| Since 1990, there has been an explosion in publicly funded stadia and arenas in North America for professional sports teams, including more than {dollar}6 billion dollars in taxpayer funds from 1991--1998. While a great deal of academic work has examined the economic, geographic and urban planning elements of this enormous public expenditure, there has been relatively little scholarly analysis from political scientists for a phenomena that has consumed such a great deal of public funds and political capital. Using political studies from the fields of urban public administration, game theory and political economy this paper will attempt to both explain this political behaviour, as well as provide a foundation for future political analysis.; In explaining why the various levels of government throughout North America have committed resources to these facilities, the two most common assumptions are (1) to save a dying industry and (2) to provide a local/regional economic stimulus. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
