Monday, March 6, 2023 | View in browser
I have a message for Northwestern: Come back when you’re serious.
*Over the past few weeks, a number of constituents have asked me what my position is on Northwestern’s new stadium proposal. Usually, the question comes in the form of, "Are you for it or against it?” It’s too early to give a final answer. But I can say this: The current Ryan Field proposal is deficient. It asks too much of Evanstonians and leaves too many questions unanswered.
Frankly, I’m incredulous that Northwestern officials think this proposal is adequate and have presented it as a take it or leave it proposition.
Northwestern has chosen to effort this like a political campaign, with slick mailers, a manipulative “push” poll, yard signs and allegedly “grass roots” groups. Let’s unpack what’s on the website of this campaign, rebuildryanfield.com, and use italics to differentiate it from my comments:
The new Ryan stadium campus is possible due to a generous gift from the Ryan Family. The Ryan Family’s gift was the largest in Northwestern history.
Awesome. The Ryan Family’s legacy of civic generosity and support of Northwestern is admirable. Go ‘Cats!
The current stadium lacks many essential features, accessibility and amenities found in modern stadiums befitting a Big Ten school.
True. A new stadium is very much in Northwestern’s best interests. A new stadium will boost athletic recruiting, alumni and donor engagement, and corporate sponsorship opportunities. It will also be an appropriate nationwide television showcase for a world-class university during the 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., or 7 p.m. television windows dictated by the Big Ten broadcast contract.
Let’s talk about that Big Ten media deal for a minute. According to ESPN, the Big Ten is projected to distribute $80 million to $100 million per year to each of its 16 members. According to USA Today, the league distributed $54.3 million to most of its members during the most recent fiscal year (2019-20) that was not impacted by the pandemic.
That’s a lot of money. But this windfall – combined with the Ryans’ generosity – makes it hard to believe Northwestern’s woe-is-me claim that it needs to have concerts in order to make the stadium financially viable.
Here is how they put it: Since a facility like this cannot be financially viable on just seven football games, the University is considering hosting a limited number of concerts each year.
All that dough from the Ryans and the Big Ten TV contract and you need concert gigs to stay afloat?
The University presents this bogus predicament as if it’s our problem. Moreover, it depicts the new Ryan Field plan as bringing a year-round community asset and that zero taxpayer dollars are needed to build and maintain the new Ryan Field and plazas.
Northwestern’s claim that the Ryan Field plan entails no public costs reeks of dishonesty. The costs would be considerable – and Evanstonians would bear them. They include lost revenue for Central Street retailers, noise from stadium concerts, traffic congestion, lack of parking for residents, and the potential decline of property values near the new arena. What is Northwestern’s plan to cover these costs? We don’t know. The University hasn’t seriously addressed them.
Most galling is the tax issue. From the campaign website: Preliminary market studies indicate that the current interest in concerts in the area could generate over $35 million in new tax revenue for the City of Evanston from Northwestern over the first decade of the new Ryan Field alone.
I bolded and underlined “could” because it is doing A LOT of work here. A lot of things “could” be. “Could” is not good enough. (I’m going to set aside the alcohol sales portion of this discussion, because that piece is soaked in “could.”) One thing I know for sure, though, is that alcohol sales and concerts would bring Northwestern a lot of money.
Northwestern would get to run this money machine under the shelter of a property tax exemption. Whatever sales taxes “could” flow to the city are pocket change compared to what Evanston public schools, public safety and infrastructure would receive if Northwestern paid the equivalent of property taxes on Ryan Field. Northwestern will try to defuse this issue with “coulds” and invent a “community fund” or one-time payment. That’s not good enough.
Despite the many unanswered questions, Northwestern seems to have calculated they can get the requisite votes on the strength of “could.” University officials act like this is a done deal. I think Northwestern needs to go back to the drawing board – and come back when they’re serious.
*The views expressed are those of Councilmember Suffredin and not those of the City of Evanston.
Thomas M. Suffredin
Councilmember, 6th Ward
847-859-7810
tsuffredin@cityofevanston.org
www.cityofevanston.org
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