Tag: Debt Payments

Arena

Years later, Columbus taxpayers continue to be used and abused by the Blue Jackets

Just last year, the FCCFA spent $13.1 million in taxpayer money on arena projects such as a roof replacement, a cooling tower installation, a fire alarm system replacement and more. Yet if we come back to today, the FCCFA executive directory admits that recently released plans are “still being worked out” in negotiations that have involved the “team, its private partners and city, Franklin County and state officials”...just not the public. When asked by WOSU about…

William Neilson Jr.
Stadium

Rhode Island taxpayers are now paying off $130+ million in debt payments for their soccer stadium

When the new stadium was first announced in 2019, the state of Rhode Island would give $27 million to the developers for development of housing units around the stadium. The stadium developer claimed that the cost of the project would be just over $80 million. But after some time passed, the developers claimed that construction costs were too high and that the deal wouldn't work. The Governor cast a tiebreaker vote to allow the taxpayers'…

William Neilson Jr.
Ballpark

10 years ago, Biloxi, Mississippi built a new ballpark and promised economic home-runs

The ballpark was to be built for the Biloxi Shuckers, the Class AA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2015, the city spent $36 million to build a new ballpark. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant claimed the new ballpark “would be an economic development driver for the area”. A local foundation estimated that this new ballpark would result in “an additional $10 million annually in visitor spending”. As AL.com notes, the ballpark came with a “promise…

William Neilson Jr.