Stadium Economics
A General Guide to the Economics of Stadiums
Economists have studied stadiums and professional sports for more than five decades, producing well over 100 studies of their economic effects. This research consistently finds that sports venues provide limited economic benefits to their host communities. I describe many of the important studies and findings in my book This One Will Be Different.
This page provides a more general introduction to the economics of stadiums, with links to articles, short videos, and public presentations that summarize the available evidence.
I will continue adding resources. If there is a topic you would like to read more about, please let me know.
Articles
Stadium financing involves economic and public-policy issues that can be difficult to evaluate. These articles provide accessible explanations of the relevant evidence and concepts, along with references and links for readers seeking additional detail.
- Do Sports Stadiums Help Local Economies? A Primer on the Economic Impact of Stadiums – Start here if you are unfamiliar with the economics of stadiums.
- How Much Do Sports Stadiums Cost? – This article summarizes data on the costs of constructing and renovating sports venues from the early 20th century through approved future projects. It covers the five major US-based leagues—MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLS—as well as MLB-affiliated minor-league ballparks.
- Public Policy Toward Professional Sports Stadiums: A Review, with Dennis Coates and Brad Humphreys – Published in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, this review was written to be accessible to policymakers and other non-specialists.
- The Impact of Professional Sports Franchises and Venues on Local Economies: A Comprehensive Survey, with Dennis Coates and Brad Humphreys – This comprehensive academic survey, published in Journal of Economic Surveys, reviews the available research on franchises, stadiums, and local economies. It provides an up-to-date summary of the evidence in language that should be accessible to non-economists.
Short Videos
The Economics of Publicly Funded Stadiums
Stadium Case Studies
- Is the Moda Center Renovation a Good Public Investment?
- Chicago Fire’s “Privately Financed” Stadium
- Did Coors Field Revitalize Downtown Denver?
Presentations
- An Economic History of Ballparks, presented at SABR 54 (Cleveland, July 31, 2026, presentation slides).
- Testimony, Nashville East Bank Stadium Committee, Nashville Metro Council (November 17, 2022).