Looking for Economic Development? Skip the NFL and Go with Lollapalooza

One of the leading skeptics on the economic value of sports and entertainment investments has a caveat: music festivals just might be the ticket.

1 minute read

October 21, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Music Festival

Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock

"Economists and public policy experts have been telling us for decades that sports stadiums are a terrible investment for governments to make with taxpayers’ money," according to an article by Alan Ehrenhalt.

Ehrenhalt picks up specifically, and in detail, on the arguments of Jonathan Wynn, who teaches sociology at the University of Massachusetts. Wynn "doesn’t stop at sports arenas," according to the article. "He goes on to argue that virtually all the public entertainment facilities that cities like to invest in -- art museums, aquariums, 'hall of fame' headquarters for this and that -- turn out to be unwise gambles with public money."

Wynn is willing to concede a way for cities to get enough economic development bang for the buck with at least one kind of marquee entertainment investment: music festivals. Examples like Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas have proven ability to pump money into the local economy. 

Thursday, October 20, 2016 in Governing

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.