Friday Funny: John Oliver's Takedown of Public Money for Professional Sports Stadiums

HBO's John Oliver wants cities to do one thing when professional sports teams come asking for public money to build new stadiums: "Make them pay!"

2 minute read

July 17, 2015, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cincinnati Stadium Riverfront

Katherine Welles / Shutterstock

"Most stadiums these days look like they were designed by a coked-up Willy Wonka," says John Oliver near the beginning of a recent segment that absolutely obliterates the recent history of professional teams taking pretty much whatever they want from cities to get the facilities they want. But Oliver's concern isn't the excess on display at these stadiums—it's the tremendous paid by taxpayers to build these new facilities.

Between 2000 and 2010, $12 billion went toward new facilities for professional teams, explains Oliver. In fact, since the 1990s, professional sports teams have a replacement rate of 90 percent. "Which begs the question," says Oliver: "Why?" Oliver can't find an answer to that question, citing a study that finds no evidence that stadium investments increase "jobs, incomes, or tax revenues."

Despite that lack of return on investment, almost every team gets something, according to Oliver. The New York Yankees, for instance, paid for their own new stadium—but it was built on land given rent and property tax free, costing the city hundreds of millions in lost revenue. May teams benefit from tax-free municipal bonds, which, as Oliver explains them, are usually spent on things like roads and schools. Among a slew of cities mentioned in the post for embarrassing capitulations to professional sports teams, Cincinnati stands out. Still paying back debts for stadiums built for the Bengals and Reds teams, Oliver notes that the taxpayers of the city are obligated to buy the Bengals a holographic instant replay machine—if and when such a device is ever invented.

Such are the lengths cities and their citizens are willing to go to for professional sports. But Oliver has a different idea: "We have to come to our senses, and stop signing these deals."

Monday, July 13, 2015 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business