Supporters of the Natch Complex are saying we shouldn't be compared to Sterlington either. Their argument is Sterlington dropped the ball on maintenance, upgrades, continued improvements and thus folks (teams) no longer found it an attractive place to play. Yet! our geniuses in Natch launched a $15 million build without a plan/means to provide for maintenance, upgrades, continued improvements. That's the reason the goofy mayor/city council are embroiled in a controversy over increased sales taxes...for the already highest sales tax rate in the state, save maybe for N.O.. And why they tried to sneak through increases in water/sewage charges on city utility bills.
If these sport complexes are so wonderful, such awesome revenue generators, then strictly (zero tax dollars) private endeavors would/should undertake them. But...that never happens. Why? Because they are white elephants doomed to LOSE HUGE money for those condemned to support them. The private sector is only a gazillion times smarter than your average elected politicians and the cluless voters/taxpayers who enable them.
Oh! sure, many (most) local businesses will benefit from them. Of course they will, and why not? And yes, that will yield some additional revenue in taxes to the local government. But, as the numbers clearly show, in Natch's case, that additional tax revenue will trickle in taking 93 years to repay the $15 million that was already in the local government's coffers. Hello!