I'm continuing to write up short summary articles on the economics of stadiums. My latest contribution presents trends in stadium construction costs and public subsidies.

Whoopsies! "The emails became part of the city's records after the team's legal counsel, Zandria Conyers, forwarded the internal email chain to McGair, allowing KATU to obtain them through a public records request."

Internal emails reveal Blazers debated responding to Portland's Moda Center questions

Internal emails obtained by KATU show Trail Blazers leaders debated whether to respond to the City of Portland's questions for commitments on private investment

katu.com

Tomorrow evening.

Mitch Green@councilorgreen.bsky.social · 4d ago

Join me, sports economists @jcbradbury.com & @victor-matheson.bsky.social with co-host @councilormorillo.bsky.social on the economics of publicly funded stadiums. The term sheet is coming with limited information provided to us on the Moda Center renovations. Let’s discuss. zoom.us/webinar/regi...

NO! www.11alive.com/article/spor...

Hey, I am appearing at the forum with Green and Morillo as well. Did I miss the memo about where to pick up my big bag of unmarked bills?

Some people have reached out to me about the comments I've gotten. Thanks, but my feelings aren't hurt. I don't care what these morons say about me. I'm trying to expose the sad sack of liars who make up these pro-stadium booster coalitions and how shoddy their arguments are.

i deserve better critics

Who are these people attacking my motives for voluntarily donating my time to present evidence-based policy advice. I'm a university professor, that's what I'm supposed to do? I'm not getting rich or famous. Seriously, what is wrong with you? If you've got a policy case, make it.

How will the average Portland citizen be improved by spending $600 million to upgrade Moda? It's revealing how not even the deal's supporters try to make this case. Just some vague rationalizations about keeping a team that has nowhere better to go.

Editorial: Stay on track, Portland, and show the Trail Blazers a partnership worth keeping

As the clock ticks toward a deadline for getting a Moda Center deal done, Portland city councilors should focus on what they control — finalizing a framework to negotiate a new long-term lease and sho...

oregonlive.com

Atlanta United blows a 2-1 lead in stoppage time to come away with zero points, and I wake up to this. Why don't you just beat me with the wooden spoon? Blow it up. Blow the whole damn thing up.

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend - Arrested Development

ALT: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend - Arrested Development

static.klipy.com

Scarves and Spikes@scarvesandspikes.com · 3d ago

Big news this Sunday morning as Atlanta United are reportedly showing "strong interest" in a transfer deal for Romelu Lukaku. More:

1) Book-writing isn't lucrative. Of course, I want you to read my book, but it won't make me rich. I hope to spread informed knowledge based on extensive research of the subject. 2) I am biased by 50 years of economics research that consistently demonstrates sports venues are bad public investments.

@awisechild.bsky.social · 4d ago

I guess Portland is lucky to be useful to one of said economist’s promoting a new book that argues against public funding. No bias there at all.

Join me, sports economists @jcbradbury.com & @victor-matheson.bsky.social with co-host @councilormorillo.bsky.social on the economics of publicly funded stadiums. The term sheet is coming with limited information provided to us on the Moda Center renovations. Let’s discuss. zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: The Economics of Publicly Financed Arenas with City Councilor Mitch Green and Angelita Morillo. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email abo...

The Moda Center remains top of mind as we approach the City’s August 12th vote on a term sheet, but how can we reach a fair deal for Portlanders? What are the potential costs and benefits of publicly ...

zoom.us

Once again, I deserve better critics.

Had several inquiries about the book, as bookstores are showing it's out of stock or a far off order fulfillment date. This is temporary: A rush second printing is on the way. Thank you for your interest and sorry for the delay. It's a nice problem to have.

J.C. Bradbury@jcbradbury.com · 2w ago

Book update: The publication date for This One Will Be Different has been pushed to Aug 21 due to a production delay. The encouraging news is that preorders have already exceeded the first printing, so a rush second printing has been ordered.

