In economic terms, 1 baseball team = 1 midsized department store

Following up on the academic consensus that sports do not economically benefit communities, one economist notes the economic impact of sports teams:


The reason?


Don’t underestimate the money generated by large retail stores. When I worked a short stint at a local Target at the end of high school, I remember seeing the board in our office that listed daily sales. The figure was typically around $100,000. That generates a lot of tax revenue through sales taxes and property taxes.

This is more evidence that the more important feature of sports teams in major cities is their social and cultural value. Teams provide something for a city to rally around and contribute to the city’s collective identify. In major cities with millions of people, it is difficult to find features or events that can bring large numbers of people together. Sports teams also provide opportunities for leisure, whether through enjoying the stadium experience or experiencing the game from afar. Now, if only we could find politicians that would admit the taxpayer money going to stadiums or teams was due to the interest in having a common sports identity and leisure experience rather than some grand economic impact…

3 thoughts on “In economic terms, 1 baseball team = 1 midsized department store

  1. Pingback: If golf and football are dying sports, what would happen to that land? | Legally Sociable

  2. Pingback: Minor league baseball stadiums are not good for economic development | Legally Sociable

  3. Pingback: Henderson, NV: do not go all in with public money for a baseball stadium | Legally Sociable

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