Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums | 
 enlarge | Authors: Kevin J. Delaney, Rick Eckstein
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $23.95
Buy New: $20.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 276472
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 230
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 0813533430
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.068
EAN: 9780813533438
ASIN: 0813533430
Publication Date: December 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Do sports stadiums really revitalize a community, bringing revenue, jobs, and status as a "major league" city? Since the mid-1980s, nearly ten billion dollars of public money have financed new playing fields, so they must be worth the investment, right? In Public Dollars, Private Stadiums, Kevin J. Delaney and Rick Eckstein suggest otherwise. The authors provide an eye-opening account of recent battles over publicly financed stadiums in some of America's largest cities. Their interviews with the key decision makers present a behind-the-scenes look at how and why powerful individuals and organizations foist these sports palaces on increasingly unreceptive communities. While greedy sport franchise owners usually take the rap, this book reveals that they aren't always the driving force behind construction. Instead, pressure to build often comes from an unexpected quarter-local growth coalitions. These non-sports corporations view the facilities as an important tool in attracting new executives, and are more than willing to have their recruiting bills paid by local taxpayers. Delaney and Eckstein show that in the face of studies demonstrating that new sports facilities don't live up to their promise of big money, proponents are using a new tactic to win public subsidies--intangible "social" rewards, such as prestige and community cohesion. The authors find these to be empty promises as well, demonstrating that new stadiums may exacerbate, rather than erase, social problems in cities.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Don't stop with this book October 6, 2008
A very thorough scholarly analysis, and yet, quite an easy read. I recommend this book to any baseball fan, who is also a taxpayer and a voter. I also suggest that you read Curry, T., K. Schwirian, and R. Woldoff. 2004. High Stakes: Bigtime Sports and Downtown Redevelopment (Urban Life and Urban Landscape), after you finish with this book.
Public Dollars, Private Stadiums June 18, 2008
Well thought out and articulated arguments for part of what ills many cities and society as a whole. (And this is coming from a sports fan.) It was quite interesting to see how some communities are at the same time very much the same, while being so very different.
 Outstanding Expose December 19, 2007
This book was an eye opener on the shady practices employed by state and city governments in securing public financing for PRIVATELY owned stadiums.
A great read, particularly if you live in a city that is in discussion with a sports franchise regarding building a new facility. Be wary...be very wary.
Great Look at Big Sports Business January 29, 2004
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This was a very interesting book. Written by 2 scholars but easy to read and enlightening to anyone who wants a closer look at how sports teams and cities play off against each other and with competition (other sports teams and other cities).
Also gives an interesting look at the regional dynamics of the different regions of the USA. Very interesting look at how people in various cities in the US see themselves and how the importance of spectator sports ranks relative to other economic and entertainment opportunities in various cities.
A must-read for the average citizen to help make informed choices if and when governments in their area are evaluationg/pushing new stadiums.
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