Seems like major Arizona news media are all loading the bases with covering good things about The Cactus League, even if the figures or studies or dollar amounts might differ, at least they're in the same ballpark numbers.
Another article that appeared yesterday 14 September written by Michael Nowels of Cronkite News
Cactus League Reflects on Success
http://www.eastvalleytribune.5ade-11e5-a5a2-cb1fdad03d20.html
Here in Mesa the Cubs @ Sloan Park [previously Wrigley Field] brought in the biggest single-team high for season attendance - 222,415.
While another article in this post mentions that spring season attracted 58% from out-of-state, the President of the Cactus League Mark Coronado says 65-70% were from out-of-state
[Readers of this site might want to note two recent posts about current and upcoming events here at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. “As the popularity and presence of the Cactus League grows year after year, so does the economic impact it has on Arizona. Even after spring training ends, the industry brings in visitors and money year-round,” Ducey said in his announcement.]
A mapping with locations close to highway and freeway access of all the ten subsidized stadiums used by 15 Major League baseball teams in Metro Phoenix is provided for readers' reference at right.
Connections with public transit, mostly Valley Metro bus service scheduled during the Spring training season, for the thousands of people attending sports venues are in operation at event times.
Mike Sunnucks, in a online report yesterday at 4:04 pm MST says
Cactus League Baseball A $544 Million Tourism Business
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2015/09/10/cactus-league-baseball-a-544-million-tourism.html
Out-of-state baseball fans who visit Arizona for Cactus League spring training games spend $544 million annually, according to new numbers released today by Gov. Doug Ducey and the Cactus League Baseball Association.
Readers can see the entire September 2015 Performance Audit with a link to a KJZZ report http://kjzz.org/content/188622/audit-revenue-cant-fund-all-arizona-sports-authoritys-obligationssummary
Its conclusion is very clear:
In 2000 voters approved funneling bed-and-rental-car taxes to the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority to finance stadium construction, Cactus League baseball fields, youth facilities and grants.
The audit conducted by Arizona’s Office of the Auditor General concludes bed-and-rental-car tax monies have been insufficient since 2011 and could eventually impact the Authority’s ability to meet financial obligations.
David Goodfriend, the Chairman of the Sports Fan Coalition goes as far to state: “I have never seen a profitable multi-billion-dollar business at the trough — the public trough — the way we’ve seen sports leagues and team owners shamelessly take taxpayer money and not give anything back in return,” Goodfriend said. “They say to us essentially, ‘You should just be grateful that we are here."
Complicating matters are Maricopa County Superior Court rulings that the rental car tax is unconstitutional and must be refunded. Shawn Aiken the attorney representing rental car companies that sued the state estimates that rental car tax refunds can add up to $150 Million.
In the 1930s, Arizona and many western states passed a state constitutional provision requiring that any taxes on vehicles had to be used for a highway purpose.That’s been the law for 80 years.
Ronald J. Hansen in an online report at 7:51 pm MST says:
Study: Cactus League offers $810 Million lift to Metro Phoenix Economy
http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/economy/2015/09/10/cactus-league-metro-phoenix-economy/72018578/
Spring training directly brought in nearly $300 million from outside the Valley earlier this year, and more through indirect and presumed spending, the first report said. Baseball’s year-round operations and other uses for the stadiums helped bring in about $266 million, a second report found.
Together, the reports suggest an economic basis for the public subsidy baseball gets from taxpayers. It also puts a dollar figure to the reality of life in the Valley in March, when hotels and restaurants are buzzing with visitors.
Hansen notes some details: Of particular importance, 58 percent of fans who attend the spring games come from outside the Valley, bringing new money into the area.
The reports . . . found that two-thirds of out-of-town visitors stayed in hotels, motels or resorts. About 56 percent rented a vehicle and more than a third of them took in other sightseeing activities during their stay. Add in the money spent on drinking, dining and other shopping, and baseball’s impact is sizable.http://kjzz.org/content/188622/audit-revenue-cant-fund-all-arizona-sports-authoritys-obligations
No comments:
Post a Comment