Any public funding is absurd

I’d like to thank The Seattle Times Editorial Staff for its view [“Arena hoops dreams and reality,” Opinion, July 29]. If there are enough voters in the Greater Seattle area who can read and comprehend the issue of a substantially publicly funded new arena for a yet-to-be-obtained NHL and/or NBA team, it should be dead!

Considering the ridiculous possibilities of Greater Seattle supporting six pro teams, here are a few other thoughts:

One, additional city traffic and with it, the additional burden on law enforcement, the additional city air pollution from vehicles and other pollution from uses of the arena.

Two, why should any taxpayer front the proposed arena (and land) cost for the people (owners/investors) who reap the profits? And what happens if the public sponsors the cost (and risk) of the land and arena, and the new team(s) can’t support it? If this is a business, then only investors can pay for and take the risk of success or failure! That’s what investment in any business enterprise is about!

And three, how much do tickets cost to events in the proposed arena, how much for parking, how much for food and drink and, with possibly six teams, there could be as many events as three to four per week. Who assures the required associated utilities facilities (i.e. new power generation, additional sewage treatment, additional water service, additional waste disposal, et al)? All of that should be investor cost up front!

— Richard Hahn, Sequim