Economic and Societal Implications on Communities Surrounding Sports Franchises

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Recommended: Studies done on professional sports teams impact on city economies

With the ever-increasing rate at which professional sport franchises change venues, the surrounding communities must deal with the social and economic burden. The Atlanta Braves announced in November that the 2017 season will open in a new $672 million-dollar stadium in Cobb County. Turner field will only be 21 years old when their team vacates it and has it demolished. The announcement stunned many fans due to the lack of warning received and the seemingly young age of the current stadium. City officials claim that a professional team will increase tax revenue, create economic growth, and even bring the city closer together. Empirical studies have shown that stadiums and arenas contribute nothing to metropolitan area income or employment and shows that public investment is not justified (Santo, 2007,p. 456; Baade, 1996, 2000; Baade & Dye, 1990; Baade & Sanderson, 1997; Coates & Humphries, 1999; Noll & Zimbalist,1997; Rosentraub, 1997; Zimbalist, 1998; Zimmerman, 1997). With professional sports franchises changing locations so often are there economic and societal implications of a professional sports franchise on the surrounding community?
Sports stadiums are across the nation, but within the past decade, sports have become a national pastime not just regional entertainment. With the four major professional sports leagues occupying 38 metro areas, more than half the population has almost immediate access to a local team (Rappaport & Wilkerson, 2001, p. 56). With such a broad fan base you would think the historic national pastime’s landmarks would remain, however, the average age of all Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums is only 24 years. Twenty-four years includes two stadiums that are more than one century old, Wrigley Field...

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.... Beyond the Economic Catalyst Debate: Can Public Consumption Benefits Justify a Municipal Stadium Invevsment? Journal of Urban Affairs, pp. 455-479.
Swindell, D., & Rosentraub, M. (1998). Who Benefits from the Presence of Professional Sports Teams! Public Administration Review, 11-20.
Tucker, T. (2013, November 12). Cox Media Group. Retrieved from Atlanta Journal-Constitution: http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-plan-to-build-new-stadium-in-cobb/nbpNQ/
Zimbalist, A. (1998). The Economics of Stadiums, Teams and Cities. Policy Studies Review, 17-29.
Zimmerman, D. (1997). Subsidizing stadiums: Who benefits, who pays? In R. Noll, & A. Zimbalist, Sports jobs and taxes: The economic impact of sports teams and stadiums. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.
Zirin, D. (2010). Bad Owners: how owners are ruining the game we love. New York, N.Y.: Scribner.

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