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How justified is public financing of stadia?

Cleveland Indians Progressive Field upgrades

MLB

As the Major League Baseball (MLB) (US) team Cleveland Indians announce a plan for the City (Cleveland), the Cuyahoga County and State help pay for upgradations at their residence Progressive Field, the age-old debate of publicly financing sports stadia arises.

Should residents have to help fund chic and spiffy stadia? Or should they be privately funded through the team and other funds? Progressive Field, which opened in 1994 as Jacobs Field, could receive $285 million in public money through a new public-private deal to renovate the ballpark.

The Cleveland Indians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio (US). The Indians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League Central division. Since 1994, they have played at Progressive Field.

The 35,041-capacity Progressive Field is a baseball park located in the downtown area of Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the home field of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball, and, together with the 20,562-capacity Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex.

‘cleveland.com’ stated that the deal would extend the team’s lease in Cleveland for 15 years. This isn’t the first renovation project for Progressive Field, which the Indians lease from the nonprofit Gateway Economic Development group governed by a publicly appointed Board of Directors.

In 2014, the Indians traded roughly 7,000 little-used seats and some empty suites for new gathering areas at Progressive Field, and added five neighborhood-themed areas. The Indians paid for the improvements with help from Delaware North Cos., which handles concessions at the facility.

‘cleveland.com’ further stated that last year, the Cuyahoga County paid the Indians $3.5 million for work already done at the stadium, including suite renovations, new elevators, a building system that regulates lights and heating, and an expansion of the players’ parking lot. The money comes from a sports facility reserve fund that was created in 2017 as part of the deal to overhaul Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home of the Cavaliers.

The 20,562-capacity Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is a multipurpose arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio (US). The building is the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.

More than half of Major League Ballparks were built since the year 2000. An all-new stadium would be prohibitively expensive, said the Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish in a presser held recently.

The Major League Baseball is an American professional baseball organization and the oldest of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams play in Major League Baseball: 15 teams in the National League and 15 in the American League.
 

MLB stadia renovation deals:

 

The Arizona Diamondbacks, often shortened as the D-backs, are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona (US). The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division. The franchise was established as an expansion team and began play in 1998.

The 48,519-capacity Chase Field, formerly Bank One Ballpark, is a retractable roof baseball park located in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the City’s Major League Baseball franchise. It opened in 1998, in time for the Diamondbacks’ first game as an expansion team.
 

The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League East division.

The 41,000-capacity Truist Park is a baseball park located in the Atlanta metropolitan area, approximately 10 miles Northwest of downtown Atlanta in the unincorporated community of Cumberland, in Cobb County, Georgia. It has been the home ballpark for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball since 2017.
 

The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland (US). The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League East division.

The 45,971-capacity Oriole Park at Camden Yards, often referred to as just Oriole Park or Camden Yards, is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home to the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the ‘retro’ major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s.
 

The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston (US). The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League East division. Founded in 1901 as one of the American League’s eight charter franchises, the Red Sox’ home ballpark has been Fenway Park since 1912.

The 37,731-capacity Fenway Park is a baseball park located in Boston, Massachusetts, near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home for the Boston Red Sox, the City’s American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Baseball franchise. While the stadium was built in 1912, it was rebuilt in 1934.
 

The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois (US). The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball as part of the National League Central division. They play home games at Wrigley Field, located on the City’s North side.

The 41,649-capacity Wrigley Field is a baseball park located on the North side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the City’s two Major League Baseball franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman’s Chicago Whales of the Federal League, which folded after the 1915 baseball season.
 

The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois (US). They compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League Central division. The White Sox are owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and play their home games at Guaranteed Rate Field, located on the City’s South Side.

The 40,615-capacity Guaranteed Rate Field is a baseball park located in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. The ballpark serves as the home ballpark for Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox. The facility is owned by the State of Illinois through the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, and is operated by the White Sox.
 

The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and were the first ever professional baseball team. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League Central division.

The 42,319-capacity Great American Ball Park is a ball park in Cincinnati, Ohio, which is the home field of Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds. It opened in 2003, replacing Cinergy Field, their home field from 1970 to 2002. The park’s name comes from the Great American Insurance Group.
 

The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Field, which is located in the Lower Downtown area of Denver.

The 50,398-capacity Coors Field is a baseball park located in downtown Denver, Colorado. It is the home field of the Colorado Rockies, the City’s Major League Baseball franchise. Opened in 1995, the park is located in Denver’s Lower Downtown neighborhood, two blocks from the Union Station.
 

The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball as a member of the American League Central division.

The 41,083-capacity Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in Downtown Detroit. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball, replacing the Tiger Stadium in 2000. The park is named after Comerica Bank, which was founded in Detroit and was based there when the park opened.
 

The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after spending their first 51 seasons in the National League.

The 41,168-capacity Minute Maid Park, previously named The Ballpark at Union Station, Enron Field, and Astros Field, is a retractable roof ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States, which opened in 2000 as the home stadium of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.
 

