Phillies, Steelers, Pirates & Eagles Could Face Financial Probe

PENNSYLVANIA — Is Pennsylvania getting its money's worth for having publicly funded the state's largest sports stadiums? Two state legislators want that question answered.

Republican state representatives Tim Bonner of Mercer County and Jim Gregory of Blair County plan to introduce legislation requiring the state auditor general to examine whether the Phillies, Steelers, Pirates and Eagles are complying with a 1999 agreement regarding rental payments for their venues. The teams play at at Citizens Bank Park, Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park and Lincoln Financial Field, respectively.

The state funding totaled $320 million in grants between 2002 and 2006.

The law authorizing those grants required the teams pay $25 million rental periods for each 10-year-period of their leases - minus certain credits for taxes paid. Thus far, that formula has resulted in sufficient tax credits to nullify those rental payments in the 2002-12 period.

The two lawmakers now want an audit for the 2012-2022 period.

“We are particularly interested in the Pirates’ claim for tax credits during this past 10-year period because we are seeing a decline in attendance,” Bonner recently told WHTM-TV in Harrisburg.

No wrongdoing was alleged. But the proposed legislation was introduced after recent reports surfaced that the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of Virginia has opened a criminal investigation into allegations that the Washington Commanders engaged in financial improprieties.

Attorneys representing Commanders owner Daniel Snyder have denied any illegal or inappropriate conduct.