By John C. Mozena When it comes to the debate over public subsidies for Progressive Field, it’s understandable for supporters to argue that the cost to taxpayers is justified by factors such as civic pride or the team’s cultural importance to the region. However, Clevelanders should not let team owners and politicians influence that debate … Continue reading Don’t Let Economic Impact Claims Distort the Progressive Field Stadium Subsidy Debate
Op-ed in the Providence Journal: Subsidizing a soccer stadium would be a bad bet for Pawtucket
The "economic impact" math just doesn't add up to justify subsidies for a proposed minor-league soccer stadium in Pawtucket, R.I. As CEA President John Mozena points out in the Providence Journal, stadiums just don't bring in enough people to make a big difference in local economies: Even in the best-case scenario where every one of … Continue reading Op-ed in the Providence Journal: Subsidizing a soccer stadium would be a bad bet for Pawtucket
Buffalo News column: Keep emotions out of Buffalo’s soccer stadium debates
While Buffalo's soccer fans might be passionate for the sport and excited about the potential for a new professional team in the city, they should be careful not to let that passion be used by business and political leaders to justify public subsidies for a stadium that would be a bad deal for the community. … Continue reading Buffalo News column: Keep emotions out of Buffalo’s soccer stadium debates
Column in The Hill – States: Stop subsidizing these 3 dumb things
There are a lot of things states do in the name of "economic development that don't make much sense. But out of all the bad deals out there, there's three popular kinds of subsidized project that are especially bad for the communities that make them: Stadiums, data centers and distribution centers. In The Hill, CEA … Continue reading Column in The Hill – States: Stop subsidizing these 3 dumb things
No, Cleveland, that stadium isn’t worth it
Recently, the Cleveland Plain Dealer asked, "Is public financing of sports venues worth it?" In a letter to the editor, the CEA's John Mozena explained why the answer to that question is a resounding "no." The reality is that, however much we may care about sports, their economic impact on a community like Cleveland is … Continue reading No, Cleveland, that stadium isn’t worth it