Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb wants to raise up to $9M for “repairs at the Cavaliers’ and Guardians’ stadiums, aiming to shift the burden away from the public and onto stadium users through added fees on parking, tickets, nachos and branded T-shirts,” according to Sean McDonnell of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. That initial estimate reflects “only a starting point, with fees tied to” Rocket Arena and Progressive Field. Bibb’s plan revolves around the “creation of a New Community Authority” that can “charge up to 5% on retail, food, beverages and tickets, plus parking, hotel fees and property taxes.” Records show the city’s “broader vision for a New Community Authority would extend well beyond the two stadiums, potentially tapping nearby businesses, parking and property owners across a large swath of downtown — significantly expanding how much revenue the district could generate.” So far, the plan “hasn’t moved forward, and the teams haven’t publicly supported the idea.” Both the Cavs and Guardians would “need to agree to add fees to tickets and concessions for it to work.” Bibb’s push for new revenue sources comes as “existing funding for stadium repairs has fallen short, and as repairs for the three-decade old facilities are expected to grow more expensive.” Countywide sin taxes on alcohol and cigarettes — “long the primary source of stadium repair money — haven’t kept pace with the bills” at Rocket Arena and Progressive Field (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/2).
