A group of Florida state legislators on Thursday decided to "put off final approval" of the $2M in state taxpayer funds sought by Orlando City SC for a new soccer stadium, according to Gray Rohrer of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Instead, the decision of "how to dole out a pot" of $7M to Orlando City and three other venues in the state seeking stadium upgrades worth $9M "will revert back to the full Legislature." The MLS club can "still get approval" from the full Legislature for the $2M, the first installment of a planned $60M in tax credits over 30 years. But the decision from the 14-member committee "could be a major setback" for the team's attempt to secure funding. State Rep. Richard Corcoran, who is Chair of the budget panel, is "dead-set against issuing taxpayer funds to help build or upgrade sports arenas." Corcoran "holds vast influence as the chief budget writer in the House." That makes approval of stadium funds "more difficult for Orlando City" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/20). Corcoran: "This is a reversed, perverse Robin Hood. We’re going to take from hard-working taxpayers and give it to the rich people. I don’t understand that logic at all. Every economist, every study shows there is not any economic development to these proposals.” Corcoran added that he will "oppose any stadium funding proposals during the regular session." The NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA's Jim Turner notes Daytona Int'l Speedway and South Florida Stadium, the applicant for Sun Life Stadium, are each seeking $3M a year "in sales-tax revenues for 30 years for improvements." In addition to Orlando requesting $2M a year, Jacksonville and the Jaguars have asked for $1M annually for three decades for EverBank Field (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA, 2/20). In Jacksonville, Tia Mitchell notes the city owns EverBank Field and has "ultimate control over what happens there." But Jaguars lobbyist Paul Harden said that the team "would be reluctant to move forward with the plan without state money" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/20).
A MAN OF ACTION: In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette writes when the Jaguars revealed Owner Shahid Khan’s proposal that included conceptual drawings near EverBank Field, it "only reinforced my long-held belief that Jacksonville is overdue for a truly modernized downtown." Clearly, Khan "feels the same way." There is "no hidden agenda here" for Khan. He has "developed a reputation over three years of owning an NFL franchise as a man of action." Frenette: "I’m not suggesting city leaders and politicians should do whatever Khan wants, but he’s earned the right to have his Shipyards proposal heard and, if doable, be followed" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/20).
