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June 20, 2008
NY lawmakers want cheap seats at publicly funded stadiums
AP via am New York
ALBANY, N.Y. - New York lawmakers want any pro sports team that builds a stadium with public funds to set aside a block of low-cost tickets.
Democrats in the Assembly majority say that any professional sports team - including the New York Yankees - that wants public financial backing for a stadium should have to set aside tickets at a price fans of moderate and low income could afford.
Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh of Manhattan says the teams have that responsibility if they take public financing.
The Yankees are seeking more public funding for their new stadium, the New York Mets are replacing Shea Stadium and the NBA's Nets plan to move to a new arena in Brooklyn.
There is no support yet for the ticket proposal in the Republican-led Senate.
NoLandGrab: Requiring a sports franchise to set aside a block of cheap seats to offset the hundreds of millions of dollars in public subsidies seems simple-minded. Thanks to the authors of this legislation for pointing out how taxpayers are underwriting professional sports facilities, but no thanks for the pandering.
Posted by steve at June 20, 2008 4:49 AM