As new amenities accelerate stadium obsolescence, the nation’s almost-big-league cities (a familiar list) jostle for the attention of team owners. While many face fiscal headwinds and political contention, aspirational suburbs are ready to make a deal. For these wealthy strivers, luring teams is like the emperor’s new clothes; stadiums say more about taxpayer sacrifice than about a city’s national relevance. The building blocks of a competitive economy—infrastructure, services, good governance, and a skilled workforce—are no product of sports.

Strike two for urban revitalization

“Strike two for urban revitalization.” Planning Magazine (American Planning Association), Feb 2016. (https://www.planning.org/planning/2016/feb/viewpoint.htm)