Pssst... That Free Arena? It Wasn't Really Free.

A while ago I questioned whether the Isle of Capri's arena proposal really amounted to a free arena. It did not, all cheerleading from the Post-Gazette aside.

I am really glad to see that a lot of people can see through such claims. One of the best take-downs of that logic comes from The Burgh Report. Pittsblog is also on the ball. As is Jonathan Potts.

For one of "America's Great Newspapers," the PG is often remarkably unskeptical of the powers that be. Or the powers that would have been, I suppose, in this case.

At any rate, I predict that exactly seven people in the Pittsburgh region will remain skeptical of the "free arena" claim, and that elected officials will continue falling all over themselves to shovel cash at the Penguins.

That is not a very bold prediction, sadly, as said officials are already in the process of sucking up to Mario.

To hell with it. Let them stay if they can make an arena happen. Or not. Mr. Barden has already committed a pile to the cause. Let Mario and the fans pitch in the rest.

In the meantime: The free arena was never a free arena in the first place. Free to Mario, maybe. But not free to taxpayers.

Comments

[mcrubble]

Of course you are right that nothing is free. There has always been a question concerning the tangibility of ever seeing any "property tax relief" (a requirement of any bid)from the Isle of Capri bid especially if you don't buy the argument that Pittsburgh needs a "new" arena.
Here's something I'm hearing on the sidelines. The gaming board didn't take a close look at Barden's financials..

[O]

The zen economist in me asks, is there a free lunch in the free arena?

[Mark Rauterkus]

Zen -- just understand that free lunch means free drinks in a free slots parlor. But you'll have to pay dearly, err... play dearly.

Next up, we need to Free The Hill of a threat of a new arena. Put the new hockey venue out by the airport. Then Mario can realize a bigger upside to his investment. Better upside than K.C., Houston and even The Hill. And if his return is better there -- he'll need less (or no) public money.