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Stadium Woes

The Sonics are going hat in hand to any elected body that will listen, hoping to get a new bailout stadium renovation. Curiously, the team is also asking for control of revenue received during non-Sonics events, which is quite simply insane. As the Stranger article points out, the lifespans of stadiums are getting shorter and shorter for no good reason; after all, are the lifespans of cars and other buildings are getting longer, so why can't we build stadiums that last longer too? Until the Sonics demonstrate a willingness to be a financial partner in any sort of renovation, there's no reason to negotiate.

I tend to be bearish on taxpayer-subsidized sports stadiums. They can be helpful if done properly, as part of a real urban redevelopment project. But too often the stadium deal is a standalone construction project, resulting in a windfall only for the sports team and a handful of bar & restaurant owners. In the Sonics' case, Key Arena is already part of the massive civic complex that is Seattle Center, so it's not really part of a "neighborhood" that can be redeveloped. Stadium deals tend to be a wash financially, so benefits are limited to the increase in civic pride and leisure in the city. That's important, but there's no reason to give away millions of dollars to get it.

Update: Via Belltowner, County Exec' Ron Sims suggests we think outside the box..

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Last updated by Nicholas Beaudrot on 07:46 23 February 2006