Why is it that the Chronicle ignores principles of truth-in-advertising (not to mention common sense) in each of its articles regarding the proposed downtown minor-league soccer stadium?
In this most recent Chron puff piece, Chronicle reporter Jose De Jesus Ortiz suggests that, based on the anecdotal observations of several stadium supporters, the new stadium will be an economic boon for the area near the stadium.
Of course, Ortiz doesnít even mention the bountiful economic research that shows scant evidence of large increases in income or employment associated with professional sports or the construction of new stadiums.
If the Chronicle admitted that the economic benefits of the minor-league soccer stadium are questionable, but that the intangible benefits to the community override the financial risk of the deal, then at least the Chronís support of the deal would be based upon an honest presentation of the issues.
Is that too much to expect?
Lets take a moment and start to track the economic benefits for the taxpayers of Houston who are helping to finance this stadium.
We have the taxpayers of Houston lavishing tens of millions of dollars of corporate welfare on a Los Angeles based company (AEG). The design work for the stadium will be handled out of Denver (Icon Venue). We can bet good money the concession contract will be outsourced to Philadelphia (Aramark).
So far, this looks like a sure loser for teh people of Houston.