Is it just me, or are there others out there who feel that every couple of years taxpayers are asked to pony up additional funds for upgrades to one of our three sports facilities? Now it’s the Cleveland Guardians baseball club’s turn to put the squeeze on the public to help pay for improvements that are enjoyed by perhaps 15,000 people, on a good day.
I realize that having major league teams in baseball, basketball and football makes us a major league city and I wouldn’t want to lose the Guardians, Cavs or Browns. But with all of the other critical needs of city and county residents taxing the public every few years for upgrades seems misguided.
Perhaps we should consider having the fans that enjoy these facilities and teams pay for the upgrades since the vast majority of city and county residents either can’t afford or have no interest in attending any of the games. Raising the funds to make improvements by putting a tax on ticket prices seems to me like a fairer way to finance these constantly reoccurring expensive upgrades.