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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2003 |
CONTACT: Shana Heilbron 202-724-7782 |
Councilmember Harold Brazil today continued his longstanding support for bringing Major League Baseball back to DC. "It's time we hit this one out of the park! We've been trying for 30 years to get the Senators back in D.C. and we're almost there... we've rounded third and we are headed for HOME!" Brazil said to a crowd rallying downtown in support of baseball this afternoon. "It is so wonderful to see so many people coming out and voicing their support for the return of our national pastime and something that can spark even further economic development in Washington," added Brazil.
Brazil and others, including Mayor Anthony Williams and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Eric Price, have made baseball a top priority for the District. "On top of the fun and excitement baseball will bring to the District, we really need to look at the economic impact a baseball team would have," said Brazil. He continued, "A baseball stadium will create hundreds of jobs for District residents and pump millions of dollars into our restaurants and stores - which means more tax dollars for city services and education." Brazil pointed to a 1999 study conducted for the District, which estimated that a stadium would generate over $1.4 billion dollars in direct spending and over $2 billion in total spending over its first 20 years. In addition, the study showed that over 2,000 jobs would be created and over $750,000,000 in salaries created.
Brazil also noted that the decision to build a stadium is not a trade-off between a stadium and public services. He noted that the current proposal is for funding for the stadium to come from a tax on players' salaries, taxes on goods sold at the stadium, and a new fee imposed on large businesses. There would be no diversion of current revenue for the stadium.
"We wouldn't be diverting any existing revenue to the stadium, but the stadium would be pouring hundreds of jobs and millions of additional dollars into the economy - which means more dollars to pay for education, public safety, and other services" stated Brazil. He added, "Baseball is a great opportunity for the District and District residents. It's time for the District to put the last pieces together and get ready to PLAY BALL!"
From the Washington Post
Letters to the Editor
April 12, 2003
Baseball: Location, Location, Location
Saturday, April 12, 2003; Page A18
Despite claims made in the April 6 Close to Home piece "Three Strikes Against a Stadium," a 1999 study conducted for the District estimated that in its first 20 years, a baseball stadium in the city would generate $1.4 billion in direct spending and more than $2 billion in total spending. It also would create mare than 2,000 jobs, generating more than $750 million in personal income. And those numbers are likely to be low.
A recent study conducted for Virginia estimated that a new baseball stadium would create more than 3,000 jobs and, over 30 years, would generate $8.5 billion in revenue from operations, fan spending and personal income. Other cities that have done a baseball stadium right have seen these types of results. Denver's Coors Field, for example, was estimates to have generated $200 million in economic impact and $56 million from sales tax in 1995 alone. And Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been credited with revitalizing Baltimore's downtown.
The District needs only to look at MCI Center to see what a stadium could do. MCI Center almost single-handedly has revived the east end of downtown, and it has helped bring hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and thousands of job opportunities to the District. A baseball stadium could do the same for the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue area, one proposed site for a stadium, or for the Waterfront-South Capitol Street corridor, another strong contender.
On top of all of this, we can get the money for a stadium without dipping into funds we're using now. Funding would come from a tax on player salaries, taxes on goods sold at the stadium and a new fee imposed on large businesses.
Baseball in our midst could provide not only entertainment but also inspiration, especially for our youth. So let's dare to be great. Washington is becoming a great city, and baseball is a great opportunity the city can't afford to pass up.
HAROLD BRAZIL
Member (At Large)
D.C. Council
Washington
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 8, 2003 |
CONTACT: Shana Heilbron 202-724-7782 |
"Bringing baseball back to the District will be a great economic driver," said Councilmember Harold Brazil in response to an article written about baseball in Sunday's Washington Post. "It will also be a strong cultural and civic attraction, and provide inspiration and opportunities for our youth."
In terms of the economic impacts, a baseball stadium will create hundreds of j jobs for our residents and pump millions of dollars into our restaurants and stores. In fact, a 1999 study conducted for the District estimated over $1.4 billion dollars in direct spending and over $2 billion in total spending generated by a stadium over its first 20 years. In addition, the study showed that over 2,000 jobs would be created and over $750,000,000 in salaries created. And those numbers are likely to be low. A recent study conducted for Virginia estimated that a new baseball stadium would create over 3,000 jobs and have a 30-year economic impact of over $8.5 billion dollars and generate new personal earnings of almost $3 billion.
