By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews
Maryland leaders are once again selling voters a glossy economic fairy tale.
This week, supporters of Governor Wes Moore and allied insiders touted a new report claiming the proposed Sphere entertainment complex in National Harbor will generate $1.5 billion in revenue and “thousands of jobs across Maryland.” The analysis, produced by Ernst & Young and eagerly amplified by political boosters, reads like every other taxpayer-funded promise Marylanders have heard before.
Big numbers. Big headlines. And very little reality.
Who Gets the Jobs? (Hint: Not Marylanders)
Large-scale, highly specialized construction projects like the Sphere are not built by local labor alone—or even primarily. These projects rely on out-of-state specialty contractors, union crews flown in from across the country, and global engineering firms with niche expertise Maryland simply does not have at scale.
Yes, some temporary construction jobs will exist. Extended-stay hotels will book additional rooms. But the highest-paying, longest-lasting jobs—design, systems engineering, advanced audiovisual installation, proprietary tech integration—will largely go to out-of-state specialists who pack up and leave once the ribbon is cut.
Marylanders are left with traffic, higher rents, and a skyline trophy they can’t afford to enjoy.
Revenue for the State, Costs for the People
If this project truly generates “billions for Maryland,” a simple question deserves an answer:
Why is Maryland still unaffordable to live in?
Housing costs continue to skyrocket. Utility bills—especially energy—are crushing working families. Taxes and fees rise while wages stagnate. Young families are leaving the state. Seniors are downsizing or moving out entirely.
Maryland doesn’t have a revenue problem.
It has a spending, prioritization, and accountability problem.
Every flashy project is sold as a “win,” yet everyday Marylanders see none of the benefit and all of the burden.
The Ernst & Young Asterisk
Let’s be clear: these projections are not guarantees. They are models, built on assumptions provided by project sponsors and political stakeholders who benefit from approval.
Economic impact studies routinely:
- Count the same dollars multiple times
- Inflate indirect benefits
- Ignore displacement effects on local businesses
- Downplay infrastructure and public safety costs
- Exclude long-term affordability impacts
Maryland has seen this movie before—stadiums, transit projects, redevelopment zones—each promising prosperity, each delivering more debt and higher living costs.
A One-Party State Selling One-Party Economics
In a one-party state, dissent is brushed aside and skepticism is labeled “anti-growth.” But real leadership asks hard questions—especially when public resources, tax incentives, zoning changes, and infrastructure upgrades are involved.
Who pays for the roads?
Who pays for public safety?
Who absorbs the housing pressure?
Who benefits when profits leave the state?
So far, those questions remain unanswered.
Bottom Line
The Sphere may be impressive. It may even be profitable—for someone.
But until Maryland leaders can explain why “billions in revenue” never translate into affordability, stability, or relief for residents, this project looks less like economic development and more like another shiny monument to government-first economics and resident-last consequences.
Marylanders don’t need another press release.
They need a state they can afford to live in.
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Who Pays
- State and local tax incentives, infrastructure upgrades, zoning accommodations, and public-sector coordination.
- Opportunity costs: land use, transportation strain, public safety, and long-term maintenance absorbed by Maryland taxpayers.
Who Builds
- Highly specialized construction firms, engineering teams, and LED/AV contractors—many out of state.
- Union and specialty labor flown in for short-term phases, then gone.
Who Profits
- Developers, private investors, entertainment conglomerates, and global contractors.
- Consulting firms (economic impact reports don’t write themselves).
- Hospitality and tourism operators clustered around National Harbor—not statewide.
Who Gets the “Jobs”
- Temporary construction work.
- Low-wage, service-sector positions once operational.
- Few long-term, middle-class Maryland jobs with career ladders.
Who Doesn’t Benefit
- Families priced out by rising rents and taxes.
- Small local businesses outside the Harbor bubble.
- Counties already struggling with infrastructure, schools, and public safety.
- Marylanders still waiting for relief on housing costs, utility bills, and taxes.
The Bottom Line
If this project is truly set to generate “billions for Maryland,”
why does affordability keep getting worse—and for whom is this actually working?
Big promises. Flashy renderings.
Same old math.
If the money’s really “flowing to Maryland,” it’s taking a very scenic detour around Marylanders.
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