Tacoma’s political leaders want to study the question of whether the Tacoma Dome can be renovated to attract a National Basketball Association or National Hockey League team.
Now I know we’re desperate.
With stars in our eyes we dream of the mega-project – one more mega-project – that will finally open the door to riches.
This one is being pushed by Mayor Marilyn Strickland, responding perhaps to concern by some that the city doesn’t have any big goals to aim for. If only it could return to the days when it was building convention centers and public universities and museums and arts centers, everything would be better.
The city says it is only going to study the idea. For a mere $100,000 it will hire an expert who will determine whether it’s feasible for a second city to fund an arena and attract the NBA or NHL, or both. And in the spirit of public-private partnerships, the business community that is pushing the idea will “share” the cost – by chipping in $5,000.
Backers say that the city will proceed only if the report comes back positive. But they all know, or should know, that the firms that conduct such feasibility studies always say it is feasible even when it isn’t. That, after all, is the answer the client is seeking.
So I have little doubt that whomever takes Tacoma’s hundred grand will deliver good news, even though no independent study of the economics of pro sports and city-funded arenas shows they are worth the investment. Not one. (Wenatchee probably wishes it had been more skeptical of studies that said it should build a Town Toyota Center now that the arena is threatening the city’s finances.)
The same is true of convention centers and city-backed “lifestyle centers” and yes, even golf courses.
A few years back, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce paid to bring Richard Florida to town. He is the economic development guru who preaches that cities need to make themselves attractive to the “creative class.”
And what does Florida write about mega-projects?
“States and regions across the country continue to pour billions into sports stadiums, convention centers, tourism-and-entertainment centers and other projects of dubious economic value,” he wrote in “The Rise of the Creative Class.”
“They’d be better off putting the money in a passbook savings account. Such spending actually reduces net local wealth and income.”
Mark Pendras, an assistant professor of urban studies at the University of Washington Tacoma, is equally skeptical. He acknowledges the psychic benefit of having the town’s name on a uniform (assuming, of course, that a Tacoma Dome team won’t be called “Seattle” or “Washington.”)
“I understand the attraction because you can get people pretty excited, and it doesn’t mean there isn’t money to be made,” Pendras said. “But it will be ‘somebody,’ not the city.”
The better question might be “is that the best way to spend your money?” he said. Might less-sexy investments in infrastructure, education and research bring much higher returns, or any returns?
So, if mega-projects don’t work, what does? That question is best answered by first examining what this region has that is unique. How about historic neighborhoods, vast waterfront, affordable housing, proximity to nature, still-salvageable public schools, diversity.
While many have suggested it – most recently, News Tribune business columnist Bill Virgin – the Tacoma Dome might be more-affordably staged as the centerpiece of a regional amateur sports capital. Far more hotel rooms and restaurant meals are sold to young athletes and their parents than to conventioneers or sports fans.
But a Tacoma Dome rebuilt for the NBA or the NHL will unlikely be able to hold a football field and, in turn, host high school football championships. Of course, such events are not as sexy as a home opener for the Tacoma/Seattle/Washington SuperSonics attended by city officials and business leaders proudly seated in luxury suites and at courtside.
Peter Callaghan: 253-597-8657 peter.callaghan@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/politics Twitter: @CallaghanPeter
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.