Field of Schemes

by Neil deMause

  “finds no support for the notion.” Baade, “Stadiums, Professional Sports, and Economic Development.”

  “If you draw larger and larger circles.” Joanna Cagan and Neil deMause, “The great stadium swindle,” In These Times, August 19, 1996.

  “Coors Field is a beautiful place.” Steers, “Bowlen for Dollars.”

  “How much more food do people eat.” Rosentraub, Major League Losers, 151–53.

  “dropped out of a helicopter over the Twin Cities.” Terry Fiedler, “Boosters: Ballpark would aid economy,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 4, 1997.

  In a study Rosentraub did. Rosentraub, Major League Losers, 138–49.

  “One city official estimated.” Euchner, Playing the Field, 67.

  “economic benefits were overstated by 236 percent.” Dennis Zimmerman, “Tax-Exempt Bonds and the Economics of Professional Sports Stadiums,” Congressional Research Service, May 29, 1996.

  “Our research suggests that professional sports may be a drain.” Dennis Coates and Brad R. Humphreys, “The Stadium Gambit and Local Economic Development,” Regulation 23 no. 2 (2000).

  “sales tax collection in the city of St. Paul hasn’t gone down.” Jay Weiner, “The Economics of Stadiums Look Bad for the Twin Cities,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 19, 2005.

  “We really feel it would be in the best interest.” CBC News, August 26, 1994.

  “At some global level they are obviously correct.” Dennis Coates, “D.C. Stadium Déjà Vu,” Reason, December 16, 2005.

  3. Ball Barons

  “Anyone who quotes profits of a baseball club.” Andrew Zimbalist, Baseball and Billions, rev. ed. (New York: Basic Books, 1994), 62.

  “The revenues they rake in.” Michael K. Ozanian, “Value Investing, Sports Division,” Financial World, May 20, 1996, 70.

  Topping the magazine’s to-buy list. A year later, Raleigh, North Carolina beat out Nashville, luring the Whalers with a $120 million publicly funded arena.

  “about the size of the pork and beans industry.” Charles C. Euchner, Playing the Field: Why Sports Teams Move and Cities Fight to Keep Them (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993), 65.

  franchise values in every sport abruptly leaped upward. James Quirk and Rodney Fort, Pay Dirt (Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992), 56-63.

  “It will take a club to go belly up.” Quirk and Fort, Pay Dirt, 209.

  “You don’t make money operating a baseball club.” John Helyar, Lords of the Realm (New York: Ballantine Books, 1994), 249.

  It’s less well known that he also devised a plan. Bill Veeck, Veeck as in Wreck (New York: Ballantine, 1976), 173–78.

  Team owners who have their own television stations. Zimbalist, Baseball and Billions, 65.

  The list of fiscal shenanigans. Zimbalist, Baseball and Billions, 65, 215.

  When Roger Noll was hired. Helyar, Lords of the Realm, 347.

  “The balance sheet and the income statement.” Quirk and Fort, Pay Dirt, 97.

  “In other words,” Moynihan would later explain. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Congressional Record, January 21, 1997.

  “We thought as an incentive.” Jeff Wilkinson, “Marketing Guru Upbeat over Seat Applications,” Nashville Banner, January 1, 1996.

  “It has been unfairly reported.” Nashville Banner, January 1, 1996.

  When the owners of the New York Knicks and Rangers. Robert Hennelly, “Field of Schemes,” Village Voice, October 5, 1993.

  The “privately built” Fleet Center. Celeste Hadrick, “Arena Face-Off,” Newsday, August 21, 1996; Robert Fresca, “Teams Play Hardball,” Newsday, August 21, 1996.

  Total subsidy: $1.07 billion over 30 years. Because some of the expenditures will be deferred many years, this amounts to roughly $525 million in current dollars.

  “about as believable as Enron’s September 2001 financial statements.” Doug Pappas, “The Numbers (Part Five): National and Other Local Expenses,” Baseball Prospectus, January 24, 2002.

  Researcher Judith Grant Long has more recently estimated. Judith Grant Long, “Full Count: The Real Cost of Public Funding for Major League Sports Facilities,” Journal of Sports Economics (May 2005): 119–43.

  The city of San Diego ended up paying the team $36.4 million. Ronald W. Powell, “City OKs New Stadium Lease with Chargers,” San Diego Union-Tribune, July 13, 2004.

