It is time to stop relying on taxpayers to pay for stadiums.
With the recent release of the provincial government, cuts to a number of things, and the removal of the STC, it got me thinking, how did we get here?
So I went online and began looking at how the government is in this position, when they were supposed to be socking money away for this exact situation.
One of the things I found that really jumped off the page at me was the new Mosaic Stadium.
The new stadium cost a total of $278 million to build, with the Government of Saskatchewan contributing nearly two-thirds of the total cost.
The government provided an $80 million grant, while also providing a $100 milliown loan, which will be paid back over 30 years thanks to a facility fee tacked on to each ticket sold for football games or any other event held at the stadium.
So while the government only provided a total of $80 million of their own cash, they are still currently out of pocket $180 million.
That $180 million could have been used to save the STC, or provide more funding for libraries, or any of the other things that the government either cut completely or removed some funding from.
Did the Roughriders need a new stadium?
Sure but it should not have been our responsibility to pay for it.
The City of Regina has it even worse, not only are they suffering from the provincial government contribution but they are paying for it in their land taxes as well as the City of Regina provided $73 million of their own money to the project, which will be recouped through the land tax.
So those within Regina are essentially on the hook for a little over 91 per cent of the total cost of the project, between the city’s share and the provinces.
Does that not seem a little unfair?
If the Saskatchewan Roughriders wanted a new stadium they should be expected to pay for it mostly themselves.
While I understand the team is community owned it should be those who own shares in the team who are required to pay for the stadium.
At this point the team itself is not paying for any of the stadium as the remaining $25 million they are expected to pay is going to be covered through naming rights and other corporate sponsorship.
It is time we take a serious look at how taxpayers’ money is spent.
If the government wanted to chip in on a new stadium then they should be part owners of the building and would be due to make profits off of the events held within the stadium for the duration.
It should not be our responsibility to pay for it.
Especially in these tough economic times.
Besides, how fair is it that people are expected to pay for a stadium they may never visit
