Posted by Dave on 09/10/08 at 11:31:08 am
Categories: Sports Ravings

The Florida Marlins are attempting to have their franchise subsidized by the State of Florida via tax revenue for a new stadium.

The Florida Marlins have, BY FAR, the lowest payroll in Major League Baseball. They receive significantly more money form Major League Baseball in the form of revenue sharing, allowing the Marlins' ownership to pocket millions and millions of dollars. Revenue sharing is designed so that small market teams can compete with large market teams, supposedly making it so small market teams can still afford to field a competitive team even though they may have less revenue. Unfortunately, as we see very clearly with the Florida Marlins, this idea is failing, with the Marlins pocketing millions rather than spend the money to field a better team. Thought, to be fair, the Marlins have still been quite competitive even with their low payroll.

Yet somehow the team has convinced State politicians to fork over some corporate welfare subsidies so that the team can make even more money while not being required to spend anything. A new stadium should provide (as it historically does) a boost in attendance, and in turn revenue, for the Marlins.

And what do the Florida residents get out of this? They get a new stadium that many will not be able to afford to attend. And they get a large chuck of tax revenue diverted from important programs like health care, childcare, education, and more in order to line the pockets of professional sports owners.

And people say sports are not political.

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