Do Publicly Funded NFL Stadiums Generate the Economic Growth Claimed by State and Local Governments?
Start Date
April 2026
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
This study examines whether publicly funded NFL stadiums produce the economic benefits that state and local governments often claim when justifying taxpayer investment. Using a dataset of selected U.S. cities with NFL teams, the analysis compares economic outcomes before and after stadium construction, as well as across publicly and privately funded stadiums. Key variables include public funding amounts, median household income, and employment rates.
The findings suggest that while many cities experience economic growth over time, similar patterns are observed in both publicly funded and privately funded stadium locations. This shows that broader economic trends, rather than stadium construction alone, may explain changes in income and employment. The results raise questions about the effectiveness of public spending on sports infrastructure as a tool for economic development.
This research contributes to ongoing debates in state and local politics about the use of taxpayer funds for large-scale development projects and highlights the importance of evaluating policy decisions using empirical evidence.
Do Publicly Funded NFL Stadiums Generate the Economic Growth Claimed by State and Local Governments?
2nd floor - Library
This study examines whether publicly funded NFL stadiums produce the economic benefits that state and local governments often claim when justifying taxpayer investment. Using a dataset of selected U.S. cities with NFL teams, the analysis compares economic outcomes before and after stadium construction, as well as across publicly and privately funded stadiums. Key variables include public funding amounts, median household income, and employment rates.
The findings suggest that while many cities experience economic growth over time, similar patterns are observed in both publicly funded and privately funded stadium locations. This shows that broader economic trends, rather than stadium construction alone, may explain changes in income and employment. The results raise questions about the effectiveness of public spending on sports infrastructure as a tool for economic development.
This research contributes to ongoing debates in state and local politics about the use of taxpayer funds for large-scale development projects and highlights the importance of evaluating policy decisions using empirical evidence.
