We Built This: Keeping Score of America's Stadium Spending Spree

To the tune of at least $4 billion in tax exemptions, America's taxpayers have collectively subsidized the construction of sports venues across the country, for the benefit of sports owners' bottom line. Are we getting our money's worth?

1 minute read

September 6, 2012, 5:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Aaron Kuriloff and Darrell Preston investigate the dozens of wealthy owners whose big-league teams have benefited from millions of dollars in tax-free borrowing that have gone towards the construction of new stadiums. This borrowing occurred despite Congressional efforts in 1986, "to bar cities and
states from building stadiums with tax breaks originally set up to help
local governments cut their borrowing costs for building roads, sewers
and schools."

"During the past decade, studies by Grant Long; Robert Baade of Lake
Forest College near Chicago; Victor Matheson, an economist at College of
the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts; and others have found
that stadiums are poor municipal investments," note Kuriloff and Preston. "Nonetheless, political
leaders are still willing to offer taxpayer-funded aid to team owners --
including muni-bond financing -- to lure or avoid losing a franchise
and the civic pride and event-related jobs that go with it."

Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Bloomberg

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.