Major league baseball expanded to two new ballparks -- one in St. Petersburg, Fla., and another in Phoenix, Ariz. Taxpayers got soaked, say critics, even if the fans in the stands didn't.

• The newly-upgraded domed stadium in St. Petersburg originally cost taxpayers $100 million to build -- and officials spent another $70 million on renovations once an expansion franchise was approved, with most of the tab paid by taxpayers.

• Phoenix residents voted down a $100 million stadium bond issue in 1989 and passed, as well, a measure requiring city officials to get voter approval for such projects in the future.

• Nonetheless, state and county officials later financed a ballpark through a county sales tax increase -- without voter approval.

• So taxpayers are saddled with $253 million of the $354 million cost of the Phoenix facility.

Critics call these egregious examples of corporate welfare for wealthy sports team owners and players.