What it's all about

About a decade back, Columbia's politicians devoted some hard earned taxpayer money to subsidizing millionaires by building them a baseball stadium. In the meantime, the millionaires who run the Capital City Bombers got up and left, complaining of inadequate municipal support for the stadium.

When The State runs the story, do they lament the waste of taxpayer dollars? No, they insist it's the city who has "turned its back" on baseball. The solution? More taxpayer dollars, please!

One possibility is being proposed by Bill Shanahan, a Bombers general manager in the early 1990s. . . .

But Mr. Shanahan’s proposal comes with a price. He understandably wants Columbia to bring the park up to playing shape, which would cost about $250,000 in deferred maintenance. Mr. Shanahan said if the improvements are made, an ownership group he represents will purchase an existing team for $250,000 or an expansion franchise in the same league for $300,000.

Mr. Shanahan’s proposal is an intriguing one that the city should consider. Negotiations should include a discussion about continued maintenance and what additional costs the city would incur.

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