The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-06-05
ABOUT STADIUM
Editor, The Citizen:

Having been one OF the citizens
of this city that fought FOR years
to get stadium for Key West. |
do not desire to sec the operation
of the Stadium get off to bad
1 start.
The city is DESTROYS of naming
a Stadium committee to operate
the stadium, Yet, there is propoe-
/ cd an ordinance which sets up the
entire operation of the stadium
before the committee is named.
( | do not feel that the commits
sioncrs will approve the ordinance
as written because this will be
poor business.
! Those who know me can vouch
that l want the taxpayer to get
dollar for dollar. If in the opinion
, Of the commissioners and city
manager the amount expended for
! tho stadium should be liquidated
I (although the golf course and Bay
view Park original outlet was
never Iiquidated from fceSl | am
for it 100 per cent provided a syS-
tom for liquidation is set up,
The stadium cost was approx
maicly $4,000 l contend that
through the sale of advertisements
| TO be placed inside the stadium
| and concession privileges that So
| 600 year, or more can be raised.
| This can take care of the liquidat-
! ing of the debt service.
Two wells can be made avail
able with small motor to take
care Of the sprinkling system,
thereby eliminating a large water
| bill.
! A percentage should be charged
bby the city for games TO be play
cd, such percentage to take care
of maintenance and lights.
The proposed I6 cents tax on
each dollar admission will raise
the admission price on each $1,000
ticket to $l.39.
! Why? Because there is 3 cents
state tax, 90 cents federal tax and
the 10 cents city tax will bring
the tax alone to 80 cents. In addi-
ton there is the proposal to charge
a parking fee, which l presume
| will be at least % cents.
Only this week, received a let
ter from Earl Mann, president of
! the Atlanta Crackers (Southern
/ Association baseball team, that
! he will bring his Crackers here for
at least three years if the city can
meet what Pensacola and every
other city gives a team which
trains in Florida
a park, water and caretakers
for the field are some of the re-
! quiremcnts. Yet, under the pro-
posed ordinance a fee will be
y charged for these services.
The Crackers will bring so
players, coaches and officials here.
This is in addition to newspaper
men, photographers, and tn e
families of the baseball players. 1t
is conServatively estimated that
this will mean an additional $70,-
600 year to this city.
In the proposed law is the tax
for admission. posting of a bond,
/ by the team asking for the sta
dium. paying for lights and opera
/ ton of the field for the night. or
day the event is held
Coach Jones. of the High School
states this is more than any other
: city in Florida is asking for High
school football and will mean, if
! enacted, that High school football
! will be played ono year only. be-
cause contracts have been sign
ed. and games must be played
a business like manner for
operating costs for a year. This
plus tho liquidating of the debt
overa 10 year period should con
, stitutc the stadium committee
budget, Income should be as near
as possible to the outlet
If the city has to expand one or
two thousand dollars a year 10
provide recreation for its citizens
that is not bad investment. II is
keeping the youngsters in good
wholesome reacreation, as well as
giving our winter and summer Wis
itors additional recreational, which
is badly needed here.
EARL r. ADAMS.
Key West. Fla,
T,,ya < 1881