Look, I get that a lot of folks are mad about Portland's economic climate. But, the solution isn't to pass an arena subsidy project, which are notoriously bad public investments. Focus on fixing the perceived existing problems directly, don't compound your mistakes.

Media members, STOP parroting team propaganda, and ask follow-up questions. What city could the Trail Blazers move to and see the team's value spike? This isn't the Rams moving to LA. It's moving to a smaller market with no known venue.

The Oregonian@oregonian.com · 5d ago

Tom Dundon once said that public financing of a renovation would "of course" remove the possibility of relocation. https://mrf.lu/25_QY

Progressive Field is awesome. Only thing it's missing is cupholders, but I'll live.

Thanks to those of you who came to my presentation An Economic History of Ballparks at #sabr54. Great audience. I've posted my slides here: jcbradbury.com/files/bradbu.... Now I'm heading to the game.

This needs to be said out loud: The Blazers are negotiating in bad faith. If matters progress to the court room, the team's conduct is not going to be viewed favorably.

Trail Blazers, city of Portland finally meet, but distance to arena deal remains ‘significant’ (Gift Article)

While both sides conceded it was positive to finally talk face-to-face, there was palpable tension and veiled threats.

nytimes.com

It seems a lot of people are having trouble grasping that an arena cannot need $600 million in renovations and also be "first class."

Ugh, this article is so bad on so many levels.

Trail Blazers relocation fears: What cities could steal the team?

As the Blazers and local politicians bicker, the threat of relocation seems real, which begs the question: Where would the team go?

oregonlive.com

How is an existing provision in the lease stalling negotiations? The terms were known when Dundon bought the Trail Blazers.

Blazers president says threat of litigation was ‘wielded as a weapon’ in Moda Center talks

The Blazers are attending a Portland City Council work session Thursday morning on the Moda Center renovation.

oregonlive.com

Surprise, the World Cup economic "boom" isn't sustainable.

South Downtown’s $140M building boom slows after Atlanta’s World Cup frenzy

South Downtown has been a whirlwind of construction in recent months to get ready for the World Cup, but it’s about to switch from offense to defense.

ajc.com

An important detail missing from most news coverage.

Field of Schemes@fieldofschemes.bsky.social · 6d ago

Portland leaders have leverage — especially with Dundon's lease prohibiting relocation talks for now, and with state funding expiring soon — but they're unlikely to use it if the media keep speculating about other cities allegedly waiting in the wings.

Why would the city be willing to give up its leverage before negotiating? Obviously, the Trail Blazers have figured out how meaningful this provision is.

Blazers cite threat of lawsuit for holding up Moda Center negotiations

“We need the city to take the prospect of litigation off the table,” a Blazers rep said ahead of a Thursday work session.

oregonlive.com

Reminder: There are only two possible outcomes from the formation of a rival league in sports - partial/full merger with the incumbent or bankruptcy of the rival. My paper explains why link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Competition Between Sports Leagues: Theory and Evidence on Rival League Formation in North America - Review of Industrial Organization

We analyze the formation of rival leagues and deterrence by incumbent leagues in professional team sports, which is one of the least studied forms of competition in sports. We first survey the economi...

link.springer.com

The Mirror US@themirror.com · last wk.

LIV Golf is set to officially cancel LIV Michigan, the league's $40 million team championship event, with an announcement expected as soon as Wednesday.

When you arrive in Cleveland for the second time in a week.

The reason the Portland Trail Blazers are not listing potential relocation cities is because those options don't exist. Until that happens, please stop reporting on this like it's something that's likely to happen. I don't see any realistic alternate locations.

The notion that LeBron James signing with Philly will generate any regional economic impact is 100% made-up horseshit. Shame on any media organization who repeats this ridiculous story making the rounds. Now, I've got to clean up your mess.

KYW Newsradio on 103.9 FM@kywnewsradio.bsky.social · last wk.

Now that LeBron James has officially signed with the 76ers, experts expect he’ll have a sizable economic impact on the Philadelphia region. And that’s on the heels of a banner summer for Philly. Read more: www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio...