In a state that’s about equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, with a recent history of political gridlock, when was the last time 80 percent of our community did anything together?
Last week, more than 80 percent of our television viewing market tuned in to watch the Minnesota Vikings beat the Dallas Cowboys. Three coworkers of mine, who are not sports fans, watched at least part of that game. I’m guessing that last night’s market share was even higher, as once again, the Vikings lost a big game at night. We’ll revel in rehashing the game for months, agonizing over the turnovers and chastising the bad calls by the refs. But, next August, we’ll be right back cheering on our men in purple. In April, we’ll watch as the Twins take the field in a beautiful new outdoor park, built just for them. The Vikings are stepping up the demands for a new stadium. At a time when there is so much unmet need, how can a community justify helping fund a new stadium?
Sports; the arts; the environment. These three things bring Minnesotans together, again and again. Yes, times are tough. We face an upcoming legislative session where none of the answers will be easy and in which we have many gaps to fill for our poorest citizens. So, why fiddle while Rome burns? Why even start a discussion about funding a new Viking stadium.
Because life is short and a community needs to play, just as much as we need to live, work and learn. Especially during tough times, we need the chance to pull together. And sports teams give us a reason to pull together.
I work for a nonprofit organization — Courage Center — which includes the words live, work, learn and play in its vision statement. For people with disabilities, play often is the thing that helps transcend physical challenges. The joy of competition, of being part of a team, of winning and losing, combine to make life larger and more fulfilling. Watching professional sports can bring a community together: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party — to cheer on our local teams.
Not everyone watches sports, but we do benefit from being a community that values the arts, entertainment and sports. When a new business contemplates where to build its headquarters, when families research communities they’d like to move to, there are many factors to consider: the business environment, the educational level of the workforce, the public schools, crime and housing. But, all those being equal, the intangibles can make the difference. Theater, music, art galleries, restaurants, and yes, professional sports, make a difference.
To the Minnesota Vikings leadership, I encourage you to use the example of the Minnesota Twins as you negotiate a new stadium deal. The Twins engaged the community to build a field that is a new standard for accessibility for people with disabilities. And, the tax that many people grumbled about has a community benefit: beginning Feb. 8, the Minneapolis Central Library will open its doors again on Mondays, for the first time since December 2006.
There is a way to work together, to find a win-win solution for the Vikings and the community. We just need to figure it out. Whether or not Brett Favre plays another year, the Vikings are a part of our community. Let’s not diminish the important role that people at play brings to a well-rounded community life.
This is turning into a wonderful, civil discussion. Thanks everyone for your great comments.
Kathy, I totally agree with your points about the gaps in our community. That’s what makes this discussion so challenging. I work at Courage Center, a nonprofit whose mission is to serve people with disabilities, a high percentage of whom are unemployed and who live in poverty. So, yes, it does seem a bit like “fiddling while Rome burns.”
And Chad, what got me thinking about this topic was the community of New Orleans and their absolute love of the Saints. That area is still devastated five years after Katrina and needs so much more help on many levels. I remember that in the aftermath of Katrina, the Saints weren’t able to play in the Superdome for awhile. There were discussions about whether or not to even repair the Superdome or should the Saints should move from New Orleans.
But the community loves their Saints, so resources were devoted to repairing the Dome and now, the Saints are something to be proud of for a town that needs a lift. My hope is that by the Saints being in the Superbowl, people across the country will realize we’ve seriously dropped the ball with relief efforts right in our own backyard. I can hope that happens.
My hope is that we can make this a win-win, and not an either-or discussion. Target Field did provide construction jobs in a year that was horrible for that industry. And, the reality is, across the nation, that communities do support their teams. This community has lost two professional teams: the Lakers and the Northstars. Eventually, the professional teams came back. That’s the reality of professional sports. So, how can we leverage the inevitable to create a win and fill a few gaps?
Sue,
You’re a great blogger: last month, you wrote about the lost art of disagreement, and this month you have sparked a spirited but civil debate.
For my part, I have never shared, nor fully understood, the passion we feel for local professional sports teams. It’s impossible to deny that the passion exists, but I guess I’m missing that gene. What makes the Vikings “Us,” and the Saints “Them?” The players move around, as when Bret Favre transformed from an ARCH”Them” to “Us.” Teams often threaten to move, and sometimes do, unless their commercial needs are met. How often are these athletes the exemplary members of the community or role models for our kids that we want them to be?
I know that I am starkly in the minority here, but if, as you point out, 80% of television viewers partook of that game, and revenues from all sources richly reflect that enthusiasm, why would they need public subsidies? Why would we choose to subsidize something that is so well positioned to benefit from the free market?
I enjoyed your article and respect your perspective, but I don’t want to buy a new stadium. However, we are in violent agreement on one point: The public must insist that any new venue reflect – and where possible, advance – the state of the art in access for people with disabilities!
While I agree with your comments that a community needs to play and sporting events are a great way to do so, however, using tax payer dollars to fund a new Vikings stadium is a bad business decision and a very inappropriate use of tax payer money.
I also work for a non-profit and Minnesota is in tough financial shape. 31,000 of the sickest people in our state are losing their health care. Minnesota has aging infrastructure, including schools and bridges, which needs attention. And, on top of that, we are facing a multibillion-dollar budget deficit.
As the Pionner Press reported recently, the cost to taxpayers to retire the debt for a new stadium could be $50 million annually. For this price, Wilf would build a 65,000-seat stadium. Taxpayers to subsidize each of the 65,000 seats at every Vikings home game to the tune of $77 per ticket. That is $77 in taxpayer money for each ticket, at every game, including preseason ones, for decades to come!
A centrist economist, Art Rolnick of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve has talked openly about the bad investment tax payers will make if we fund a stadium and is very clear on what a better return on investment would be. He explained what occurs: “The leagues of all major sports blatantly aid and abet team owners in extorting public funds for new facilities under the threat of moving.” Wilf obviously, if he can get a massive taxpayer subsidy to enhance his profits, he will take it. According to Rolnick, about a third of the 75,000 babies born every year in Minnesota go home with parents who live at or near the official federal poverty level, especially among immigrants and nonwhite neighborhoods. Three years later, about half aren’t where they should be on tests for cognitive development. At the far end of the education pipeline, only about half our young adults have some sort of higher-education credential — increasingly a prerequisite for making a decent living and contributing to a strong economy — by age 25. Rolnick points to studies showing a return on investment of 7 percent to 16 percent a year from top-quality early childhood learning programs for
at-risk kids. Those returns accrue in the form of increased individual earnings later in life, more taxes paid, job growth at companies strengthened by a superior workforce, and reduced spending on remedial education, welfare and prisons. He also points frequently to recent free-market failures and dismal returns on Wall Street. The subsidy’s of sports stadiums do not pay for themselves and only serve to enrich the owners, who do not need the tax payer support while our low-income and homeless children do. Investments in education have created our competitive workforce, corporate innovation, increased jobs and a great quality of life. Investing in education is what made Minnesota great, let’s get back to that.
Michael: Until they remove Minnesota from their team names and jerseys, I see our franchises as decidedly different than any other business that has hung a shingle in town. Sue’s blog highlights what I would contend is different about sports—it’s a common good. Sure, you need to own a radio, buy a newspaper or have access to a television to enjoy some of these common goods, but it is a vital part of what makes a community a community.
I’m not sure if your comments about Northwest were meant to be sarcastic, however, from what I understand the State of Minnesota did make an enormous investment in NWA around the time the Twins won their second World Series (1991). The $750,000,000 loan to ensure employment and air access to Duluth hasn’t exactly garnered a record-setting TV audience.
http://www.leg.mn/docs/2005/other/050657.pdf
I see the sports teams very differently. They are a business, the entertainment business, but like any other business tax payers should not foot the bill for them (don’t get me started on the bail outs). The team owners make millions off these businesses yet claim poverty every time they need a building. What do you think the tax payers would have said if Northwest had asked us for a few hundred million dollars and in return they won’t sell to Delta for a few years.
We do provide some incentives for business to grow, delaying real estate taxes, help with zoning, most of these deals postpone the income stream to the municipality but don’t actually take money form the taxpayer. But somehow only the sports team have found a way to get lawmakers to tax the citizens to build them a place to conduct their business. In return we then get the privilege of paying ticket prices to watch a team in a building we are financing.
I would suggest we return sports team to the privately funded businesses they are based on the incorporation status.
Chad –
I agree. Both the Vikings and Twins are truly regional teams, so if any Viking stadium proposal should spread any financial burden (and benefits) statewide.
The key is to distribute the cost of the stadium equally across the 9 county metro area and to greater Minnesota. We downtown Minneapolis residents always end up shouldering a disproportionate amount of the cost because of the entertainment taxes levied and county taxes too. These community assets are state assets too.