From Time Magazine:



A recent wave of stadium construction projects is underway for professional sports teams across the U.S., with taxpayers helping to foot the multibillion-dollar bill. The construction includes both repairs and luxurious additions, with some teams seeking new public funding for projects despite still owing debt from prior renovations. The Associated Press tallied about a dozen stadium projects underway for Major League Baseball and National Football League franchises this year alone. The projects include the renovation of the New Orleans Saints and Toronto Blue Jays stadiums, plans for a new Chicago Bears stadium, and the construction of a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Several projects are being funded significantly by public money. The article examines the mixed results of the Atlanta Braves’ move to a new stadium, which received public subsidies but are not fully covered by increased economic activity. It also discusses the political support gained by stadium projects due to the implicit threat of sports teams relocating. Several teams, such as the St. Louis Rams and Las Vegas Raiders, have moved in the past decade, and there are concerns about possible relocations in the future. The article addresses the motivations behind the stadium projects and the implications for taxpayers and the local communities.



Original: New sports stadiums cost American taxpayers billions of dollars