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League of Fans Founded by Ralph Nader, League of Fans is a sports reform project working to improve sports by increasing awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, exposing irresponsible business practices, ensuring accountability to fans, and encouraging the industry to contribute to societal well-being.Alerts is League of Fans' email announcements list. Alerts provides news, information, the actions of League of Fans and/or Ralph Nader regarding sports issues, and calls-to-action for subscribers. All email updates are either selected or written by League of Fans. League of Fans is motivated by people, just like you, who are upset with what has become of our sports and would like to make a difference. We work with concerned citizens, sports fans, civic groups and communities to increase awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, influence a broad range of issues in sports at all levels and encourage the cooperative capacities that make the "sports powers-that-be" capable of helping, not just dominating, our society and culture. We often think of sports as outside the realm of everyday citizen concern. But the many benefits to society that sports can provide are sometimes undermined by a different set of values, often based on the quest for higher and higher profits at the expense of fans, taxpayers, communities, culture and social justice. Get Involved! Your involvement will improve sports for communities and fans, and encourage the sports industry to better contribute to societal well-being. |
League of Fans part of NO DC taxes for baseball!, a coalition of DC residents and organizations who oppose public financing of a baseball stadium in Washington DC July 1, 2004NO DC taxes for baseball!
Who We Are
We are DC residents and organizations who oppose taxpayer financing of a new baseball stadium. We believe that DC should use its limited resources for things that really matter - such as schools, health care, public safety, the environment, and basic city services. We believe that a stadium should be built by the people who stand to profit - the team owners - not DC taxpayers. And we demand an open process, complete with public hearings, on the issues of stadium financing and site selection.
Background
Most DC area residents would love to have a baseball team to call their own. But Mayor Williams' plan to spend $383 million to build a baseball stadium is a bad deal for the city. Research from university scholars -- as opposed to biased studies commissioned by baseball "public financing" proponents -- shows that a team would create mostly low-paying, low benefit, part-time jobs and would not strengthen the local economy. Even the most successful stadiums, such as Baltimore's Camden Yards, fail to produce enough tax revenue to justify large public subsidies. The well-off owners of Major League Baseball have told the cash-strapped District that the city must pay most of the cost of the new stadium. This is not fair, and it doesn't even make economic sense.
The DC area is the largest metro area without a team and one of the wealthiest in the nation. Major League Baseball should be begging to come here rather than making outrageous demands. The District is struggling to meet basic needs -- in environmental protection, education, libraries, health care, and other areas. It should not put in a baseball stadium before other investments that could do a lot more to improve the quality of life for DC residents and businesses.
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Why Public Stadium Financing is Not a Good Idea
Resources
* Take Action! *
League of Fans and Ralph Nader on the DC stadium battle
Ralph Nader and League of Fans' statement on the announcement that the President of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission is stepping down (10/6/03)
Ralph Nader and League of Fans urge D.C. Council to use savings from convention center refinancing for public needs not a baseball stadium (8/28/03)
Ralph Nader and League of Fans urge D.C. Mayor to ask for resignation of Sports Commission president and redefine goals of the agency (8/21/03)
Ralph Nader, League of Fans and D.C. Organizations ask MLB Commissioner Selig to eliminate push for taxpayer dollars as basis for baseball relocation (7/16/03)
Ralph Nader's op-ed column on Major League Baseball's plan to shake down D.C. taxpayers for a new stadium (7/13/03)
League of Fans' testimony against a taxpayer-subsidized baseball stadium in Washington D.C. before the DC Council Committee on Finance and Revenue (6/12/03)
League of Fans' testimony against a taxpayer-subsidized baseball stadium in Washington D.C. before the DC Council Committee on Economic Development (4/2/03)
Ralph Nader tells Washington D.C. government to put Books Before Baseball (3/21/03)
Ralph Nader's letter to the editor opposing a taxpayer-funded baseball stadium in Washington D.C. (12/23/02)
Ralph Nader's statement to D.C. Council members opposing possible taxpayer subsidized baseball stadium (7/7/99)
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