Rounding Up Fake Figures Inflates Impact by $500M
My favorite example was when a reporter rounded up an obviously phony economic impact number from 9.5 to 10 billion. Yeah, just another $500 million. No big deal.
Season Ticket Elites Demand Taxpayer‑funded Luxury Lounge
Surprise, the guys who buy season tickets on the club level want taxpayers to help pay for their luxury leisure outlet.
Vancouver Beats Vegas as Ideal MLB Expansion Market
At this point we are in the cheap talk threat stage. Being the 5th major-league team in a smaller Las Vegas seems less than ideal. Vancouver is a strong market. Yeah, the owners want a new stadium. Who doesn't, these...
Physics Works Everywhere, So Do Stadium Economics
There's a scene in The Three-Body Problem where a physicist moves a pool table around the room to demonstrate that physics works everywhere. The same is true about the economics of stadiums. My location is not a valid reason to...
Stadiums Spark Neighborhood Revitalization: A Must‑Read Guide
This should be required reading for any reporter investigating the neighborhood development effects that stadiums have. It was written before the Braves moved to Truist. The area has since rebounded to become one of Atlanta's up-and-coming areas. https://t.co/KW02NQPflI
Show-Me Act Funds Royals Stadium Despite Economic Ignorance
This is a pretty good interview that explains how the Show-Me act will subsidize the planned Royals stadium. It also reveals that the people who authored the bill don't know (or don't care) how the economics works.
Stadium Deal Coverage: Fake News Vs. Sycophancy Damages Trust
I've got a chapter in my book that examines media coverage of stadium deals "Fake News: Accidental Advocates and Editorial Sycophants." I present examples of both, and I'm not sure which does more damage. Journalists have a tough job to...
Tourism Impact Story Mislabels Consultants as Academic Studies
This is a great example of unintentionally bad reporting on economic impact. It interviews multiple tourism officials and presents commissioned consultant reports as "studies," while offering one comment from an academic who expresses skepticism. https://t.co/cpq47V33Qf
Even Obvious Deals Can Face Hidden Approval Hurdles
If this is such an obviously good deal, then why might it not be approved after further consideration? 🤔 https://t.co/1AHHfdaJgF
Public Stadiums Rarely Pay for Themselves, Ask for Proof
When I ask stadium boosters to show me an example of a public stadium that actually paid for itself. https://t.co/9vQy7zrys0
MLB's Virtuous Circle Is Moneyball on Rich Teams
"works within the resources"... "it’s never a bottomless pit" ... "there’s still only so much pie to go around." Apparently, what Terry McGuirk described as a "virtuous circle" is playing Moneyball with a top-third MLB payroll. https://t.co/dGgeOVKzSQ
Voters Must Judge $1,700 Household Stadium Subsidy
An objection I'm hearing is that this deal is about more than economic return (though that's the chief booster talking point). So, let's vote on it. $1 billion subsidy spread across 585K Hillsborough Co households is $1,700 per HH. Let's...
Don't Rush KC Lease Extension; Let V
There is absolutely zero reason to rush this. The team has an additional year on its existing lease, which could easily be extended. There is no excuse not to put this to the citizens of KC for a vote. None....
Stadium Announcement Revealed as Spectacle, Not Policy
This is just really good reporting that conveys how the stadium announcement was a dog-and-pony show, not a policy presentation. So many unanswered question. More of this please. https://t.co/WTHZG1s501
Tax Cuts Funding Tax Cuts: Propaganda, Not Certainty
Funding a property tax cut with more property tax cuts ... OK then. Reminder to media outlets, the term "tax certainty" is propaganda that the Bears PR team made up to make its subsidy request more politically palatable: STOP...
The Conversation Demands Evidence Links; Awaiting Book Tour Dates
The Conversation (TB Times picked it up through syndication) has very strict guidelines for what they will publish. Links to evidence are required, and they're all in the article. This book tour sounds cool though; hope someone sends me the...
KCMO Faces $2,700 per Household Stadium Cost
The private allocation *should* be 100%, but whatever the public share might be is irrelevant to whether a stadium deal is worthwhile. Just the known local share of $600 million amounts to $2,700 per KCMO household. This is before we...
