Senate committee approves Gopher stadium
The Senate Government Operations committee approved a funding plan for a Gophers stadium. The plan would have the state pay $7 million a year for 25 years, representing 40% of the cost of the stadium. The University would have to raise the other 60%.
I am against state funding for professional sports teams. The University is another matter, however. First, the University is state-funded to begin with. Second, this plan has the state paying for less than half the cost of the stadium, which is much less than funding plans for a Twins or Vikings stadium.
A Big Ten university needs a real stadium. This is a fiscally responsible plan that benefits the state.
posted by MN Politics Guru @ 18:15
2 Comments:
I think academics should be a higher priority for University funding than sports. However I am less opposed to the U Stadium than stadium boondoggles for pro-sports.
I would like to see a campus stadium... but then I look at the graduation rates. And then I look at the graduation rates of atheletes. It is absolutely disgusting. Our school's grad rates are easily among the worst in the Big Ten. Or any other NCAA division as well.
The TCF involvement is also making me nervous. They have made a great business of targeting college students (the most likely victims of overdrawn accounts and misuse of credit cards). I think that the U should explore all options available when looking for funding of any program (education or sport)... and they have every right to set-up this type of partnership. But I personally have had bad experiences with TCF and their partnership with UMD, and it worries me that other students will be more likely to experience the same because of this agreement the U is making.
Post a Comment
<< Home