Local and state government officials have long argued that the presence of a major league professional sports team elevates the public perception of the host city and improves its economic and cultural life. In the last decade, while many municipal treasuries were suffering from fiscal duress, this reasoning led local and state entities to spend approximately three-quarters of a billion dollars to construct new sports facilities and another one hundred million dollars to refurbish existing sites that serve as “home fields” for professional sports teams.
Please note The Heartland Institute’s phone number and address have changed since this document was created. The correct contact information is The Heartland Institute, 19 South LaSalle Street #903, Chicago, IL 60603; phone 312/377-4000; fax 312/377-5000; email [email protected].
