If a sports venue is built with public funds, such funds must be tied to affordable seating throughout the venue and other benefits to the public. It’s not enough for local governments to commit to subsidize mammoth stadiums for billionaires in the name of gentrification. The bottom line is that low-income taxpayers will not only lack the ability to purchase tickets to the new stadium, but they will also lack the purchasing power at the concession stand, the parking lot, and all the plush new businesses encircling the newly constructed building. With tax-free stadiums, billionaire franchise owners often don’t lose a penny on the deal in the first year. The public pays to further enrich the wealthy, and when the going gets tough, the franchise moves to a new city. No longer will we be held hostage by sports franchises to build new stadiums on our own dime. Join the Coalition to create a more organized effort to fight back.

Read more on our Agenda page: http://www.sportsfanscoalition.org/agenda/#venue