  4. The Art of the Steal

  “The subsidy they get is totally disproportionate.” John Riley, “Where the Grass Is Always… Greener: An $8.1B Building Boom in Pro-Team Stadiums: How Public Money Is Fueling Private Fortunes,” Newsday, August 18, 1996.

  “The result [of not using public funds].” John Williams, “Users to Pay a Majority of Stadium Costs,” Houston Chronicle, October 20, 1996.

  Lanier commissioned a study. Riley, “Where the Grass Is Always… Greener.”

  The owners also may have decided. Michael Betzold and Ethan Casey, Queen of Diamonds (West Bloomfield MI: Altwerger & Mandel, 1992), 137–39.

  “There is something about a dome.” Paul Attner, “For Many Cities, There’s No Place Like a Dome,” Washington Post, June 8, 1984.

  Old Metropolitan Stadium. Like Comiskey, Metropolitan Stadium for years had been undermaintained; one account called it “the most poorly maintained park in the Majors,” where broken railings created a safety hazard in 1981, just before the Twins moved into the Metrodome. See www.ballparks.com.

  calling the boxes “spartan” and “claustrophobic.” Christopher Lopez and Jeffrey A. Roberts, “Are New Arenas Worth It? Broncos, Nuggets Are Going on Offensive for New Digs,” Denver Post, August 14, 1994. As of mid-1997, the Nuggets and their cotenants, the Colorado Avalanche hockey franchise, were awaiting word on their proposed multimillion-dollar publicly financed Pepsi Center.

  Next door to the Nuggets. Stuart Steers, “Bowlen for Dollars,” Denver Westword, December 20, 1995.

  “This is a serious, serious question.” Lopez and Roberts, “Are New Arenas Worth It?”

  the stadium could “last indefinitely.” Steers, “Bowlen for Dollars.”

  The new stadium should be a “35,000-to-37,000-seat park.” John Pastier, “Diamonds in the Rough,” Slate, July 31, 1996.

  “And, with those three little words.” Kevin Mulligan, “Lurie: Birds Staying at Least in the Area,” Philadelphia Daily News, July 23, 1996.

  “I almost shit when I read it.” Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross, “Chastened 49ers Own Up to Unsportsmanlike Conduct,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 12, 1997.

  The undisputed master of the non-threat threat. Steinbrenner’s lawyer in the campaign contribution case: future Orioles owner Edward Bennett Williams. Ed Linn, Steinbrenner’s Yankees (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1982), 48.

  “We want to do all we can to first keep a team in Houston.” John Williams, “Baseball Officials Want Houston to Hurry Stadium Plans,” Houston Chronicle, August 8, 1996.

  “if there isn’t anything on the horizon.” Jay Weiner, “Bud Selig Addresses Minnesota Legislature on Stadium,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 1, 1997.

  “No one is anxious to leave Fenway Park.” Associated Press, May 6, 1997.

  The Houston Astros successfully threatened a move. Alan Truex, “Threat of Astros Moving to Virginia Remains Alive,” Houston Chronicle, June 19, 1996.

  Major League Baseball granted Tampa Bay. So named because an enterprising local registered a trademark to the preferred name, the Stingrays, and refused to let it go for less than a small fortune.

  “If you’re an owner and thinking, ‘What are my options?’” Jay Weiner, “Few Cities Either Ready or Willing to Adopt Twins,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 12, 1997.

  “The economics of professional sports today.” Bill Steigerwald, “Phoenix’s Diamond in the Sun,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 12, 1997.

  the stadium-hungry Astros released an audit. John Williams, “Astros Debt List Is Huge,” Houston Chronicle, August 15, 1996.

  it’s far too ea
sy for a rich team. Financial World, June 17, 1997.

  the project would result in fourteen hundred new jobs and $123 million. Donald L. Henry, “On the Move,” Business Facilities, April 1996.

  Two separate economic-impact studies. Edward Epstein and John King, “49ers’ Deal Raises Doubts,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 8, 1997; John King, “Controller’s Message to Voters Boosts 49ers Stadium Measure,” San Francisco Chronicle, March 20, 1997.

  “Mr. Collins has made it clear.” John Williams and Terry Blount, “Officials Pitch Idea of Ticket Drive to Save Astros,” Houston Chronicle, October 20, 1995.

  the Ontario public had taken a $262.7 million bath. For the complete SkyDome saga, see Neil deMause, “Can a Ballpark Figure?” This, March/April 1999. See also Mark Rosentraub, Major League Losers: The Real Cost of Sports and Who’s Paying for Them (New York: Basic Books, 1997), 321, and Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 214, 242–43.

