Opposition to Taxpayer Funded Smokies Stadium is Rising
The mechanisms needed to clear the way for a new Smokies baseball stadium to be built in downtown Knoxville are strategically underway.
Tonight’s (Dec. 15, 2020), agenda for Knox County Commission meeting will include a vote on the formation of the “Sports Authority of the County of Knox and the City of Knoxville, Tennessee.”
he Arena Use Committee of the
The application to form the Sports Authority can be viewed here, Exhibit A – Executed Joint Application. To better understand the mission/purpose of the Sports Authority you can read the charter here Exhibit B – Charter.
Opposition to using taxpayer dollars and resources to fund a new Smokies baseball stadium in the heart of downtown Knoxville is rising.
A group of citizens has started an online petition in opposition to elected officials allocating taxpayer dollars and resources to subsidize a private investor project. The petition can be viewed here.
Despite the many unresolved issues surrounding the Smokies stadium project, a groundbreaking is said to be in the planning stage.
The Beacon Center of Tennessee released the following statement in opposition to the proposed Smokies Stadium.
“The Beacon Center has come out against any tax dollars going towards the proposed Tennessee Smokies Stadium in Knoxville. As the Knox County Commission and Knoxville City Council vote on forming a sports authority, Beacon is warning against using any public funding on stadiums in Knox County. Additionally, Beacon has major concerns about the proposed sports authority “existing in perpetuity.”
“Tax dollars should not fund sports stadiums, period,” said Beacon CEO Justin Owen. “Instead of funding pet sports projects, which almost always prove to be a terrible investment for taxpayers, local governments should focus on spending tax dollars wisely on true government projects like infrastructure and public safety. The proposed sports authority seems like a clear pass-through for a taxpayer-funded minor league stadium, which is absolutely not the role of government.”
