Public Development for Professional Sports Stadiums

This chapter discusses the development and financing for stadiums by the teams in the largest American professional sports leagues, including MLB, the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, and MLS, and the role of government in that process. With the exception of antitrust issues, there may be no aspect of American sports in which the government is as involved as the construction and financing of the stadiums in which the games are played. Stadium development, initially a private matter, entered the public interest because of the dramatic growth in construction costs coupled with the appearance of economic and societal benefits to a region that hosts a major league team. It will come as no surprise that venue projects are challenging and often controversial. This chapter analyzes how teams, leagues, and government entities negotiate for venue development projects, touching on the legal, practical, and political challenges that have emerged over the years.