Neil deMause
Are Mayors Finally Getting Smart About Publicly Funded Stadiums?
For decades, politicians happily have handed over public money for sports stadiums. A new group of mayors is finally saying no.
Your Votes Don't Count: How Sports Stadium Welfare Deals Shut Out the Public's Voice
The battle over a new stadium for the St. Louis Rams has triggered a fresh round of melodrama. Not that public opinion ever ends up mattering.
Is Obama Really Going to Kill Sports Stadium Subsidies?
An intriguing item in President Obama's budget proposal will hurt the stadium subsidies scam, but it'll take much more to put it all to an end.
The Knicks Can't Play Basketball—When Will They at Least Pay Their Taxes?
A state tax break allows the Knicks to skip out on their obligations, but Sheldon Silver's ouster over corruption charges may change everything.
How to Tell If Your Team Is About to Leave You Forever
Major sports teams are threatening to move as a matter of course now, but a peek into the past can help you parse a real threat from bullshit.
The Radical Case for Cities Buying Sports Teams, Not Sports Stadiums
Instead of getting run over by team ownership groups, state governments should be using the same legal tricks they often fall victim to.
LeBron James Can't Save Cleveland's Economy (Sorry)
The "LeBron Effect" isn't total bullshit, but economists agree that the impact of sports on local economies is vastly overstated by politicians looking to score points.
A Modest Proposal for Killing the MLB Playoffs, or Not
The MLB playoffs would be fairer with a less level playing field. Also, stop caring so much.
The Los Angeles Angels of ... Tustin?
What happens when a local mayor calls an entitled sports team owner's bluff in stadium negotiations? We're about to find out.
MLB's Metal Detector Policy is What 'Terrorists Winning Looks Like'
In 2015, every MLB stadium will require fans to walk through metal detectors for reasons that make no sense to security experts.
The Olympics Are a Multi-Billion-Dollar Boondoggle, but Mayors Love 'Em Anyway
Oslo is considering dropping its bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, which is really the only sensible thing to do.