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"The only people, besides team owners, who want new stadiums are politicians, lawyers, and the media. Politicos like to swagger around a palace—and stadiums are the modern palaces—the bigger the better, especially for mayors suffering from stadium envy. They like to watch games from the owner's box in full view of the TV cameras and hang out in the clubhouse with the players. This is in addition to the usual perks, graft, kickbacks, and patronage that accrue to politicians on big construction projects. For lawyers, a new stadium offers a virtual buffet. First they get to represent the team against the city, then the city against the people. Then they draft the arguments against a ballot question, and if that doesn't work, they draft the language of the ballot question. Then the bond guys come in and collect astronomical fees for underwriting the municipal debt that will pay for the new stadium. Why do they get so much money for doing that? It would take a lawyer to explain it. Those who don't want new stadiums includes just about everyone else—people who: (1) prefer spending tax dollars on schools and hospitals, (2) don't own adjacent real estate, (3) know how to add and subtract. Why do so many new stadiums get built if most people don't want them? Because most people don't get to vote on the matter. New-stadium proponents—who also know how to add and subtract—do everything in their collective power to keep the question off the ballot. As Rudolph Giuliani so eloquently put it when asked why New Yorkers should not be allowed to vote on a new stadium, "Because they would vote against it." Jim Bouton (N.Y.Yankees All-Star pitcher 1962-68) Quote is from his book Foul Ball
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