even by paying for their own stadiums, but public subsidies enable them to turn bigger profits? The Tribune didn't say, but you're welcome to write to reporter Heather May and ask her yourself.