> Sports teams provide utility to people in the region, including people who never pay a cent for a ticket or merchandise Even if we assume that to be true, yo

> Sports teams provide utility to people in the region, including people who never pay a cent for a ticket or merchandise Even if we assume that to be true, you have to also look at the costs: providing the required transportation infrastructure, policing sports fans, cleaning up after them (including vandalism) etc. Making matters worse, the "utility" sports teams bring is limited to a few businesses (hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops selling merchandise etc.), while the costs are paid by the taxpayer, i.e. all residents.