The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League Central division.

The 37,903-capacity Kauffman Stadium, often called ‘The K’, is a baseball park located in Kansas City, Missouri. It is home to the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. It is part of the Truman Sports Complex together with the adjacent Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.
 

The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, which is part of Orange County and the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League West division.

The 45,050-capacity Angel Stadium of Anaheim, originally known as Anaheim Stadium and later Edison International Field of Anaheim, is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California.
 

The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division.

The 56,000-capacity Dodger Stadium is a baseball park in the Elysian Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It is the home stadium of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers. Opened 59 years ago on April 10th, 1962, it was constructed in less than three years at a cost of US$23 million.
 

The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League East division. Their home park is the LoanDepot Park. The franchise began play as an expansion team in the 1993 season as the Florida Marlins.

The 36,742-capacity LoanDepot Park is a retractable roof baseball park located in Miami, Florida. It is the current home of the Miami Marlins, the City’s Major League Baseball franchise. It is located on 17 acres of the former Miami Orange Bowl site in Little Havana, about 2 miles West of Downtown.
 

The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League Central division. The Brewers are named for the City’s association with the brewing industry.

The 41,900-capacity American Family Field, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, commonly referred to as ‘Am-Fam Field’, is a retractable roof baseball park which is home to Major League Baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers.
 

The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area which includes the two adjoining Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The 39,504-capacity Target Field is a baseball park in the historic warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the State’s Major League Baseball franchise. It is named after the Minneapolis-based retailer Target Corporation. It was home of the MLB All-Star game in 2014.
 

The New York Mets are a Major League Baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball as a member of the National League East division.

The 41,922-capacity Citi Field is a baseball park located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York City. Completed in 2009, it is the home field of the New York Mets of the National League East division of Major League Baseball. The stadium was built as a replacement for the adjacent Shea Stadium, which opened in 1964.
 

The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League East division.

The 54,251-capacity Yankee Stadium is a baseball park located in Concourse, Bronx, New York City. It is the home field for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball and New York City FC of Major League Soccer, as well as being the host stadium for the annual Pinstripe Bowl game.
 

The Oakland Athletics, often referred to as the ‘A’s’, are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League West division. The team plays its home games at the Oakland Coliseum.

The 63,132-capacity Oakland Coliseum, branded as RingCentral Coliseum for naming rights reasons, is a multipurpose stadium in Oakland, California. It is located on 7000 Coliseum Way, adjacent to the Oakland Arena along Interstate 880.
 

The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball as a member of the National League East division. Since 2004, the team’s home stadium has been Citizens Bank Park, located in South Philadelphia.

The 43,035-capacity Citizens Bank Park is a baseball park located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, within the City’s South Philadelphia Sports Complex. It is the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, the City’s Major League Baseball franchise.
 

The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League Central division.

The 38,362-capacity PNC Park is a baseball park located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the City’s Major League Baseball franchise. It was opened during the 2001 MLB season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates’ previous home, the Three Rivers Stadium.
 

The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego, California. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL pennants – in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both years.

The 42,445-capacity Petco Park is a baseball park located in the downtown area of San Diego, California, United States, that is the current home to the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. In addition to baseball, the park is also used as venue for concerts, soccer, golf, and rugby sevens.
 

The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division.

The 41,915-capacity Oracle Park is a baseball park located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Since 2000, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants, the City’s Major League Baseball franchise.
 

The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. They compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team in 1977 playing their home games in the Kingdome.

The T-Mobile Park is a retractable roof baseball park in Seattle, Washington, United States. Owned and operated by the Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District, it is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,929 for baseball.
 

The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals have played their home games at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis.

The Busch Stadium, also referred to informally as the ‘New Busch Stadium’ or ‘Busch Stadium III’, is a baseball park located in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, the City’s Major League Baseball franchise. The stadium has a seating capacity of 44,494, and contains 3,706 club seats and 61 luxury suites.
 

The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League East division. Since its inception, the team’s home venue has been Tropicana Field.

The 42,735-capacity Tropicana Field, also commonly known as The Trop, is a domed stadium located in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, that has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball since the team’s inaugural season in 1998.
 

The Texas Rangers are an American professional baseball team based in Arlington, Texas, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Texas competes in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League West division.

The 40,300-capacity Globe Life Field is a retractable roof baseball park in Arlington, Texas. Since 2020, it is the home ballpark of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
 

The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto, Canada. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League East division.

The 53,506-capacity Rogers Centre is a multipurpose retractable roof stadium in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated just Southwest of the CN Tower near the Northern shore of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989 on the former Railway Lands, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.
 

The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadium while a new stadium was being built.

The 41,313-capacity Nationals Park is a baseball park along the Anacostia River in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Home to the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball since its completion in 2008, it was the first LEED-certified Green major professional sports stadium in the United States.
 
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