Tennessee Voters Divided On Support Of Publicly Funding Sports Stadiums, Poll Says
Image Credit: Jason Mrachina / CC
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Tennessee voters were even on their opposition or support of publicly-funded stadiums in a new Beacon Center poll.
The nonprofit policy center that supports free market solutions to public policy polled 1,181 potential Tennessee voters and found that 35% support publicly funding stadium such as the Tennessee Titans and Minor League Baseball stadiums in Knoxville and Chattanooga. Another 34% oppose the funding with 22% saying they are neutral and 8% unsure.
East Tennessee voters showed more support for public stadium funding at 39% with those in Middle Tennessee at 35% support and West Tennessee at 30% support.
The Titans are scheduled to open a new $2.1 billion stadium in 2027 using $1.2 billion in public funding for construction and a $3.1 billion tax capture to pay of Nashville’s bonds and pay for future infrastructure and maintenance.
The state also approved tax capture deals for the Chattanooga Lookouts and Tennessee Smokies in Knoxville while Memphis is looking for more than $600 million in total to renovate stadiums while building a new soccer-specific stadium.
The poll also asked if voters approved of new name, image or likeness (NIL) college sports rules that allow athletes to get paid through sponsorships with 52% approving and 19% against the rules.
Of those showing interest in college football in the poll, 74% are Tennessee fans with 7% Alabama fans and 4% each fans of Georgia and Florida.
Voters with also asked which fanbases are the most annoying or obnoxious with Alabama leading with 30% and both Florida and Tennessee finishing with 18% of the vote.
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.
I’m 100% opposed to using tax money to fund sports. Reduce our taxes and STOP wasting money!!!
Part of the costs are listed, now tell me how much of the funding is being recovered before we’re on the hook for another one. As David says, “Stop funding professional sports.” If you can find the money to fund sports arenas that never pay for themselves, you can find the money to address homelessness, illegal immigration and a myriad of other things that need addressing.
I wouldn’t give a dime towards these “woke sports” even if I enjoyed watching, which I don’t, I don’t like supporting political sellouts that further divide America instead of bringing people together like they used to do.
The funding for these Woke Sports teams has to end . Why should I be forced to pay for something I detest and never attend ? And now we have Tennessee revenue on the decline and we continue to subsidize these horrible way over paid professional sports teams ? Lee ought to be impeached !!! Who gets the kickbacks ? I thought Tennessee was supposed to be a ” Free Red State” ? Apparently we are in reality just acting like the Marxist Federal Government . Where is freedom anymore from tyrannical taxation ?
Where does the money go?
Lawyers
Consultants
Political donations
NGO’s
Construction over runs
And on and on…
To benefit athlete businesses that belong to exceptionally well funded associations that could finance their own arenas themselves