City of Orlando Votes on Soccer Stadium today, Orange County to Vote October 22

The City of Orlando is voting on the new nearly $100 million venues package, which includes approval for a new $110+ million soccer stadium to be built in the heart of historic Parramore. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners, where the real decision will be made, is set to vote on the package later this month on October 22.

Last night, I was interviewed by My Fox Orlando on the issue countering City Commissioner Robert Stuart’s baseless claims and wrong numbers about the team’s contribution. More also here and here.

Mike Cantone is a former candidate for mayor in Orlando and a vocal critic of the project.

“The reality is the economic impact arguments being made by the city and the soccer teams are simply not true. In fact there are more than forty studies recently from across the country indicating that there is little to no economic gain from publicly financed stadiums,” said Cantone.

Cantone said tax dollars should not be used to pay for the stadium. “If this was such a good investment, we’d see the team owners and private investors lining up to support this and take all the profit. The fact is it’s a risky endeavor and that’s why they would rather risk public investment instead of private dollars,” he said.

In fact, the Orlando City soccer team is set to get: all the land and infrastructure for free (already above $12 million), all the naming rights on this “city” public venue (estimated between $10-20 million), all the sales taxes from the stadium, and the city is going to have to cover the yearly operating costs and upkeep of the stadium. Sad no commissioners seem to care about the most vulnerable in Parramore and the gentrification these projects are causing.

It’s pure corporate welfare. No wonder the millionaires love this deal!