Marlins New Stadium May Finally Have Some People In It

I mean, sure, they’d be homeless people, but the team has to start somewhere.

According to The Miami Herald, 23 years ago the state passed legislation that, if a stadium were to receive public funding and tax credits, on days when the stadium was not in use it was to be converted into a homeless shelter. That has obviously not been happening.

Said state representative Michael Bennett:

“We have spent over $300 million supporting teams that can afford to pay a guy $7, $8, $10 million a year to throw a baseball 90 feet. I think they can pay for their own stadium. I can not believe that we’re going to cut money out of Medicaid and take it away from the homeless and take it away from the poor and impoverished, and we’re continuing to support people who are billionaires.”

I have made no secret of my loathing of publicly funded stadiums. Not only have studies proven that the stadiums do little to improve the local economy, but multi-million and billionaire owners get stadiums for half cost.

Sadly, for as nice a gesture that Bennett’s position is, not only will the homeless not get some much needed space, but it’s doubtful that the teams will be returning any of their tax credits to the state’s coffers.

Forget it, Jake, it’s ~~Sun Life Stadium Joe Robbie Park Land Shark Stadium~~, ~~Pro Player Stadium~~, Marlins Park.

(h/t BLS)