| Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars from public coffers are spent to build venues for NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL teams; such subsidies are given under the assumption that such venues provide growth and economic return to host cities. Harvey Molotch's Growth Machine Theory argues that the driving force of any given locality is growth. Furthermore, Molotch argues that growth does not provide any new money or jobs, but merely redistributes them. Most sports related studies agree with Molotch's contentions, showing that little or no economic impact occurs as a result of sports franchises. This paper tests Molotch's theory by applying his various contentions to four cases of venue construction in Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, and Philadelphia. The findings of this study agree with those of Molotch and other critics of growth; yet they leave several questions regarding growth unanswered. |
