Public Seizure of all Professional Sports Teams

Year after year, major cities across the United States spend millions on building new stadiums and arenas for their privately owned professional sports teams. Watching major league sport is one of this country’s favorite pastimes and should never be taken away from the everyman (and would most likely lead to public outcry). Though I believe that it is a total waste of money and time, it could certainly do with some reform. These huge shrines to the professional player are often paid for by public funds (that is, taxes from you and I, whether it be in property, income, or sales forms). However the payoff goes to the owners, managers, and players of the city’s team. That is why I am calling for a public seizure of these teams. This way, instead of directly into the pockets of the owners, these funds can be used to solve sociological problems at the local level.
As I am currently living in the Southeast, an excitable and often violent proving ground for American Football, I will use Atlanta as an example. In 1989, the city of Atlanta appropriated $214 Million dollars, through the Georgia General Assembly, to build the Georgia Dome, making it the largest publicly funded construction project in history at that time. In 1992, after the dome’s completion, the Atlanta Falcons moved in free of charge. In 2005, the Falcons spent $130 million to extend their quarterback, Michael Vick’s, contract for ten years. This exemplifies reinvestment in the company, but how much does the state of Georgia get? Nothing, except maybe a few PR related community outreach programs, which are really just promotional photo ops for the players. Meanwhile, Falcons CEO and Owner Arthur Blank, a man estimated to be worth over $1.3 billion, sits back and reaps the benefits. When the Falcons play in a sold out stadium, who makes the money. Not the principle investor, but the free-loading tenant. Furthermore, when U2 plays a sold out concert at the Georgia Dome, some third party concessionary (not to mention Prince Bono) reaps all of the benefits that Georgia taxpayers put fourth.
My call for public seizure of professional sports will revert that profit back to the principle investor, the state or city (and its taxpayers) that paid for the stadium or arena that the team plays in. These much needed funds could then be used to pay for various social welfare programs, parks, and general infrastructure for the city or state. It is unfair to expect us to invest in a company that we don’t see any gain from. Furthermore, these teams simply support the economy but have no direct role. There is only one publicly traded professional sports company in this country, the Green Bay Packers, and guess what, they’ve been owned by the city of Green Bay since the beginning. With the exception of owners, a few men of the elite, most other Americans would benefit from this program, allowing us to enjoy sport and a higher quality of life.