The catalyst is the owners' insistence on new sports facilities complete with luxurious skyboxes and other revenue-generating amenities. They moved because their host cities wouldn't build them a new stadium, or competing cities offered the owners a sweeter deal. Another 20 cities retained their teams by remodeling or building a sports facility. Still another 44 teams are planning a new stadium or have expressed dissatisfaction with the one they're in and are demanding subsidies from their cities. Recently, the owners' demands for public assistance have reached new heights.
Many owners now insist on subsidies from their host communities greater than their teams are worth.
Communities are wondering why they should give the owner more than the team is worth simply to keep them local for another 10 to 20 years. Community ownership of professional sports teams is an idea with decades of successful experience. The Green Bay Packers have been operating as a nonprofit corporation since 1923, during which time they have won three world championships and three Super Bowls, and have recently financed two stadium upgrades from retained earnings. Their ownership structure has generated unprecedented fan support while maintaining the fiscal discipline exhibited by corporations. The Mud Hens are a nonprofit owned by Lucas County, which funnels all profits earned by the ball club back into its stadium.