  “one of the fanciest pieces of parliamentary maneuvering.” David Brauer, “Let the Stadium Wars Begin,” Citypages, April 1996.

  Although $40 million would come from the sale of stadium naming rights. Jonathan D. Silver, “Bombshell Provided New Stadium for Brewers,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 2, 1997.

  “This does not mean taking one cent more.” Kenneth R. Lamke and Amy Rinard, “Stadium Funding Plan Revived,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 10, 1996.

  In the end, Selig would be responsible only for. Kenneth R. Lamke, “As Deals Go, Brewers’ Is in Middle,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 12, 1996.

  And because the state also agreed. Brauer, “Let the Stadium Wars Begin.” In November 1997 the stadium cost estimate was revised upward by an additional $50 million, leaving the state still further in the hole. Jim Chilsen, “Brewers park may cost $50 million more,” Associated Press, November 13, 1997.

  “Good morning, madam. You have five minutes to do what I say.” Stephanie Salter, “The 49ers Need a New Game Plan,” San Francisco Examiner, June 1, 1997.

  5. Deus Ex Pizza

  “I have little patience with people.” Paul Ferrante, “Save Our Stadium!” Sports Collectors Digest, September 20, 1996.

  As they sat eating pizza. The Tigers won, 2–1, with rookie catcher Matt Nokes breaking up the opposing team’s no-hitter with a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth.

  But following the Tigers’ 1968 championship. Michael Betzold and Ethan Casey, Queen of Diamonds (West Bloomfield MI: Altwerger & Mandel, 1992), 109–10. Betzold and Casey’s history of Tiger Stadium and the first five years of the Tiger Stadium Fan Club is easily the most comprehensive case study of a stadium scam to date and was invaluable in compiling this chapter.

  “I’ll let them build a new stadium, then I’ll cry.” Unobstructed Views: The Tiger Stadium Fan Club Newsletter, February 1988, 1.

  Monaghan was telling local politicians. Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 126.

  “determine the costs of shoring up.” Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 132.

  “Nobody in their wildest dreams expects.” Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 134.

  Instead,HOK proposed a 56,000-seat stadium. Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 149–50.

  “Should public money be used.” Unobstructed Views, Summer 1988, 1.

  When completed in January 1990, the Cochrane Plan. Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 154.

  Tiger Stadium, which to fit the most seats. John Pastier, “Diamonds in the Rough,” Slate, July 31, 1996.

  “We were telling people at [the Fan Club] meeting.” Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 154.

  “Yeah, I mentioned it to him.” Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 155.

  Meanwhile, accolades poured in. Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 157.

  “I’d rather have the old stadium.” Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 157.

  “It’s unfair for you to think.” Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 209–10.

  “about to fall down.” Betzold and Casey, Queen of Diamonds, 145.

  he would augment its modest $20 million in cash reserves. Unobstructed Views, November 1995, 1.

  “not state funds.” Associated Press, March 22, 1996.

  The Fan Club raised about $20,000. Valarie Basheda, Shawn Lewis, and Phil Linsalata, “Voters Like Pitch, OK Stadium Funding,” Detroit News, March 20, 1996.

  One survey found that just 4.8 percent. Jeffrey Chadiha, “Baseball Struggles to Get Minorities Interested Again,” San Francisco Examiner, June 15, 1997.

  “They want us to renovate the old Tiger Stadium.” V. Lonnie Peek Jr., “Stadium Support Strengthens,” Michigan Chronicle, February 14–20, 1996.

  Down the street a ways sits the Fox Theater. Tom Henderson, “Chuck Forbes: Mad as Hell but Forced to Take It,” Corporate Detroit, January 1997. Moten later left city government and went to work for Little Caesar’s.

  As of 2006, the GM Poletown plant employed about 3,000. workers. Brian McKenna, “We All Live in Poletown Now,” Counterpunch, March 9, 2006.

  6. Home Field Advantage

  “This is not about a very rich guy.” Bill Steigerwald, “Phoenix’s Diamond in the Sun,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 12, 1997.

  San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown declared. Edward Epstein, “Brown Says ‘Trust Me’ On Stadium,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 26, 1997.

  “He wasn’t close to hysterical.” John Carman, “Radio Gets Mayor’s Mouthful,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 5, 1997.

