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House Panel OKs State to Help Glendale With Super Bowl Costs

phoenix.about.com

A House panel agreed today to have state taxpayers provide some help for Glendale to cover its 2015 Super Bowl costs. But, Arizona Public Radio’s Howard Fischer reports many doubts remain.

Glendale officials figure the last time they hosted the event in 2008 it brought in about $1.2 million in sales taxes — and cost the city $2.8 million, most of that in public safety costs. Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers said it’ll be worse this time, with stiffer security requirements and the NFL multi-day block party being moved out of Glendale — along with any tourism dollars — to Phoenix. Rep. Jamescita Peshlakai voted to reimburse the city up to $2 million saying it benefits more than Glendale.

“Every time we host the Super Bowl or other large events, people hop in their rental cars, come up north, and they spend money,” Peshlakai said.

But, Rep. Eddie Farnsworth refused to go along, questioning whether any of this was the state’s obligation. Rep. Ruben Gallego did vote for the plan but was clearly not happy about it.

“Mostly I have a problem with the NFL holding hostage a lot of these cities and states and governments, is a multi-billion dollar nonprofit, doesn’t pay taxes,” Gallego said.

Weiers noted that $2 million is half as much as he had sought.

“But it’s a whole lot better than nothing.”

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