April 06, 2005
Send money or this team will shoot us
Our pals at the Indianapolis Star (Editorial Writers Division) have nominated themselves for this year's Dumbest Reasons to Build a Stadium list. To wit:
If you think pro sports are a low priority and a taxpayer-financed stadium a waste of community resources, you won't like the Colts stadium deal. But if you appreciate the benefits of major league sports and want Indiana to keep Peyton Manning in town, the plan before the legislature is worth applauding. ...A stadium with retractable dome is projected to cost $625 million or more. Add in another $300 million for convention center improvements and this looks relatively extravagant.But if you want pro sports in your state, there's no way out. In a monopoly situation, the business owner calls the shots and consumers subsidize the product because there's no competition. In a free market, it would be the other way around. The Indiana legislature can't change that. Only Congress can, and it's shown no inclination.
Yes, we're being blackmailed and our elected representatives don't see any reason to stop it! Now there's a reason to applaud.
Posted by Neil deMause
COMMENTS
His comments are disconcerting considering he is an adjunct scholar. Maybe a little nighttime sports economics reading would do him some good. Then again, if he opposed the stadium financing scheme, I have a strong feeling the Indianapolis Star would probably not publish his opinion. Just a wild guess.
Posted by George on April 7, 2005 12:26 AM
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