What's a city without a professional sports franchise? While most metropolitan areas around America would swear that having a sports franchise is one of the cogs that keeps a local economy rolling, Seattle thinks otherwise. Emerald City voters
overwhelmingly voted earlier this month for a ballot measure ending public subsidies for professional sports teams. In response, the Seattle Supersonics says it will move out of Key Arena in 2010 when its contract expires. The Sonics reportedly will most likely move to a Seattle suburb or Oklahoma City. Seattle joins a number of cities such as Sacramento who have said no to public subsidies for professional sports teams for their stadiums. The reality is that city government budgets around the nation are stretched beyond their means. Better schools, affordable health care and affordable housing seem to be bigger priorities then a playground for millionaires to play basketball. Even the financial capital of the world — New York City — couldn't find the money to build a new stadium for its New York Jets in Manhattan last year. The fact is governments are slowly realizing the payoff of a new stadium may only be nominal. There are so many other pressing problems in our urban areas that a new stadium is hardly the solution ... —
Gerald Magpily
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