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The History Behind AZSTA |
In 1999, Arizona Governor Jane Hull announced a special task
force to study ways by which the State of Arizona could
preserve its NFL franchise, secure the promise of future
Super Bowls, and keep the Fiesta Bowl as a "top-tier"
collegiate bowl game. Specifically, the task force was
challenged to determine whether a new stadium was in the
state's best interests and, if so, how it could be funded.
The resulting "Plan B" Task Force, announced in November,
1999, was comprised of 35 top business and civic leaders.
The Governor challenged the Task Force to develop a funding
mechanism that would minimize impact on the average citizen.
Hence, an increase in the sales or income tax was ruled out
from the start.
In the months that followed, the "Plan B" Task Force heard
testimony from experts regarding the economic impact
represented by the NFL franchise (which was feared would
leave the state without a new stadium), the Super Bowl
(which could come to Arizona on a regular basis if a modern
stadium was built) and the Fiesta Bowl (the event would lose
its top-tier collegiate bowl status without a new stadium).
Further, Task Force members heard about efforts by other
states (Nevada and Florida) to lure away major league
baseball teams that spend spring training in Arizona's
Cactus League, and the blow to the economy their departure
would represent. They also heard experts from the tourism
industry, the state's largest industry, testify that
Arizona's tourism promotion budget is severely under funded.
The strategy that emerged for winning support of a
multi-purpose stadium was essentially to create a true
public-private partnership, with the Arizona Cardinals
investing at least roughly one-forth of the construction
costs and the Fiesta Bowl contributing as well. Funds
generated by these taxes would go toward construction of a
stadium but also toward funding the state's tourism
promotion budget (doubling the budget in the first year
alone, quadrupling it by year ten), re-energizing the
state's Cactus League facilities and providing millions of
dollars for youth and amateur sports facilities.
On November 7th, 2000, Proposition 302 captured 52% of the
vote.
Benefits of Prop. 302:
- The Arizona Cardinals will remain in Arizona for at
least 30 years playing in the NFL's most modern facility
beginning in 2006.
- The Fiesta Bowl will retain its top-tier status and
will remain in Arizona for the next 30 years.
- The Super Bowl was held in Glendale at the University
of Phoenix Stadium in 2008. With
the success of Super Bowl XLII, officials are hopeful to
host many more games in the years to com
- Two new major league baseball teams conduct their
spring training in Arizona in a new stadium in Surprise
and renovations are complete on Phoenix Municipal
Stadium, Scottsdale Giants Stadium and Tempe Diablo
Stadium. Funding is approved for two new stadiums in
Goodyear, which will be home to the Cleveland
Indians and the Cincinnati Reds and one in Glendale which will be home to the Los
Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.
- The state's tourism promotion budget is increased.
- Youth sports facilities are now being built throughout
the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Valley economist Elliott Pollack has estimated that
annual average impact to Maricopa County over the next 30
years to be:
Jobs created = 16,430
Wages = $778 million
Direct spending = $1.04 billion
Total economic output = $1.95 billion
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