Stadium Building & Presidential Politics

Scott Walker & the Bucks have an economic development deal for the new Bucks stadium. That’s generated these campaign triggering statements:

• Walker “commits Wisconsin taxpayers to pay $400 million for a new basketball arena.”
• “…$200,000 that the co-owners of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks donated to a group backing his  [Walker’s] campaign”
• The reaction in new Hampshire: “I don’t think taxpayer money should be used for things like that,”

Walker says:

• The state will lose $299 million if the Bucks leave which the team has threatened
• The Bucks will foot 1/2 the cost of the $600 M arena

Governing