| This dissertation focuses on public financing of facilities for professional sports teams, particularly Major League Baseball (MLB) from a local economic development (LED) perspective. The researcher completed a case study of the St. Louis Cardinals' new Busch Stadium using growth machine theory as developed by Logan and Molotch (1987). Further, this researcher attempts to explain how and why cities continue to invest public funds in professional sports facilities despite economic evidence that indicates that they do not produce a satisfactory monetary return on investment. Cities have great demand on funds, especially those concerning public services and infrastructure. With the current economic crisis, this demand is likely to grow. Moreover, this research attempts to bridge the gap in literature concerning professional sports facilities, LED, and growth machine theory. |
