Travelers to WNY helped pay for Marine Midland Arena. (Western New York)

WASHINGTON - Trying to avoid fiscal collisions with their citizens, communities may have finally figured out a way to build public stadiums: Tax the travelers who visit the city.

At least 19 cities across the country are using or have used travel tax revenue to support stadium facilities. According to industry estimates, another 15 to 20 more cities in the next couple of years will use the same method to back the tax-free bonds that finance stadium and arena construction.

In Buffalo, the Marine Midland Arena was partially funded by a hotel occupancy tax.

But opposition to using travel taxes to finance stadiums is building in the hotel and rental car industries. …