The Arizona Cardinals really bad idea
We can file this one under further argument against publicly funded stadiums. The Arizona Cardinals have been giving away free tickets to Arizona lawmakers in an attempt to better their relationship with them. See, the Cardinals home field was built with about 350 million dollars of taxpayer money. Since it was constructed, University of Phoenix Stadium has not always been used in a way that the Cardinals would like. Since it was partially built with public money, the lawmakers have certain rights to use the stadium in ways that they see fit. The relationship between the team and lawmakers has been strained so the Cardinals decided to bribe said lawmakers with free tickets.
A lot of this comes from the Fiesta Bowl in 2005 when the stadium was used in way the Cardinals did not like, and yes the Fiesta Bowl is currently in a bit if trouble over its business practices. Those practices included giving lawmakers free tickets. It is totally inconceivable that the Cardinals would chose to emulate the practices of an organization that is in a bit of hot water. Thankfully, the Phoenix Coyotes and Phoenix Suns have refused such practices, as it is a huge violation of the public’s trust.
Lawmakers are elected to serve the needs of the people, not to get free tickets to sporting events in return for sweetheart deals for sports teams. Let the situation surrounding the Coyotes be fair warning to all, building a stadium with public money is a bad idea, and could lead to the city that builds it being placed in a very awkward situation.
I think the good voters of Arizona should get a list of who got free tickets from the Cardinals and remember those names next time they are on the ballot.
Related Links:
- Arizona Cardinals news and notes
- The Business of the NFL
- Joshua Lobdell.com
