An overwhelming majority of respondents to a recent survey are "unhappy with the deal struck" between Richmond and the Redskins to bring the team’s training camp to the city, according to a front-page piece by Louis Llovio of the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH. The survey says 74% of respondents think Richmond's investment in the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center "has not been valuable." The same survey said 76% of respondents "think the city should not continue paying the team a $500,000 annual fee." The original intention "was to cover that cost with sponsorships and other in-kind donations," but the Richmond Economic Development Authority (EDA) has "fallen well short of the goal in each of the first three years." The survey was conducted online by the Center for Sport Leadership at VCU among 559 participants. Of those participants, 69% said that they had "never attended training camp" and 35% said "they were Redskins fans." Only 28% of those who have attended camp "thought the EDA should continue paying $500,000 annually," while 53% "disagreed with the payments." Only 8% of respondents agreed that the year-round Redskins facility is "being used appropriately." The city hired SMG to "run the facility, and the group has tried to raise awareness in recent months that the facility hosts other events" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 8/9).
