Caught Stealing?

The pros and cons of subsidies for professional sports facilities and their impact on cities

The 21st Century Cities Initiative at Johns Hopkins is hosting Brad Humphreys, Professor of Economics at WVU to give a talk titled “Caught Stealing? The pros and cons of subsidies for professional sports facilities and their impact on cities” on Thursday, October 10 in the Mason Hall Auditorium on the Homewood Campus from 6:30-8pm. The event will include a discussion of the recent developments regarding the Preakness and Pimlico with local public officials including Delegate Tony Bridges representing Maryland’s 41st District.

How do professional sports teams affect the economic development of the cities they call home? Are sports stadiums a boon for local employment and small businesses or do cities stand to lose more in tax breaks and development costs? Would the prime real estate often afforded to stadiums be better utilized otherwise? Professor Humphreys will address these questions and more and discuss how the Preakness and Pimlico might be affecting economic development in Baltimore.