Public funding of sports venues

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The public funding of sports venues has been controversial. The public funds that have gone, or have been proposed to go to the construction and maintenance of some buildings have been argued by some to be better spent on other causes. In the some cases, the majority of funds used in the construction of a sports venue have been supplied by the public sector, such as for Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This stadium cost $400 million USD to build, $310 million USD of which were public funds.

[edit] List of sports venues whose construction costs were paid in majority with public funds


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In the case of Miller Park, the State Legislature imposed taxes to support Miller Park on five counties surrounding Milwaukee county. The State law was passed over the objections of the local five county citizenry in a tie breaker vote that went into the night. The vote went through to impose the tax after an unusual third tie breaker "procedural" vote when a State Senator named Petak broke the tie and voted with the Brewers.

There was no out of pocket cost to build the stadium emanating from the Brewers. Money coming "from the Brewers" was only relayed out of the money coffer supply of the city of Milwaukee and other outside sources such as revenue gained from naming rights. Lastly all Parking infrastructure and 36% of the ownership was given to the Brewers. It is well known that the $400,000,000.00 dollar stadium cost to taxpayers will be closer to half a billion dollars by the time this "bad" deal for the taxpayers is completed.

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