The Truth About Stadium Financing with Dr. Zimbalist

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Are new sports arenas and stadiums really a win for taxpayers? On this episode of Talk Law Radio, Attorney Todd Marquardt and co-host Shannon Roberta Salmon Haas sit down with Dr. Andrew Zimbalist, a renowned sports economist and professor at Smith College, to uncover the hidden truths behind stadium financing.

Dr. Zimbalist, author of Sports, Jobs, and Taxes, breaks down how municipalities use bonds and taxes to fund stadiums, why mixed-use developments rarely deliver promised benefits, and the tough trade-offs cities face when choosing between economic growth and community pride.

From the debate over a potential new San Antonio Spurs stadium to national case studies, the conversation explores:

• How stadiums are financed through municipal bonds and taxes
• Why projected economic growth often falls short
• The role of public-private partnerships in stadium projects
• Political motivations, community identity, and taxpayer risks
• Lessons from past stadium deals in Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, and beyond

#sports #Spurs #SanAntonio #Texas #basketball #arena #stadium #finance

The mission of Talk Law Radio is to help you discover your legal issue blind spots by listening to me talk about the law on the radio. The state bar of Texas is the state agency that governs attorney law licenses. The State Bar wants attorneys to inform the public about the law but does not want us to attempt to solve your individual legal problems upon the basis of general information. Instead, contact an attorney like Todd A. Marquardt at Marquardt Law Firm, P.C. to discuss your specific facts and circumstances of your unique situation.

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