I got into a conversation on Facebook Friday with a group of people pertaining to what appears to be the imminent closing of P.B.I.R.There was considerable debate about what has caused it's demise and I have no fair knowledge of any of what was said.One thing is certain.There is a vocal if not huge group of upset supporters who aren't in love with the idea of the complex vanishing.I myself have never visited the facility because it doesn't have my primary interest on grounds,that being an oval track.Looking into the future guys like me HAVE to change our way of thinking though.I was reading an online article today about a 1/4 midget track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds losing their 30 year old lease because the fair board had decided to "go in another direction".That made me do a little more reading.Tropicana Field home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays has consistently floundered at the bottom of Home game attendance in MLB over the last decade.The stadium opened in the late 1980s and was renovated 20+ years afterwards.Public bond money is still owed on the stadium until at least 2030.The City of St.Petersburg is openly talking about what to do with the property once they demolish it.The Rays organization is still lobbying MLB and the City of Tampa & Hillsborough County officials to give the A-Ok on building a new stadium here AND a new stadium in Montreal Canada so both cities can be on the financial hook.And that bond money owed until 2030 (or possibly beyond?) No worries that debt will be rolled over into the new bonds needed to construct a new stadium.Meanwhile we see all forms of motor sports venues vanish every year.It seems like if there was ever a group of people who needed a lobbyist or five in D.C. I know who it is...Rant over.
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