Detroit City FC stadium will pay property taxes, CEO says
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DCFC CEO Sean Mann addresses supporters Monday in Southwest Detroit. Photo: Joe Guillen/Axios
Detroit City FC's new stadium will be unlike any other pro venue in the city — it will pay property taxes, the soccer club's CEO said this week.
Why it matters: Wealthy sports owners across the country have relied on tax breaks and public money for tricked-out stadium projects.
The big picture: Detroit's major sports venues, Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena, are all owned by local government authorities and exempt from property taxes, Stephanie Davis, a spokesperson for the city's chief financial officer, confirmed to Axios.
- The Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons use the facilities under contracts known as concession agreements.
Zoom in: DCFC CEO Sean Mann made the property tax pledge this week during an emotional speech to hundreds of fans who gathered in Southwest Detroit to hear about the $150 million stadium project.
State of play: The team plans to build a 15,000-seat stadium — to be called AlumniFi Field — at Michigan Avenue and 20th Street in Corktown on the site of the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital.
- The stadium is scheduled to open in 2027.
Reality check: This pledge only applies to the stadium. The overall development, which includes affordable housing and a parking deck, will use some public money, although Mann has not disclosed an exact amount.
- He has said the team will seek a Commercial Rehabilitation Act property tax abatement, Crain's reported, but the value has not been disclosed.
- In May, City Council approved a $5.9 million Brownfield plan to reimburse the team for demolition of the hospital.
What they're saying: "It's a true civic endeavor that puts our values into action in the most sizable way to date so far. And with that, I'm proud to say, this will also be the only privately owned, privately financed stadium in Detroit, meaning it's the only pro stadium that pays property taxes," Mann said on Monday to fans' applause.
- "We don't have a billionaire backing this project," Mann told reporters after the speech. "I think a stadium should contribute to the city, not just as an entertainment, but as a participating parcel."
Between the lines: While Mann didn't mention Little Caesars Arena, his comments are in line with enduring criticisms of its more than $400 million in public financing.
- DCFC has long considered itself a grassroots, community-focused sports organization.
What's next: The project will be explained in greater detail to nearby residents during public meetings beginning Aug. 21.