Why is nobody asking the owner to pay for these upgrades? Why are the local media not outright demanding, if not just asking, this basic question? Sports owners have simply gotten used to receiving every dollar of revenue and paying almost nothing for expenses. The owners of one minor league team admitted in a lawsuit that the city they played in had “an unlimited obligation to cover the cost of the stadium”. That is how…
In late 2018, David Tepper bought the Carolina Panthers. His first big project was to build a brand new team headquarters and training camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The $800 million deal was announced in 2019 and gave the team an absurd amount of tax credits and property tax savings. As ESPN put it, South Carolina leaders “cheered the investment, offering incentives and relishing getting a piece of the NFL team”. After construction of…
Last week, it was announced that Spartanburg, South Carolina would be getting a minor league baseball team. The ballpark is reportedly part of a $250 million dollar project to develop property in the city's downtown district. According to one city council member, the ballpark will “set off an explosion of development” and bring an “economic boom” to the city.
South Carolina House member John Ray Bradford stated that by keeping certain hospitality taxes in place until 2060, people should be happy because they are “not increasing any taxes”. Except, without this extension, locals would have paid less at hotels, bars, restaurants, etc… in the future. He also claimed that the city would have more confidence going to banks with more taxpayer money? Or something. My confidence is always sky-high whenever I see my “local…
