Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums (Paperback)

~ (Author), Rick Eckstein (Contributor) "During our first interview for this book, a Pittsburgh public official made it clear that the stadium tax's electoral defeat was, at best, a minor..." (more)
Key Phrases: community collective conscience, stadium advocates, securing public dollars, San Diego, Coors Field, Hamilton County (more...)

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

Product Description

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 subsidies¾ 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.

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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: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,693 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 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 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.

1 of 1 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

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.

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)

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.