Sports Teams Do What The Economy Can't -- Boost Cities' Spirits

Fittingly, the woman who was celebrated as the Detroit Piston's one-millionth fan of the season had recently been laid off work. With their local economy continuing to struggle, Detroiters take solace in the success of local professional sports.

1 minute read

May 21, 2006, 5:00 AM PDT

By Alex Pearlstein


"The Detroit Pistons are favored to win the NBA championship. The Detroit Tigers are having their best start in years. And the Detroit Red Wings had the NHL's best record this season...In Detroit, sports teams are the leading form of escapism. Yes, people often talk about the city's high rates of homicide and unemployment, and about mass auto layoffs and foreclosed homes. But locals also talk incessantly about sports."

In Detroit and other cities, sports teams have a history of boosting spirits during troubled times. "From 1975 to 1980, the Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls, offering residents a boost as the steel industry declined. The Yankees, by playing in the 2001 World Series, gave New Yorkers an emotional respite after Sept. 11. And last year, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints suited up for a game, albeit out of town, helping residents believe that life could inch toward normal."

Even so, with a recent poll showing that 51% of Detroit residents doubt their children and grandchildren will find work in Michigan, local sports executives are starting to worry that the pool of season-ticket holders may be shrinking.

[Editor's note: Although this article is only available to WSJ subscribers, it is available to Planetizen readers for free through the link below for a period of seven days.]

Friday, May 19, 2006 in The Wall Street Journal

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