Mixed‑Use Stadium Plans Cost Taxpayers, Fail Everywhere
This article describes Atlanta's experience with The Battery regarding the Ray's proposed stadium plan, but it could just as easily be applied to the Royal's proposal. The mixed-use development didn't work for taxpayers in Cobb County, and it won't work...
Rays and Royals Battle over Worst Stadium Planning
If the outcomes weren't so depressingly consequential, it would be entertaining to watch the Rays and Royals compete over who has the least thought-out stadium plan. https://t.co/vsEYwrEp1z
Council Approves $25M Women’s Soccer Deal Amid Controversy
Another indefensible stadium deal. Elect 👏Better 👏People 👏 Columbus council OK's $25M women's soccer deal with last‑minute update https://t.co/DkXfN6YkYS
Commissioners’ Power Could Bring A’s to Nashville
The Nashville experience shows the capabilities of NFL and MLB commissioners. Goodell recognized a cash-poor owner in an MLB-less market and pushed to grab a subsidy while Manfred encouraged Fisher to wallow in his fantasies out west. The A's could...
Sports Venues Don't Grow Tax Base, Just Shift Revenue
It's good to seek out expert opinions, but in this case, the person consulted doesn't appear to be familiar with the research. This statement is uninformed conjecture. Sports venues DO NOT increase the value of the tax base. At best,...
Cobb County Figures Misused in Rays Stadium Debate
So, it appears that some Cobb County financial assessments are being injected into the Tampa Rays stadium discussion. Here's your reminder that the folks pushing these numbers are not reliable reporters of the evidence, even though it might seem like...
Truist Park Didn't Add $577M for Bond Payments
This statement from @romano_tbtimes is factually incorrect. Truist Park absolutely has NOT added $577 million in property taxes and other revenues to cover bond payments. I have no idea where such an asinine assertion even comes from. https://t.co/9nqLnNMJPy
Team Threatens 20‑year Exodus without New Stadium
"Build us a stadium or we'll continue to threaten to leave for another 20 years." https://t.co/QmsMSY7Oww
Elected Officials Resist Stadium Subsidies, Residents Urged To
Love to see conscientious elected representatives pushing back against stadium subsidy demands. More of this please.
Tampa Bay Overpays Sports Teams with Taxpayer Money
Good grief, Tampa Bay. Y'all need to chill with doling out taxpayer dollars to pro sports teams. https://t.co/OEQymaZnZl
Sherman Pushes Taxpayer‑funded Stadium Upgrade for Profit
So, as long as taxpayers are paying, John Sherman wants to replace the current ballpark that fans love with an upgraded version that makes him more money. But don't worry, he insists that the new stadium will include a crown...
New Stadium Plan Promises Change From Costly Subsidies
People of Kansas City, pay no attention to the existing taxpayer-subsidized stadium district that bleeds red ink. 🎶 This one will be different 🎶 https://t.co/5X4zhaiOYa
Ohio Lawmakers Waste $100M on Haslam Family
Elected representatives are tossing another ~$100 million of Ohio taxpayer money to the Haslams (net worth $10 billion). We don't know exactly how much because government officials are too negligent to find out. I guess access to the owner's suite...
Brook Park Council Prepares Vote on Browns Stadium Deal
Brook Park Council moves toward vote on first part of stadium deal with Browns https://t.co/GEj5lVYVMP
Current NHL-to-Atlanta Proposals Are Impossible, Utterly Unrealistic
There is zero chance of this happening. None of the current NHL-to-Atlanta proposals are feasible. This is silly.
Polar Park Sparks Growth, City Funds Nearby Development
Polar Park was such an economic development catalyst that the city has to subsidize development around it. https://t.co/wAf3LC0MZj
Public Stadiums Are Fundamentally Flawed, Despite Vocal Opposition
There's no better way to know that you're right about something than experiencing a day of people telling you you're wrong, and no one provides a single piece of credible evidence (lots of namecalling, though). Folks, the case for public...
