Key panel approves tax break on Super Bowl tickets
A key Senate committee easily approved a tax break on Super Bowl tickets Wednesday along with another sales tax holiday this summer for back-to-school shoppers.
The Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee sent House Bill 951 to the Senate floor for a vote during the final few weeks of the session. The measure has already passed the Georgia House.
Waiving the sales tax on tickets to the Super Bowl would cost the state and city of Atlanta $10 million in revenue. But backers say hosting a Super Bowl would bring $400 million or more in economic benefits from spending on hotels, meals and other things. That, they say, would more than pay the state and city back for lost sales tax revenue.
The Atlanta Sports Council —- along with Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed —- is backing the ticket bill in hopes of persuading the National Football League to bring the Super Bowl to Atlanta to showcase the new stadium that’s rising next door to the Georgia Dome.
Such deals are typical of cities bidding on Super Bowls, officials said, but anything involving tax breaks that help big-money sporting events (and wealthy owners) is sure to spark debate. Particularly in Atlanta, where the city has put big money into the new Falcons stadium and the state has borrowed more than $40 million to build a parking deck for the facility.
About the Author
James Salzer has covered state government and politics in Georgia since 1990. He previously covered politics and government in Texas and Florida. He specializes in government finance, budgets, taxes, campaign finance, ethics and legislative history
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