We have become numb to TV "editorials" being simply community puff pieces: "We at xxxxx TV station feel strongly that the residents of our area should throw their support behind the upcoming United Way campaign..."

However, Wayne Godsey, GM at KMBC-TV9, actually takes stands on issues. Here is his take on the upcoming stadium issue followed by a rebuttal by Peter Levi of the Chamber of Commerce:

March 13, 2006: Stadium Vote

We love Chiefs games, but in spite of what supporters of Proposition 1 would have you believe, we can't find a single unbiased study that says public funding of stadiums is a good deal for taxpayers.

The studies do say this: Most income generated by teams goes to players and owners, many of whom live and spend their money elsewhere; there is little tourism revenue since few fans come from outside the area. NFL teams sell most of their tickets locally, for the entire season; few, if any, permanent jobs are created.

Public financing simply means that citizens who can't or don't attend games are subsidizing those who do.

But if it makes you feel good to live in a city with major league teams, if you think the teams will leave if this fails, and if you can't bear the thought of life without the Chiefs and Royals, go ahead and vote for the sales tax, which will upgrade the stadiums.

With so little economic payback, that would be the only reason to do so.

Last week's Channel 9 editorial indicated they could not find a study to show the economic impact of the two professional sports teams.

When people visit another city, for whatever reason, they spend money there, supporting businesses and their employees. This one dollar turns over many times.

Every time it turns over, most of it is subject to that community's sales tax, providing jobs and supporting education, infrastructure and other basic government services. This is called economic impact.

In fact, we know that more than half of the people who attend the games come from outside Jackson County, many from outside the metro area, and they spend hundreds of millions of dollars in the county, creating thousands of jobs.

Over the next 25 years, it's projected that the impact will be in the billions of dollars.

Keeping the teams at the sports complex doesn't cost -- it pays. We urge you to vote yes on questions 1 and 2 on April 4.

TheKansasCityChannel.com

March 13, 2006: Stadium Vote