Monday, October 09, 2006

Michael Mayo on the Pompano Proposal

'Major League Baseball might not be thrilled about the Marlins being entwined with a gambling operation (even one that doesn't have sports betting), but it would be hypocritical for MLB to kill the proposal. Many teams, including the Marlins, already have sponsorship deals with casinos at stadiums and on their broadcasts.

'Best of all, there is certain poetry about it: America's new pastime (gambling) subsidizing America's old pastime. And unlike most public funding formulas, this one is strictly voluntary. Nobody's forcing gamblers to put money in slot machines.

'When slots arrive, the pari-mutuel owners will make out like one-armed bandits. Why not let the Marlins benefit, too? So long as voters get to approve the slot deal changeup, the Marlins might have finally hit the stadium jackpot.' (SunSentinel)

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