Imagine Everbank Field as not only a home for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but also a home for those without one. If one Florida Senator has anything to say about it, pro sports teams will have to start doubling their stadiums as homeless shelters on off days.
Currently, a law that went into effect in 1988 requires any pro sports team that receives taxpayer money from the state to offer their stadium as a homeless shelter on days the team has off. Any team that does not do so is required to pay the state back. Sen. Michael Bennett (R-Bradenton) is proposing a bill that would require teams to comply with this previous law and pay the state back for any and all years since 1988 they hadn't been using their stadium as a shelter. A team would be exempt from the law if it has a homeless program in compliance with its host city.
"I've never understood why a man who's making his living scraping oysters off the bottom of Apalachichola Bay...that we would take his taxpayer money, send it to Miami, and subsidize some billionaire's stadium."
The city of Jacksonville, which is one of the biggest beneficiaries of taxpayer money for its pro team ($35 million), says there's no need in Jacksonville, because there are four homeless shelters within a mile and a half radius of the stadium. But Bennett says that's not an excuse.
"If they've got plenty of shelters and they don't need anymore [money] then just rebate that money back to the state of Florida."
Over the last 20 years, the state has given 18 Florida teams over $300 million dollars. The bill would also fine teams $125,000 for a blackout and use that money to buy tickets for veterans, foster children, and the needy.
"That way you won't have a blackout and the taxpayers around Jacksonville whose tax dollars are going into subsidizing that will be able to watch the football game."
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