Stadiums Don't Boost Economy; Officials Mislead Public
If you're a random person on the street who thinks stadiums have economic benefits, I forgive you: you're wrong, but your ignorance is understandable. If you're an elected official who promotes a public stadium as an economic catalyst, you're either...
Matsusaka's Book Makes Strong Case for More Referendums
It's really a shame that John Matsusaka's book on the virtues of direct democracy came out just as the pandemic hit. It deserves more attention. He makes an excellent case for why we should use referendums more for determining public...
Opponents Claim “Different” Yet Echo Same Stadium Critique
One of the oddest things I experience when I speak out against stadium deals is the people who reach out to me to say something like, "I agree with you on other projects, but [proposal in my city] is different."...
Commissioners Prefer Luxury Boxes Over Voter Interests
I hope county commissioners like luxury box suites more than their elected seats. Voters absolutely do not like being duped, especially when it comes to stadiums. If you want to use Truist Park as a model, look what happened...
Supporters Claim Invalid Vote, yet Kansas City Rejected Stadium
The backwards-hat bro-brigade is out in full support of the KC Royals stadium plan. It seems their new talking point is that the last rejection by voters wasn't a valid vote. 1) It was. 2) KCMO voters rejected the plan...
Truist Park Funding Not From Battery Taxes, Deficit Persists
STOP IT! The County contribution for Truist Park was NOT paid for by taxes generated from The Battery development (some of the funding comes from a ~7 sq-mile area that includes the stadium), and the allocation was absolutely not recouped....
Stadiums Prove Poor Public Investments After 50 Years Research
Always good to hear from *both sides*, which makes it appear that this is some sort of debate upon which *reasonable people can disagree*. Not mentioned in the article: 50 YEARS OF RESEARCH HAS CONCLUSIVELY DEMONSTRATED THAT STADIUMS ARE TERRIBLE...
World Cup Economic Projections Are Clearly Phony, Says Skeptic
I will be more blunt. No serious person ever believed what were obviously phony economic impact projections for the World Cup, especially the people touting them. https://t.co/jbTQdpjTAg
Insights on Tampa Bay Rays Stadium Proposal Interview
Here's an interview I did on the Tampa Bay Rays stadium proposal from earlier today https://t.co/t7TFhX1OhI
Stadium Tax District Fails to Cover Debt, Never Self‑sustaining
The article teaser provides an incorrect description. As planned, the city set aside extra money to pay off the initial debt. The stadium and tax district are absolutely NOT producing sufficient revenue to cover the debt with a surplus. This...
Public Money Funding Expensive Sports Arenas Sparks Debate
Well, using tax dollars to build a new multi-billion dollar NFL stadium and refurbish the NBA/NHL arena sure seems like a wise idea.
Voters Love Rays Stadium, Balk at Funding
Polling on the funding plan for the Rays stadium is just brutal. Even though many folks say say they'd like the idea, they don't want to pay for it. https://t.co/08hS0v9fgy https://t.co/3vnTMPbNTy
Rays Stadium Plan Steals Funding From Current Venues
Somehow this story managed to fly under the radar. Turns out that the Rays stadium plan requires taking away money from existing sports venues. https://t.co/TwA21afUm2
Stadium Deal Triage: Endless Boondoggles Blur City Lines
It's going to be stadium deal triage day for me. I feel like Richie Hebner did about stadiums. As I look over all these boondoggle plans, I forget whether I'm reviewing a proposal for Kansas City, Tampa, Chicago, etc. https://t.co/Q4oByzeJAW
Questioning Newspapers Publishing Dangerous Anti‑Vax Op‑eds
Just curious, would a local newspaper allow an area anti-vax crusader to publish an op-ed that claimed vaccines are killing children? Because, claiming that an NFL team is an economic driver is no more reasonable. https://t.co/sBgRmlQSAX
Stadiums Fail as Economic Drivers, Research Confirms
The Royals are absolutely NOT an economic driver. 50 years of research shows that stadiums are inadvisable public investments. To suggest otherwise is akin to arguing that smoking does not cause cancer.