Bill Herrick’s op-ed “Run government like a business” [Aug. 20] called for government to take a less-active role in the affairs of business and to run itself like a business. I couldn’t agree more.
What business makes a $10 million-per-year donation plus builds a fieldhouse but turns over concession revenue to a user of that fieldhouse?
With a huge city budget problem in Indy and looming cuts to police, it is incredible that thought leaders like Herrick don’t continue their thought: It’s time to scale back government subsidies to for-profit sports teams.
The Pacers reportedly are about to ask the CIB for another $10 million per year payments. (Yes, thanks for the new scoreboard.) This is the amount the Pacers are getting from the CIB under a three-year deal which is about to expire.
The current deal reportedly also gives the Pacers all concession revenue from the fieldhouse—even for non-sporting events.
While we appreciate the Pacers and its owner, our taxpayers simply can’t afford $10 million-a-year subsidies.
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Bill Malcolm
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