Portugal's Hangover
Portugal hosted Euro 2004, a fantastic tournament with a surprise winner in Greece. But as the financial crisis unfolds, some Portugese feel a tinge of regret over the expense involved. ...Stadium Issue in Santa Clara
The San Francisco 49ers and the Santa Clara City Council have negotiated a deal whereby the NFL franchise will get a new $937 million stadium with seating for 68,500. The ...Is New Orelans still a Big League City?
This article in today's NY Sun, "Pro Sports Far From Easy in New Orleans," points out the difficulties facing New Orleans' two big sports teams. It would certainly look bad ..."Trade the Saints to Minneapolis for the Timberwolves"
John Spry, an economist with St. Thomas University in the Twin Cities, has written an opinion piece that appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. In it, he takes issue ...Evidence that I am an Obstacle to Civic Progress
The public debate about a new arena for the Oilers has been going on for some time up here. Last weekend, the local paper, the Edmonton Journal, published several articles ...Stadium Debt
Stadium debt, in some cases, hangs around a lot longer than the teams that once played in them. From the Houston Chronicle comes this story that the vacant Astrodome "carries ...Hey, honey, I have options
While the Minnesota Legislature seemed willing to spend money like Michael Jordan, one thing it didn't buy was the new plan for a Vikings stadium. Perhaps it's due to a ...Stadium Naming Fun
Lackawanna County stadium naming contract must be made public, state says What a great headline! Here is how the story begins: A naming-rights agreement for the county-owned baseball stadium is ...Monopsony, Legislators, and Subsidies
Competition is a good thing, right? So why not allow the various communities within your state to compete with one another to attract a big business? Of course, never mind ..."As Stadiums Vanish, Their Debt Lives On"
Ken Belson digs into the financial legacy of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in today's New York Times. In short, it's a money loser, with $266 million in debt for which ...No More Super Bowls in Miami?
A story in today's Boston Herald reports that posted prices for Super Bowl tickets range from $2,000 to $5,000 in the secondary market. Here are some interesting quotes from market ...Striking Out in DC?
The stadium for the Washington Nationals cost over $600 million, most of it in public funding. A key selling point was economic development of the area along the Anacostia waterfront ...