January 25, 2012
Florida homeless-shelter bill wouldn't actually recoup stadium subsidies
Apparently there's a small problem with that bill to require Florida stadiums that received public funds to double as homeless shelters. As Stephen Nohlgren of the Tampa Bay Times reports, the original requirement was introduced in 1988 to win support for allowing sales-tax money to be kicked back to help pay for construction of the stadium that went on to become Tropicana Field, current home of the Rays — a subsidy scheme that's since been used by numerous other sports teams. The bill, proposed by state senator Michael Bennett, would require that stadiums immediately set up shelters on off days, or else refund all the cash they've received.
And the problem? Take it away, Nohlgren:
But in fact, only one stadium listed by legislative analysts — the Miami Dolphins' Sun Life Stadium — is owned by a team that received the sales tax exemption. The other 17 are owned by cities, counties or public sports authorities. Refunds would be borne by taxpayers.
The bill doesn't seem to have much chance of passage in its current form, regardless, though it's always possible it will lead to some debate on legislation that would actually affect the sports teams that Bennett is upset about subsidizing. I wouldn't hold your breath, though.
January 24, 2012
Florida bill would enforce law to use public stadiums as shelters
A pair of Florida state legislators have unearthed an old law requiring that state-funded sports facilities be used as homeless shelters on days when there's no event on, and is out to enforce it. "These organizations have failed to follow the law for over 20 years," declared state rep Frank Artiles, co-sponsor of legislation that would require teams that have received public cash to return it if they don't obey the law. "This is the simply the State of Florida holding them accountable."
While it's hard to picture the Miami Marlins, say, setting up cots around the Red Grooms home run sculpture, the bill is certainly getting media attention, and now has attracted an amendment to require publicly funded stadiums to ban TV blackouts of games. Which sounds like it has even less chance of being enforceable, but it's certainly interesting, to say the least, to see what options people come up with for demanding conditions in exchange for public funding. Of course, it would be easier if somebody had thought to demand them before actually opening the public's checkbook...
July 28, 2011
Orlando Magic gyms bleeding red ink, forcing service cuts
When team owners are looking for hundreds of millions of dollars in stadium or arena funds, they'll often offer to throw a few million dollars at some community improvement to help grease the skids. So it was with the Orlando Magic, which build five community gyms as part of its deal to get its new $480 million arena in 2007.
Only one problem, the Orlando Sentinel has discovered:
However, these new gyms are also going to cost taxpayers twice as much to run as the county originally estimated, a review of budget records shows. Instead of breaking even, the five facilities are expected to generate a $1.25 million annual deficit to operate, once user fees are balanced against staffing and other costs.
After-school and summer programs at other facilities would continue to be capped or shrink to offset most of the steeper operating costs at the Magic gyms.
"The community was told these were going to be a bonus and not take away anything," Commissioner Ted Edwards said. "The residents didn't get what they were promised."
Apparently one county commissioner, Tiffany Moore Russell, warned about this possibility back when the deal was first being discussed, but she was outvoted. She was not immediately available to the Sentinel, it seems, for "I told you sos."
March 15, 2010
Orlando arena subsidies to buy $2,100 chairs, bumper pool table
The Orlando Sentinel had some fun yesterday digging through the $480 million budget for the Magic's new Amway Center (not to be confused with their old Amway Arena — three guesses what company Magic owner Rich DeVos owns), and finding stuff that Orlando taxpayers will be helping to pay for. On the shopping list:
- A $10,000 conference table and eight $2,100 conference chairs for Magic executives.
- 264 barstools costing $892 each for luxury suite holders.
- A $2,100 poker-and-bumper-pool table, plus PlayStation 3 and Wii systems, for concert performers to play backstage before events. Writes the Sentinel, "According to city officials, that's needed to stay competitive with other venues vying for touring shows." What, no brown-free M&M dispenser?
- A $87,600 Zamboni, though the arena won't be home to a hockey team.
A spokesperson for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer defended the expenses, saying, "We are investing in making this a state-of-the-art facility, and it's important that we invest now so we don't have to replace these items in five years." (Note to Buddy: I'm pretty sure PlayStation 4 will be out by then.) Jim Martin, chair of the watchdog group CountyWatch, retorted: "That stuff needs to be scrutinized. The question is, can you justify it at this time? The next question is, could you ever have justified it?"
June 10, 2009
Headlines we didn't read today: "Magic arena forces arts cuts"
Hotel tax revenues in Orange County, Florida are expected to plummet by a record 18% this year, but don't worry about the new arena for your NBA Easten Conference Champion Orlando Magic, notes the Orlando Sentinel:
Despite the slump, the new arena for the Orlando Magic — already under construction just west of downtown — is safe, Orlando officials say. Bonds were sold for the $480 million project last year, and it is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010.
Of course, since the county is already locked into paying off the Magic arena bonds, that means the tax shortfall must be made up out of other projects. A planned Orlando performing arts center, as well as renovation of the Orange Citrus Bowl, could now be delayed or scrapped, while local theaters and museums are expected to lose up to half of their county grant money. What was that about a no-lose proposition again?