There’s a lot of charm to minor league baseball games. The players are talented. The beer is cheap. And there’s rarely a bad seat in the house.
The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball has approached Castle Rock and Brighton and offered to put teams in those communities if they’ll build stadiums.
It’s an intriguing opportunity, but one that should be assessed alongside other community needs and desires. We hope town officials won’t be swayed by misguided arguments that would portray a $15 million stadium as an economic redevelopment tool.
Frequently, public officials desperate to sell a stadium to the populace have argued that sports facilities create jobs and bring spending to the community. Some of the best sports economists in the business, including Smith College economics professor Andrew Zimbalist, have studied this exhaustively and have concluded that even major league teams bring only the smallest boost to local economies.
So, any potential stadium projects in Brighton or Castle Rock ought to be evaluated for what they are: wonderful recreational opportunities.
The American Independent league is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, but tends to have players who can be categorized as between A and AA level. The league prides itself on creating a fan- friendly atmosphere that is affordable for families. Its wacky promotions are designed to elicit a laugh from fans.
For instance, next month the Pensacola Pelicans will conduct a tribute to 150 years of toilet paper, and will dole out rolls. In August, the Sioux Falls Canaries will give away George McGovern bobbleheads. Routinely, the El Paso Diablos have $1 beer night.
Typically, a family of four can get deals for tickets, food and drinks that will provide a night out for less than $50. What’s not to love, especially when the Rockies last week were selling tickets to the New York Yankees games for $75 apiece?
As officials in Castle Rock and Brighton study the idea, they should keep in mind just how important community support will be for the success of a stadium project. Any such project involving public money ought to go before voters, whether or not it’s required by the state constitution.
Baseball is a great fun. New teams could be wonderful amenities for Castle Rock and Brighton. But it’s imperative that the value of these franchises is framed honestly and taxpayers get a chance to make the final call.