  “It was beyond David vs. Goliath.” Carla Marinucci and Gregory Lewis, “Foes Say Team Spent $33 a Vote to Carpet Bomb City,” San Francisco Examiner, June 4, 1997.

  To that end, Cross brought in. Murphy also served on the presidential campaigns of George Bush in 1988 and 1992, and Bob Dole in 1996.

  “hunker down behind the public opinion polls.” Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial, June 6, 1997.

  The next day, the paper ran a front-page story. Joanna Cagan and Neil deMause, “Root, Root, Root for the Home Team,” Extra!, August 1996.

  “49ers drive toward goal as clock ticks down.” Eric Brazil, “49ers Drive toward Goal as Clock Ticks down,” San Francisco Examiner, June 1, 1997.

  The day before the 49ers referendum. Scott Ostler, “Brown Wins with His Jabbing,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 2, 1997.

  “Sports editors and writers freely acknowledge.” Beth Hawkins, “Home Field Advantage,” Minneapolis City Pages, April 2, 1997.

  The most egregious example of media self-interest. Hawkins, “Home Field Advantage.”

  The Seattle Times went so far. Michael Francher, Seattle Times, September 24, 1995.

  One of the most insightful looks into the inner workings. All quotes in this section from California Newsreel’s Fear and Favor in the Newsroom, 1997.

  “The Civic Power Brokers No One Elected.” O. Casey Carr, “The Civic Power Brokers No One Elected,” Seattle Times, April 2, 1997.

  “the king of bondsmakers in Washington State.” Seattle Times, April 2, 1997.

  “These guys take council members and ‘educate’ them.” Seattle Times, April 2, 1997.

  The biggest spender of all. David Schaefer and David Postman, “Stadium Measure Is Passing,” Seattle Times, June 18, 1997.

  “I don’t think it was any secret in the Tampa Tribune newsroom.” Neil deMause, “Throwing the Game,” Extra!, November 1999.

  “even [Tiger Stadium’s] supporters acknowledge it had to be replaced.” Larry Lage, “Price of Progress,” Associated Press, July 10, 2005.

  7. Local Heroes

  By the mid-1980s, the relatively new owners of the White Sox. Charles C. Euchner, Playing the Field: Why Sports Teams Move and Cities Fight to Keep Them (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993), 133–59.

  “suggest the windows of a church.” Doug Bukowski, Baseball Palace of the World (Chicago: Lyceum, 1992), 12.

  “One man stood up in a room full of strangers.” Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 9.

 
; “Should all of Chicago… be in the style of the Loop…” Douglas Bukowski, Mary O’Connell, and John Aranza, “Comiskey Park: A Landmark Proposal,” Save Our Sox, Chicago, Illinois, 1987, 16.

  At its peak, the group was able to generate. Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 86.

  “The ailing mid-South Side.” Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 18.

  “The value of a professional sports team.” Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 4.

  The owners of the White Sox had initially hoped to pull their team. Euchner, Playing the Field, 133–59. Euchner cites a market study the new owners had done in the early 1980s, which urged the team to develop a strong suburban fan base; he also looks to the television broadcasting wars with the North Side Cubs and the general trend in the ’70s and ’80s to locate key parts of Chicago industry away from the inner city and in the area’s growing suburban sprawl.

  The state would supposedly receive $100 million. Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 4.

  But White Sox management ran into strident opposition in Addison. Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 4.

  As location after profitable location proved unworkable. Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 4.

  Hallie Amey and many other residents. Bukowski, Baseball Palace, 4.

  In the end the neighborhood coalition. John J. Betancur, Michael Leachman, Anne Miller, David Walker, and Patricia A. Wright, “Development Without Displacement,” Task Force Background Paper, The Chicago Rehab Network, The Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement, June 1995. Euchner, Playing the Field, 154.

  Those residents who stayed filed a class action suit. Euchner, Playing the Field, 154.

  Anxious city officials actually flew White Sox executives. Kenneth L. Shropshire, The Sports Franchise Game (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995), 11.

  “It’ll never happen unless people think you are going to leave.” Unobstructed Views, May 1995, 4.

  Designed by the rising architecture firm ofHOK. Philip J. Lowry, Green Cathedrals (Reading MA: Addison-Wesley, 1992), 49–50.

  In a midnight session on June 30, 1988. Andrew Zimbalist, Baseball and Billions (New York: Basic Books, 1992), 129.

  In fact, it was an after-midnight session. John Helyar, Lords of the Realm (New York: Ballantine, 1994), 483.