First of all, I actually like going to Drillers games. It’s fun, relatively inexpensive and it’s actually live entertainment. When we used to live much closer to the fairgrounds, we went to several a month and often took friends or their kids as well. That being said, I cannot help but wonder why this particular form of entertainment is so “special” that it rates a subsidized deal to get it a new facility. This is simply another form of entertainment, not substantially different than a movie theater or a skeet field.
Further, what really bothers me about this whole thing is the creation of yet another “trust” to essentially govern not only the downtown stadium, but all the other lands they manage to grab in the deal. We’re making another group that functions with the power of government, but with no accountability to the voters if they act in capricious or unapproved ways. At least one councilor has observed that the trust documents presented allow the stadium trust to pretty much build anything they want, whether in competition to a private business or not. We have got to stop setting up these little principalities that have the force of elected bodies but never stand for election. Yes, there is supposedly the safeguard of having the City Council have to approve the appointments, but all they usually can do is either approve or deny recommendations from the Mayor, they still don’t even have to stand on a retention ballot like some of the judiciary. They may as well be appointed for life as they are only denied reappointment if there is a major fiasco. Even the recent pathetically transparent actions by some on the TDA will likely pass without consequence to those tDA members.
The second issue on the Stadium deal is that now we find out, according to the local daily, that the Drillers get to manage any and all events within the stadium complex. There is some lame excuse about having to maintain the field quality. Clearly, while the Drillers have been at the fairgrounds they have seen how a deal like that for Murphy Brothers can work and want a similar sweetheart package for the Drillers. Perhaps we now know why the negotiations have taken so long. I can’t blame the Drillers owner for wanting such a deal if he can get it. He has publicly stated some time ago that he wanted something more like a full-blown amusement park with baseball as a part of it. As long as various government entities are willing to hand out little-or-no-risk packages in the name of economic development to a select few, why not try to grab one.
I do however, blame the city “leaders” for being willing to grant such deals. When we look just few miles down the river and see what Jenks is getting done with no risk to the public, we should be demanding the same sort of smart business deals from our executive management. Experience in business was one of the strengths for Kathy Taylor when she was running for the job. Now we have to wonder if she too has succumbed to the mindset that anything is acceptable in the name of downtown economic development.
Yes, we will continue to get a sprinkling of clubs and eateries here and there in the downtown, but the word is out that if you want to do something bigger, just add a few more zeros to the package size and get the local government to lean on the philanthropic foundations and sweeten it with some local tax money. No real reason why a developer should have to take all the risk to get all the rewards.
The sad thing is that I believe that those pushing this deal really mean well. Heck the Mayor is putting up some large money personally to help it along. It’s just that there is no reason why this well-meaning effort has to transform into another non-accountable principality and give a “special” business a sweetheart package that isn’t available to the many others who are trying to put something together in Tulsa.
If this stadium/multi-use facility gets built this way, just guess where Mayfest will move. You think the food and drink prices are high now, just wait. Oh yes, there will be a small “convenience” charge to get in to Mayfest at the Driller park, and leave your bottle of water outside in the paid parking area.
The City Council just needs to look down the river a little to see how these things can be done.
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For another view that is very well written and provides more inside information, please read the letter from Bob Sober to the Tulsa City Councilors, posted on BatesLine, along with Michael’s commentary.
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