In which we wonder if any of our billionaires want to pay for libraries...

... Andrew Carnegie didn't give the equivalent of billions of dollars to build baseball stadiums or hockey practice facilities.

Rendering of the new Bees ballpark, Daybreak Field at America First Square, distributed by Miller Sports and Entertainment.

I’ve always taken some pride in what I think is a talent to connect the dots. To see a pattern in events or news articles that may not, on the surface, seem related.

For example, a few articles that, for a little while the other day, all had prominent positions on The Salt Lake Tribune’s website;

Provo City Library may be forced to slash hours and services if taxes aren’t raised — By Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, August 13, 2024

The Provo City library is facing a significant budget shortfall, jeopardizing programs and resources that serve both children and adults. …

… That’s all if the Provo City Council doesn’t approve the library’s request for a local tax increase to help supplement its financial needs. The library is short about $800,000 and has already cut around $235,000 in services to compensate, library director Carla Gordon said. …

Sandy’s dream for South Town mall: Hockey ‘around the clock’ and a $50 million bridge over I-15 — By Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, August 12, 2024

… [Sandy Mayor Monica] Zoltanski referenced a proposed pedestrian bridge that would run from the South Jordan Frontrunner station on the west side of Interstate 15 to the Shops at South Town on the east side of the freeway.

… Funding for that bridge has already been allocated by the Utah State Legislature in HB 488 — dependent on the Salt Lake County Council passing a 0.2% increase in its sales and use tax. Once approved, roughly $50 million would go toward the construction of the bridge over I-15. …

The U.’s new baseball stadium is getting some help from a Major League alum — By Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune, August 14, 2024

The University of Utah’s new baseball stadium, America First Ballpark, is getting some Major League help.

After receiving a “significant” donation from Colorado Rockies owner and Utah alumni Charlie Monfort, the university announced Tuesday that the baseball stadium’s field will be named Charlie Monfort Field. Construction on the new complex started earlier this summer at the location of the Utes current practice field on Guardsman Way. The stadium is expected to be completed in time for the 2026 season. …

The Utes’ stadium is expected to cost $35 million, with the majority of the funding privately raised by Utah athletics….

The obvious line connecting these three points is how really useful and necessary public services such as libraries are often left scraping for funds while big-time sports operations, often owned by gigazillionaires, get bigger and more expensive. Sometimes at considerable public expense.

It’s not horrible.

The Provo City Council has begun the necessary legal process to raise the local library tax levy.

Any infrastructure improvement that will encourage people to ride public transit, such as the proposed bridge over I-15, is welcome.

The new Ute baseball stadium is a good thing to have.

Building it is a result of the decision by the Salt Lake Bees ownership to abandon Smiths Ballpark at 1300 South and Main — also home to the Utes baseball program — for a shiny new facility out in Daybreak. But a new ballpark nearer to campus is better for the university community and should draw more fans.

And, with all that private money being donated, it seems that the Ute stadium will be much less of a burden to taxpayers than the possible Major League park planned for North Temple Street would be.

Whether or not Salt Lake City lands a Major League Baseball franchise, nice new stadiums for Minor League and NCAA ball are worth having.

I’ve always felt that baseball played by people who aren’t necessarily Major League level can be more fun to watch. Instead of unhittable pitching and many routine grounders, fans are more likely to see more action on the base paths — something the Major Leagues have been worried about enough to change some really old rules.

At Bees and Utes games, hitters will have a better chance, compared to the Majors, to catch up to a fastball. When they hit what looks like an easy out, they still have a reason to leg it out to first base. The minor league outfielder might lose the ball in the sun. A college shortstop could boot an easy ground ball. A few seconds of doubt that don’t happen so often at the Major League level and make the game more interesting.

Still. Libraries go hat in hand to the city while big time sports — pro and college — are rolling in dough.

Any zillionaires out there feel like being their generation’s Andrew Carnegie and paying for public libraries rather than sports palaces?

Didn’t think so.