Surprise: R-Braves’ new stadium in Gwinnett County, GA, to cost 50% more than expected
New stadiums don’t come cheaply, and apparently they’re even more expensive than expected for the R-Braves’ new home in Gwinnett County, GA. The stadium was to be built for $40 MM, which government officials claimed would pay for itself through ticket sales (the numbers didn’t add up there, either). However, now the County will foot the bill for an additional $19 MM, bringing the total to $59 MM.
This is another reminder why saying good-riddance to the Braves is actually a good thing. Gwinnett County is in dire financial straits at this point, implementing a hiring freeze and has emptied its rainy-day fund to pay for the stadium. More financial setbacks could trigger a tax increase. Can you imagine if Wilder & Pantele were handling the finances of the stadium construction project?
source: Sabernomics
photo by: haaaley
Has a city ever fronted the money for a stadium that didn’t turn into a white elephant? Not trying to be snide – I’m just curious.
I just feel that if the City Name Sports Team want a place to play, then City Name Sports Team needs to pay for it. I know stadiums end up being used for other purposes, but this shit just never seems to work out.
I agree.
If Professional Sports is big business and there is serious money to be made why can’t the sports team pay for their own infrastructure? I’d love to see another team land here but I don’t want any of my tax money to be used as a lure.
“why can’t the sports team pay for their own infrastructure?”
I’m pretty sure that’s what the Braves in Richmond tried to do:
http://www.richmond.com/news-features/5109
“On Thursday morning, a press conference led by R-Braves General Manager Bruce Baldwin confirmed those reports. The R-Braves, along with the Washington D.C.-based commercial development firm Global Equity Partners plan to develop a 1.5 million square-foot mixed use project in Shockoe Bottom, and renovate the existing Diamond into an amateur ‘sportsplex’, all without asking the City of Richmond, or the surrounding counties, for a dime.”
Worst case scenario – we (Richmond), spend $0.01 to attract a AA (or less) team.
Don’t put that past Wilder/Pantele.
Or you can go to the extreme that Alexandria did when the late Jack Kent Cooker wanted to build (at his cost as he did with RalJon later) and Alex in their wisdom said no because they didn’t want the congestion, etc. (for a 12 or so game a year season) and instead developed the land into a strip type mall with Target, and other pet,office supply and similar type national stores and fast food chains. No congestion 12 or so times a year, just evry day of the week.
NO TAX MONEY for ANY professional sport not owned by the taxing body. (And iffy even then).