Editorial: Subsidized attractions have history of failure

I get what you're saying but I'm not sure that's such a good comparison. It's true that the majority of taxpayers aren't going to use any given secondary and triaciary road but it's not like those roads are frivilous- they are serving residential areas and commercial areas with multiple businesses. Seems to me that a quiet little cul-de-sac that allows access to a half-dozen homes is a lot less superfluous than a major highway interchange that makes it easy for people to get to a stadium. People need places to live and ways to get there, while they don't need stadiums and ways to get there, especially when those stadiums house privately-held businesses that make a select few a small portion. In my eyes, it's a lot like the bridge to the one business- yeah, that business pays taxes and provides jobs and serves the community, but a new bridge is a lot of money to spend on something with such a narrow focus.

I'm not against local and state governments making moves to keep things like professional sports teams in the same place, but I don't think the taxpayers should have to pay for everything- maybe splitting the cost of a new interchange or a new train station 50/50 is a better idea, especially if that interchange or train station will help to solve a number of woes. But as for the government paying to build a new stadium? That's just wrong... unless the government is going to realize a huge chunk of the revenue that the venue generates, and even then I'm not convinced there is ever a break-even point. Stadiums are usually replaced long before they're paid off.

Impulsive, following is an excerpt of an editorial article that appeared in our local newspaper on July 17. I would suggest you contact the editor if you wish to make any corrections.

"Pennsylvania is not a huge state, but in the eyes of Gov. Ed Rendell, it must be very small indeed. Rendell’s Pennsylvania seems to consist of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the areas from which he received most of his votes. The Democratic governor, a former Philadelphia mayor, has made that abundantly clear from his actions during his administration, and the latest budget is no exception.

In the latest example, which occurred Sunday, a state Senate committee had to remove numerous projects from a bill earmarking part of the revenue from slot machines for economic development in Pennsylvania. Among the projects dropped was the proposed cargo airport for Luzerne and Schuylkill counties. By an amazing coincidence, of the three projects left in the bill, Pittsburgh has two — expansion of its airport and construction of a new ice hockey arena for the Penguins — and Philadelphia the third — expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center."

BTW, all the major league teams playing in all of the other stadiums and arenas across the state ponied up a share of the money too. Taxpayers were still left to come up with around 300 million each for the two in Philly and the two in Pittsburgh. Mario and Sidney are getting 225 million of taxpayer money for theirs. Just to make it clear, I wasn't in favor of taxpayer funding for the Phils, Eagles, Steelers or Pirates facilities either.

Maybe the Penguins do have the brightest future of any pro sports team in the state, but why does that mean that every Pennsylvanian has to pay their salaries? Oh right, the guys who don't make the team in Pgh will be sent down to Wilkes-Barre. I guess that's "trickle down" economics.

When the slots issue was being debated, there was no mention of proceeds being used for renovating convention centers or sports arenas. Every politician and casino shill in favor of slots said that the profits would be used for property tax relief. No tax relief in sight, but a billion that has yet to be made has already been pledged toward "economic development." And there hasn't been a single slot machine installed yet in Philly or Pittsburgh.

Have the supposed widespread economic benefits of publicly funded projects ever been proven-- even for popular projects like sports arenas? Is the guy selling popcorn at the Mellon Arena going to be making that much more money at the new arena?