Kravitz: $160 million deal to keep Pacers good for Indy

There is nothing terribly palatable about corporate welfare, about spending tax dollars to help a private company — even if municipalities do it all the time. That's especially true at a time when our city is facing bigger challenges, notably the skyrocketing murder rate.

That said, this is the elemental question that has to be answered:

Do you want to keep the Pacers in Indianapolis?

That's what this 13-year-long, $160 million CIB agreement with Pacers Sports and Entertainment comes down to. Do you want to keep them? Are they an important part of the city's fabric? Do they generate dollars and jobs and keep Downtown vibrant on game nights?

Because here's the truth of the matter: The Pacers, like most sports franchises, have the leverage. They have the power to relocate. And that's especially true with the Pacers, who can look west to Kansas City and Seattle for two cities who would pay a king's ransom to have this franchise move.

You don't have to like it.

But what's the alternative?

Tell them to drop dead?

"This is a major step forward in being certain that, financially, the Pacers and the Fever — especially the Pacers — will be here certainly the next 13 years and hopefully forever," said Jim Morris, the president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment. "(Team owner) Herb (Simon) has never, ever contemplated taking the team away from Indianapolis; he would never do that. But the challenge is that we are one of the smallest markets in the NBA and we compete salary-wise with the New Yorks, Chicagos, Miamis and others. ... Our sources of revenue that we have to work with are among the smallest in all of professional sports.

"We had to find an economic model so that whoever might own the team 10, 15, 20 years down the road will be successful."

Look, if you don't care about professional basketball, don't care about the Pacers or sports in general, feel free to criticize this deal. Honestly, I'm not an economist — I can't balance a checkbook — so I'm not the one to tell you whether the city is paying too much or too little to lock up the Pacers for the next 13 years. Let the experts chime in on that controversial matter in the days ahead.

What I do know is that while the Pacers have not publicly threatened to move without a new deal, it's implied. They've got the juice. They've got the power. Like any pro sports franchise, it's going to take cash to keep them happy, even if their owner is a billionaire.

"Herb has never, ever suggested he would move the team; it would kill him to do that, and he wouldn't do that," Morris said. "But this has to be put in context that Seattle doesn't have a team, Las Vegas doesn't have a team, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Louisville, Mexico City, Vancouver. (For Simon), this is not about making money. They've rejected that. Herb does this for his hometown.''

Admittedly, I'm invested is seeing the Pacers remain in Indianapolis for years to come. Without them, I've got months with far less to write about. Without them, I can't criticize Frank Vogel for resting his starters against the Milwaukee Bucks.

I also know this is a more vibrant city with the Indiana Pacers. I know what it's like Downtown before and after a game, the restaurants and bars packed with fans. I've read the economic impact reports; well, I've read part of them, anyway. The Pacers, like the Colts and Indians and all our teams, enhance the city's value in ways both quantifiable and unquantifiable.

And I believe this: Without some kind of workable deal, the Pacers would one day be headed to Seattle or Kansas City or some other city willing to pay the fiscal freight.

Keep in mind, this is a team with an aging owner who, despite his best efforts, will not last forever. Simon has talked about his son, Stephen, when discussing succession plans, but years from now, who knows what will happen?

This deal, especially the part of the deal that gives Indy the right of first refusal if the team toys with the notion of moving, protects Indianapolis.

Again, is $160 million over 13 years too much or too little? I'll let the economists bat that one around.

I only know that without this deal, the Pacers would be in jeopardy of moving to another city, a city where they'd happily pay a king's ransom to have the cachet of an NBA team.

For years now, Indianapolis has smartly invested in amateur and pro sports and, in the process, has helped make Indy's Downtown one of the most vibrant and attractive in the country.

This is a down payment on the future, a future that will presumably include the Indiana Pacers for decades to come.

Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star. Call him at (317) 444-6643 or email bob.kravitz@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BKravitz.