So you want a federal ban on all tax breaks? Government will always subsidize jobs and housing plus they will also prioritize external revenue sources like travel and tourism. Stadiums and convention centers and the like bring money into the city. Instead of taxing only city residents, you get to tax people who don't live there. Sure the owners are rich and don't need the kickbacks however part of politics is giving the public what they want. This is no different than Amazon looking for a handout for HQ2. This is no different than the (now cancelled) Foxconn nonsense in Wisconsin. Lots of existing factories have asked for massive tax breaks or they will outsource to Mexico, etc. This is all the same game.
I think we are looking at this the wrong way. I think cities should build and pay for these stadiums. However, it should come with express community benefit. During the off-season, it is a great place to do blood drives, have social service fairs, have people register to vote, have people vote (at a place that is built for high volume), run job training programs, run food drives/pantries, etc. Both the city and the players should be demanding this as part of the deal.
I think we are looking at this the wrong way. I think cities should build and pay for these stadiums. However, it should come with express community benefit. During the off-season, it is a great place to do blood drives, have social service fairs, have people register to vote, have people vote (at a place that is built for high volume), run job training programs, run food drives/pantries, etc. Both the city and the players should be demanding this as part of the deal.