In a striking contradiction to their professed fiscal conservatism, Utah lawmakers are contemplating a $900 million subsidy for the Miller family and other affluent investors to construct a Major League Baseball stadium. This scenario may soon extend to Ryan Smith, should his aspirations for an NHL team materialize, likely seeking similar financial support for a new arena.
Recent headlines underscore the eagerness among stakeholders to bring an MLB team to Utah, with Smith openly advocating for an NHL franchise. Given the billionaires’ vested interest in these ventures — businesses that promise substantial returns in a relatively short timeframe — it’s reasonable to assert that they can and should finance the construction of their facilities without leaning on taxpayer dollars.
Legislators are prone to exaggerate the economic benefits such projects would purportedly bring to local communities. However, these claims often lack empirical support and overlook the fact that the anticipated economic uplift would still occur if these stadiums were built privately. Contrastingly, a truly impactful investment would be to address Utah’s education funding, which languishes near the bottom in terms of per-pupil expenditure nationally.
It’s time for our self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives to stand firm on their principles. Let the billionaires fund their own projects, thereby sparing the public coffers and demonstrating a genuine commitment to the conservative fiscal policies they endorse during election cycles.
Tyler Riggs, Providence
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