Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums [Paperback]

Kevin J. Delaney (Author), Rick Eckstein (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2003

"This revealing, dead-on investigation of the modern-day sports stadium boondoggle, and its often-devastating impact on American cities, is an essential read for anyone, sports fan or not, who wants to avoid getting fleeced."-Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times columnist and former columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Time magazine "Public Dollars, Private Stadiums helps us understand the political processes involved in using public money for new sports stadiums. . . . It is a must read for anyone interested in this important new issue." -Richard E. Lapchick, founder and director emeritus of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University "Readable and smart . . . Kevin Delaney and Rick Eckstein show how conflicts over sports subsidies are emblematic of the kinds of power relationships that prevail in each community."-Lee Clarke, author of Mission Improbable: Using Fantasy Documents to Tame Disaster This book provides an eye-opening account of recent battles over publicly financed stadiums in some of America's largest cities. The authors' interviews with 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. 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--touting 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, many social problems. Public Dollars, Private Stadiums should be read by everyone with an interest in the future of sports and our cities. Kevin J. Delaney is an associate professor of sociology at Temple University and author of Strategic Bankruptcy. Rick Eckstein is an associate professor of sociology and assistant director of the Center for Peace and Justice Education at Villanova University, as well as the author of Nuclear Power and Social Power.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Public Dollars, Private Stadiums helps us understand the political processes involved in using public money for new sports stadiums -- Richard E. Lapchick, founder and director emeritus of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University

Readable and smart -- Lee Clarke, author of Mission Improbable: Using Fantasy Documents to Tame Disaster

About the Author

Kevin J. Delaney is an associate professor of sociology at Temple University and author of Strategic Bankruptcy. Rick Eckstein is an associate professor of sociology and assistant director of the Center for Peace and Justice Education at Villanova University, as well as the author of Nuclear Power and Social Power.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (November 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813533430
• ISBN-13: 978-0813533438
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Look at Big Sports Business, January 28, 2004

By 

Yue Han Dai (Shanghai, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't stop with this book, October 6, 2008

By 

Selqet "Silky" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Public Dollars, Private Stadiums, June 18, 2008

By 

Gregory Pienkowski "gregp33" (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums (Paperback)

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.