Only Seven Percent?!?!

New York State considers rule that 7% of sports tickets be affordable
From TicketNews.com, 3/10/09

The New York State Assembly is considering a proposed bill that would mandate that at least 7% of the tickets for sale for a sporting event be affordable, if the game is played in a facility that received taxpayer money to help build it. Bill number A00508, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, calls for "an accounting of all benefits that any state or local authority has granted for the purpose of construction, reconstruction, repair, or rehabilitation of a professional sports facility" so that an affordable ticket price can be determined. The proposed bill does not specify what constitutes "affordable," nor does it limit who would be eligible to buy such tickets or where in the stadium those seats should be located. "Public authorities often provide enormous subsidies for construction, reconstruction, repair, or renovation of sports facilities. The rationale for providing these subsidies is that the facilities thus created and maintained provide a benefit to the general public. While such benefit may take many forms, the basic purpose of these facilities serving as a venue for spectator sporting events-is often out of reach for New Yorkers with modest means. This bill would make affordable tickets a required part of the public benefit we expect when we subsidize these projects," the proposed bill stated.