... are the citizens of Indianapolis going to allow themselves to be victimized? Couldn’t we save a lot of money, and possibly rid ourselves of the municipal inferiority complex, by just putting on Georgia Street a huge, gold "take-off" on the famous "Love" sculpture - a sculpture of two words instead of one.
"WORLD CLASS"
For those citizens who need such reassurance, we could set up a deal whereby Indianapolis Downtown Inc (IDI) would take pictures of folks standing by the display. At a reasonable cost, the citizens could order the pictures in bulk and send them far and wide, thereby notifying all their friends and acquaintances of our tremendous municipal significance.
The latest proposed boondoggle which will at last - Surprise! Surprise! - give us "world class" is a new soccer stadium.
A few days ago the morning paper gave us the good news. A local man has bought a soccer franchise and all he needs now is a stadium. We’re told he has scoured the nation and has found the kind of structure which would fill the bill for him. And it would only cost $200 million.
This morning’s IBJ expands on the idea in a story suggesting that the old Market Square Arena site might be a good place for the next new sports palace. It has to be downtown, of course. And, again of course, it will attract residential and commercial development like crazy.
The head of a local investment firm is quoted in the IBJ as saying, "...the developer ‘better have deep pockets.’" We can’t imagine why he would say that.
As usual, the head cheer leaders are those folks who are so terribly generous with money not their own. Deputy Mayor Kintner may at any minute take up a position on Monument Circle - with a bull horn - verifying that this indeed is what we need for "world class."
It has not yet been decided, at least for public consumption, to whom Mayor Ballard - through a TIF district? - will start shoveling the millions of tax dollars. But surely the past fiscal policy of this city indicates that the taxpayer will eventually wind up with the bill.
A possibility might be that the stadium be built to add to the CIB’s stable of operations, using the Market Square site. This would guarantee that the user of another extremely valuable block of real estate is never again subject to the horrors of property taxation.
We wouldn’t want that news to slip out. Someone might start thinking of the city in terms of world class corruption.
Why don't they just go ahead and erect the golden calf - a *literal* golden calf - covered with all the sports logos it can hold, and people can pay money to bow down before it? They can find a model for it at the State Fairgrounds and gild it with taxpayer's money.
Posted by: Leslie Baker | January 19, 2013 at 05:35 PM
This is a terrible idea. First, while I know kids today have become more acclimated to soccer (known by the rest of the World as "football"), there still is not the interest, especially here in Indy, to make even a privately-financed team economically viable (despite whatever studies the City commissions to prove otherwise). Second (maybe this should have been the first point), government never should subsidize sports. Unfortunately, City/County Council elections are not for another three years. We need a so-called local "third party." This party would confine its platform to financial matters. Its first plank: de-fund the CIB and tell sports engines the ride is over. To be a "world class" city, we need "world class" schools, "world class" streets, "world class" safety, and---gasp!---no corruption.
Posted by: Mark Small | January 20, 2013 at 05:06 AM
World class seems to be in the eye of the beholder. I think our city ans state elected officials tend to look at "world class" as how outsiders see us/the city rather than how the citizens who live in or nearby the city see the situation. I live in Marion County and don't see it as world class. Until we have better schools, more and well distributed parks, more support for the arts that lets more people participate, and a better transportation, I don't see a "world class" city. I think professinal soccer is a good idea but I don't want the taxpayer to fund it like it has football and basketball.
Posted by: Jiim Fuquay | January 20, 2013 at 08:30 AM
Amen to what Mark says and all but the last line of Jim's. I don't care whether or not we have soccer; I agree that's its viability here is iffy, and I don't want my taxes going to *any* sports team or venue, and that includes the overrated Super Bowl extravaganza.
Posted by: Leslie Baker | January 20, 2013 at 03:38 PM