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Sincere question: Do cities really need stadiums? A stadium was built in my city several years ago, and for me it has occasionally caused a moderate inconvenie

Sincere question: Do cities really need stadiums? A stadium was built in my city several years ago, and for me it has occasionally caused a moderate inconvenience, and had no upside. Some of my neighbors really like it, though.

TrueSlacker0 4y ago
I was thinking this same thing. We might want one, but we don't need one. If we needed one someone would build one, same as we build restaurants, bars, refineries, breweries, manufacturing, etc without any subsidies from the gov. I would love one for my small business, on a related note, I can't even count the times I have watched my city give millions in tax breaks to bring in already successful, wealthy, large businesses and give the local ones jack shi.
lakeshastina 4y ago
Would the business case not be - commerce generated during sporting events, multiple businesses nearby the stadium benefiting from increased foot traffic, and so on? Projected over a 10-20 year horizon, the city would likely make back its money and then some, while increasing income for businesses in the vicinity.
- rubiquity 4y ago
  You presume that money couldn’t be spent elsewhere or even gasp saved away for a rainy day or paying down a debt early.
- jdminhbg 4y ago
  This is the frequently-cited theory, but most realistic studies show that it doesn’t really work out that way. I think the reasonable justification is more that having a team is an intangible good for the city, like a museum or a library, where you can’t measure the value in dollars.
- tshaddox 4y ago
  Should each township build and operate its own cinema as well?
ablatt89 4y ago
The 49ers stadium in Santa Clara has brought nothing but traffic, zero commercial or housing development. The Warriors' Chase Stadium helped vitalize Dogpatch but I guess one could argue that area was naturally going to be built up given UCSF expanded in that location.
- thrdbndndn 4y ago
  If it brings traffic, it means it attracts people attending the events it's hosting. To me that's the main (or direct) purpose of it, and that (be able to host large events) is what differs big city lifestyle from others, at cultural level. I consider "commercial or housing development" a plus, than the purpose itself.
thrdbndndn 4y ago
Cities need stadiums to host all kinds of events, not limited to sports. But if you're not interested in any of these I guess at personal level you don't need it. Just like roads are useless for people who don't leave their house.
tick_tock_tick 4y ago
> Sincere question: Do cities really need stadiums? Do they need most things? No, of course not do the people living there want the ability to easily attempt stadium events YES.

TrueSlacker0 4y ago

I was thinking this same thing. We might want one, but we don't need one. If we needed one someone would build one, same as we build restaurants, bars, refineries, breweries, manufacturing, etc without any subsidies from the gov. I would love one for my small business, on a related note, I can't even count the times I have watched my city give millions in tax breaks to bring in already successful, wealthy, large businesses and give the local ones jack shi.

lakeshastina 4y ago

Would the business case not be - commerce generated during sporting events, multiple businesses nearby the stadium benefiting from increased foot traffic, and so on? Projected over a 10-20 year horizon, the city would likely make back its money and then some, while increasing income for businesses in the vicinity.

rubiquity 4y ago
You presume that money couldn’t be spent elsewhere or even gasp saved away for a rainy day or paying down a debt early.
jdminhbg 4y ago
This is the frequently-cited theory, but most realistic studies show that it doesn’t really work out that way. I think the reasonable justification is more that having a team is an intangible good for the city, like a museum or a library, where you can’t measure the value in dollars.
tshaddox 4y ago
Should each township build and operate its own cinema as well?

ablatt89 4y ago

The 49ers stadium in Santa Clara has brought nothing but traffic, zero commercial or housing development. The Warriors' Chase Stadium helped vitalize Dogpatch but I guess one could argue that area was naturally going to be built up given UCSF expanded in that location.

thrdbndndn 4y ago
If it brings traffic, it means it attracts people attending the events it's hosting. To me that's the main (or direct) purpose of it, and that (be able to host large events) is what differs big city lifestyle from others, at cultural level. I consider "commercial or housing development" a plus, than the purpose itself.

thrdbndndn 4y ago

Cities need stadiums to host all kinds of events, not limited to sports. But if you're not interested in any of these I guess at personal level you don't need it. Just like roads are useless for people who don't leave their house.

tick_tock_tick 4y ago

> Sincere question: Do cities really need stadiums? Do they need most things? No, of course not do the people living there want the ability to easily attempt stadium events YES.