At a combined $110 million, both the Yankees and Mets now have Single-A farm teams where once there were none. In Staten Island, the 6,500-seat Richmond County Bank ballpark, with its dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline, is the centerpiece of a rejuvenation plan of its own -- the ferry terminal there is now renovated, a maritime museum is in the works, and an arts and sciences center will soon open. The Giuliani administration believes these stadiums, and the events they are capable of staging, will lead to an influx of much needed tourism dollars.
And we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Giuliani’s has made room for over $550 million in stadium subsidies in his latest budget proposal. That money, which has not been approved, may help fund and/or refurbish ballparks for the Mets, Yankees, and possibly the Jets, whom Giuliani would love to lure back from New Jersey. He also supports bringing the 2012 Summer Olympics to the city and moving Madison Square Garden to the West Side of New York City.
The Mayor revisited the idea of building a retractable-domed stadium when both the Jets and NYC2012 (New York's Olympic Bid Committe) reassured him of their commitment to the project recently. This, coupled with the burgeoning rumors that the Mayor’s buddy, George Steinbrenner, is planning to exit the Bronx when the Yankees’ stadium lease expires in 2002, has fueled speculation that Giuliani will make this deal his "piece de resistance", or "cause de celebre" depending upon where in France you’re from.
Guiliani’s plan has met with fierce opposition by virtually every important player, most notably Governor Pataki. The Governor believes public spending on stadiums for privately owned teams is a mistake, especially with the significant budget deficits that are predicted over the next few years. Also, lets not forget that our local teams aren’t exactly struggling to fill the seats:
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