Brazil said, "Look beyond the numbers, at actual evidence; the MCI Center almost single-handedly revived the East End of downtown and has helped bring hundreds of millions of dollars in investment to the District and thousands of job opportunities for District residents. Baltimore's renaissance of its downtown and waterfront owes a huge debt to Camden Yards... and across the country, Denver's Coors Field and Cleveland's Jacob's Field have been credited with sparking strong revivals."
Baseball will also bring strong quality of life benefits. Brazil has been a strong supporter of the arts and our public libraries for some of the same reasons he supports professional sports in the District. Sports and entertainment give people an outlet from the daily patterns of life and provide personal inspiration, especially for our youth.
"I believe that baseball not only brings parents and children together, and friends together with friends, it is also a community event. When I go to a ballpark and watch a game I notice that thousands of people who never would normally talk to each other on the street are slapping high fives when a great play is made or argue a close call at home plate. People unite from all walks of life for a period of time when they are in a ballpark," added Brazil.Brazil reinforces the fact that the decision to build a stadium is not a trade-off between a stadium and public services. By supporting a new stadium, he is not saying that it is a more important expenditure for our tax dollars than education or public safety. The funding for the stadium would come solely from a tax on players' salaries, taxes on goods sold at the stadium, and a new fee imposed on large businesses to fund the stadium. So we wouldn't be diverting current revenue for the stadium, or taking any revenue that would exist except for the existence of the stadium-financing plan.
"I want to note that while we divert revenue to the stadium, the stadium would be pouring hundreds of jobs and millions of additional dollars into the economy - which means more dollars to pay for education, public safety, and other services" stated Brazil. He added, "Baseball is a great opportunity for the District and District residents. Let's not miss this opportunity to play ball."
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2003 |
CONTACT: Shana Heilbron 202-724-7782 |
Councilmember Harold Brazil traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, with other District representatives to pitch Washington, DC, to Major League Baseball's (MLB) relocation committee. The presentation was Thursday, March 20 at the Bank One Ballpark, which is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Brazil said, "I am extremely excited that we are making strides every day toward our goal of bringing a major league baseball team back to the nation's capital. DC is a prime market that has gone far too long without a baseball team. The trip to Arizona was an important opportunity to show Major League Baseball that DC deserves a team." Brazil served as representative of the City Council, and was joined on the trip by a number of others, including Eric Price, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; Bobby Goldwater, President and Executive Director of the Sports and Entertainment Commission; Terry Golden, representative of the Federal City Council, and other business leaders.
"By going out to Arizona together, with such a strong delegation and an extremely strong case to make to Major League Baseball, I believe we offer the best choice to be the next home for a ML13 team," added Brazil.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2002 |
CONTACT: Shana Heilbron 202-724-7782 |
Before the hearing, Councilmember Brazil commented on the wide benefits baseball's return to the District will bring. "A baseball stadium is more than just a great boost to our civic spirit. It will be a strong catalyst for bringing jobs and more development to the District, especially the neighborhood it's located in. We'll see new commercial buildings, retail establishments, residences, and a host of new job opportunities. I'm excited about this opportunity, and I know my colleagues and many District residents are as well."
Councilmember Brazil also commented on the financing options for a stadium, expressing strong optimism. Brazil stated: "The District is in a tight fiscal situation right now. But a baseball stadium will create new streams of income to draw on streams that will exist only if a baseball team comes to the District." Brazil cited property tax revenues from the new stadium, sales tax on food and fan items sold at the stadium, ticket taxes, a baseball-specific lottery, and player income taxes as a few options. Brazil added: "We're not going to sacrifice education or public safety. But we are going to be creative and aggressive about creating financing opportunities and bringing that new money to the table." Brazil concluded: "I know the District government will pull together to do what we need to bring Major League Baseball back to the District."
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