Colts' Polian Clarifies Team's Position On Proposed CIB Bailout
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Polian Says Proposed Bailout
Controversy Has Been "An Intrusion" |
Colts President Bill Polian said the controversy over the proposed bailout of Indianapolis’ Capital Improvement Board (CIB), which operates Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse, “has been an intrusion” as the team prepares for this weekend's NFL Draft. Polian: “We haven’t been involved in this, except to be dragged in and created to some degree as the boogeyman who’s caused all this.” Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard's plan to assist the CIB calls for the Colts and Pacers each to contribute $5M a year to help cover a $47M deficit. Polian: “There’s so much misinformation that’s out there and patently false information. For one thing, it’s been said numerous times that we pay nothing to play in that stadium. That’s completely untrue. We pay $250,000 in rent per year and then all gameday expenses.” Polian also noted the Colts paid $100M toward the building of Lucas Oil Stadium, yet “it’s been alleged that this CIB issue is a Colts bailout. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Polian: “We have a lease that was negotiated four years ago. The ink on it is barely dry. … We’re happy with the lease. We’ve said we’d honor it to the best of our ability. We’re not asking for anything. Quite frankly, it’s the Pacers who are asking for something. It is they who would like to get some financial help from the CIB, not us. We wish the Pacers well, but it’s important to remember that we’re not asking for anything. This really in large measure is not about us.” Polian continued, “Everyone knew that this potential shortfall could exist. No one on the political side came up with an appropriate solution at the time so this has rolled forward” (ESPN Radio 1070 Indianapolis, 4/22). The team Thursday e-mailed a letter to season-ticket holders to “defend its position that the $100[M] contribution owner Jim Irsay made toward building Lucas Oil Stadium should suffice” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/24).
LACKING SUPPORT: In Indy, Brendan O’Shaughnessy noted Indianapolis-Marion City-County Council members are “unhappy that [the] proposed tax increase to rescue” the CIB would “fall on Marion County taxpayers alone and are asking state lawmakers to help find a way of sharing the pain more widely.” Eight of 13 Democrats and one Libertarian on the Council said that they “would not support any tax increase to bail out” the CIB. Nine of 15 Republicans responded -- two said that they "opposed the tax increases, and seven said they could not support the mayor’s plan as currently structured” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/23).
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