April 05, 2005
Stadium news from all over
Nothing major to report the last few days, but a few tidbits of note:
- The latest incarnation of an Indianapolis Colts stadium bill looks to be moving ahead, gaining unanimous approval from the state senate's tax and fiscal policy committee yesterday. (It no doubt didn't hurt that the committee chair is the bill's main sponsor.) The proposal would fund the $900 million project, which includes an expanded convention center, mostly with new restaurant and hotel taxes and a diversion of existing taxes, though a small share (less than 5%) would also be raised by a surcharge on tickets - something most economists agree ultimately comes out of the pockets of team owners.
- Sacramento political leaders may still be trying to concoct an arena-funding plan for the Kings, but their constituents aren't nearly so enthused. A new poll found that only 33% of local residents think the team needs a new arena, and 51% think one should be built with private money. (It's unclear if this is 51% includes those who don't want an arena built at all.) Sacramento Bee headline writers called this "tepid arena support"; the pollster who directed the survey put it another way: "The public is saying the Kings don't need a new arena - that message was clear and loud."
- After a disappointing second-place finish in their first season in Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Phillies have seen season-ticket sales drop by 5,000 this year, and are expecting their first below-30,000 crowds this week. "The novelty of a new park loses its luster pretty quickly. It's not a new park anymore," remarked Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf. Added shortstop Jimmy Rollins: "It doesn't matter where we're playing as long as we're winning. They came to [Veterans Stadium] in September 2001 when we were in [the playoff race] until the end, and you know what The Vet was like." Oh, well - at least the public's $231 million bought it some snazzier cheesesteak stands.
- I know my fans love the soccer news, so here's the latest on the Rochester Rhinos A-league team. (That's the top U.S. minor league for soccer. For all I know, the only U.S. minor league for soccer.) The Rhinos management, which has already gotten $15 million in state funds for its new stadium, is asking for another $9 million "to help build luxury boxes, improve lighting and build permanent press boxes and locker rooms." A local religious and business coalition is outraged, saying if the state wants to help Rochester, it should help clean up decaying neighborhoods, not fund soccer stadiums.
The Rochester Raging Rhinos stadium has been a debacle since the start. I've been meaning to find out if all of these years of pseudo-construction of "Pae-Tec" park are part of the naming right deal, or if Pae-Tec gets an extension.
To answer your question, the United Soccer Leagues rebranded the "A-League" the "USL Division 1". There are, in fact, three levels of minor league soccer, but the lowest is really the soccer equivalent of baseball's summer college wood bat leagues and not a pro league.
After the fate of Ken Horowitz (George Soros's buddy) who lost an estimated $50M of his $60M fortune on MLS's late Miami Fusion (1998-2001), it is almost laughable that some people still cling to the notion that Rochester, with a stadium in place, will be promoted to Major League Soccer. While the Jets are in the billion plus range, all of these wasted years in Rochester have been over whether the stadium will cost $15 or $25 million. DuRoss just doesn't have the money to play in MLS - or the stadium would've been built three years ago. And as your article points out, Pae-Tec park has become a "you can pay me later" kind of deal.
Posted by A. Mead on April 14, 2005 08:49 AM