Major League Baseball and Public Policy, or, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Wherever the Game May Be

A Stakeholder approach to Understanding Economic Development Decision Making: Public Subsidies for Professional Sport Facilities

“…To influence policy makers, owners have hired lobbyists, made political contributions, and been among the leading contributors to proponent campaigns (Chalip & Johnson, 1996;Johnson, 1983;Sage, 1990). Symbolic actions have included the production of economic impact studies, appeals to civic pride, and threats of relocation (Klobuchar, 1986;Sidlow & Henschen, 1998).…”

“…However, when existing teams have negotiated with local governments in their home territories, leagues usually have had little formal role in the process. Generally, except when leaguewide interests or expansion has been involved, leagues have expressed their urgency through symbolic actions by supporting team statements and relocation threats (Shropshire, 1995;Sidlow & Henschen, 1998). However, as the leagues have desired stability, they have discouraged franchise relocation (Danielson, 1997, Mason, 1997.…”

“…Despite these options, the public has had limited influence regarding facility subsidization. Referendum results seemingly have been advisory rather than determinative, as proponents have accepted public approval but have continued seeking subsidies following rejection-with eventual success (Eisinger, 2000;Kalich, 1998;Sidlow & Henschen, 1998). For example, of the eight teams whose requests were rejected in referenda since 1980, all but one received a publicly subsidized facility from their host city within a decade (Fort, 1999).…”

“…Kalich (1998) attributed this lack of urgency to "rational apathy"; voters have not become involved in most public issues because the individual costs of participation-time to learn about and act upon the issue-often have outweighed the benefits of involvement (see also Brown & Paul, 1999;Danielson, 1997;Peterson, 1981). Along with rational apathy has been public resignation, as people have believed facilities would be built despite voter rejection (Euchner, 1993;Sidlow & Henschen, 1998).…”

Who Will Stay and Who Will Go? Related agglomeration and the mortality of professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, 1871–1997

“…The world’s first professional sports league was the National Association, a baseball league founded in the United States in 1871. 3 Teams were based in cities and grounded in local culture and local political ties (Sidlow & Henschen, 1998), and accessible and affordable rail transportation facilitated travel between cities to play games. But the league had a decentralized structure, relying on teams to schedule their own games, and unstable membership, causing some historians to question whether it was a true “major” league.…”