Phoenix-area cities lose millions operating stadiums but say it's worth it (Glendale: rental car, sales)

[phoenixmike11]

Cactus League costs: Phoenix-area cities lose millions operating stadiums but say it's worth it

8 of 9 cities in the Valley lose money on spring training baseball stadiums- interesting and revealing report

[Ponderosa]

They have been doing fuzzy math on these sports projects for decades. Every time something is proposed we hear how much it is going to mean for our city and region. If we got all the returns we have been promised, we would likely not have property taxes and the cities would be sending us checks! Having said that, the parks are a community resource. I know our Goodyear park sees plenty of events that make it more like a community than the bunch of anonymous housing tracts it would otherwise be.

[youthinkso]

Glendale hasn't been doing to bad.

Time to charge the teams larger fees so the cities can break even.

[AlohaAZ]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Having said that, the parks are a community resource. I know our Goodyear park sees plenty of events that make it more like a community than the bunch of anonymous housing tracts it would otherwise be.

That's a good point. I think a lot of people believe that these parks are only used for 6 weeks out of the year. Many of them get used throughout the year for different community events and festivals. Also, the majority of them are year-round facilities for the teams when it comes medical rehab, rookie ball, and Arizona Fall League.

[PhinsFan1]

We went to a game this weekend and almost everyone sitting around us was from out of town. They had flown in for the weekend, so they were spending money on air fare, hotels, rental cars, food, etc. A few days prior, we were at a different stadium and had a similar experience.

Perhaps the parks aren't big earnings generators for the various cities. But they do draw people from other states who spend money at our restaurants, buy over priced beers at the ball parks, and experience the great weather we have in March and consider moving here b/c, what's not to love about AZ in March??? (An out-of-towner said that to me at one of the games).

PHX isn't necessarily a hub of entertainment, and being one of only two states in the country to host spring training games is a huge plus in my book.

[ibarrio]

when the tax revenue generated is added up Im sure all the cities make money. So the actual loss the stadium creates is taken away.

[PoppySead]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...dget-cuts.html

Eh, evens out. We just take the money from elsewhere to fund the loss from spring training.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...dget-cuts.html

[goolsbyjazz]

I read the story and wondered why the cities continued to operate the camps?

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by PhinsFan1

We went to a game this weekend and almost everyone sitting around us was from out of town...

Perhaps the parks aren't big earnings generators for the various cities. But they do draw people from other states who spend money at our restaurants, buy over priced beers at the ball parks, and experience the great weather we have in March and consider moving here b/c, what's not to love about AZ in March??? .

True. But I avoid buying big ticket items in my town of Surprise because of the stadium sales tax. It's out of control to charge close to 10% sales tax. So while the restaurants are swamped in March, local people buy mail order all year long to dodge the tax. In summary, the other local businesses are also being hurt because of the stadium tax. I'd think twice about putting in a retail business that sells big ticket items. You would become the 'free" showroom for Amazon purchasers.

[ibarrio]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

True. But I avoid buying big ticket items in my town of Surprise because of the stadium sales tax. It's out of control to charge close to 10% sales tax. So while the restaurants are swamped in March, local people buy mail order all year long to dodge the tax. In summary, the other local businesses are also being hurt because of the stadium tax. I'd think twice about putting in a retail business that sells big ticket items. You would become the 'free" showroom for Amazon purchasers.

Amazon now collects an Arizona sales tax. Amazon Will Start Collecting Arizona Sales Tax in February - Phoenix - News - Valley Fever