J.C. Bradbury
@jcbradbury.com
Economist, Georgian, Gadfly
Stadium Subsidies, Film Incentives, Local Economic Development, Sports Economics
Tariffs bad. Vaccines good.
Conjecture is not evidence.
jcbradbury.com
Book website: ThisOneWillBeDifferent.com
Stadium Subsidies, Film Incentives, Local Economic Development, Sports Economics
Tariffs bad. Vaccines good.
Conjecture is not evidence.
jcbradbury.com
Book website: ThisOneWillBeDifferent.com
Pinned
J.C. Bradbury
@jcbradbury.com
· Nov 6
Cover just dropped. Coming in 2026 from Oxford University Press.
We have a contender for the wrongest thing written on the internet this week. Economists will tell you *the exact opposite* of this.
February 15, 2026 at 3:59 PM
We have a contender for the wrongest thing written on the internet this week. Economists will tell you *the exact opposite* of this.
Asking voters to view a tradeoff as NOT "a tradeoff situation" is a hell of an ask. This most certainly IS "a zero sum game," and 50 years of research has clearly demonstrated that subsidizing sports arenas is NOT "good for economic activity."
February 15, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Asking voters to view a tradeoff as NOT "a tradeoff situation" is a hell of an ask. This most certainly IS "a zero sum game," and 50 years of research has clearly demonstrated that subsidizing sports arenas is NOT "good for economic activity."
This is such an obviously bad idea that I don't know that there's anything else to say.
Inside Portland’s $1.7B climate fund, which is being floated to help fix the Moda Center
Portland’s billion dollar climate fund is being eyed to help pay for upgrades to the Moda Center, in an effort to keep the Trail Blazers in the city.
buff.ly
February 15, 2026 at 3:20 PM
This is such an obviously bad idea that I don't know that there's anything else to say.
Spending tax dollars on a stadium means there's less money available for other projects. Who would have thought?
Reminder: There's No Such Thing As A Free Stadium
Reminder: There's No Such Thing As A Free Stadium
KCK thought Chiefs deal meant critical funding for bridge repairs. That may not happen
A Kansas House committee advanced a budget proposal that would reallocate funds earmarked for metro-area projects to rural Kansas counties.
www.kansascity.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Spending tax dollars on a stadium means there's less money available for other projects. Who would have thought?
Reminder: There's No Such Thing As A Free Stadium
Reminder: There's No Such Thing As A Free Stadium
I am confused as to how a $5 billion stadium could be built for the Bears "with no taxpayer dollars." Seems like a rather important detail to leave out of the story. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/p...
‘Same roar, new shore’: Portage makes their pitch to host the Chicago Bears
Portage officials made their pitch Wednesday to lure the Chicago Bears away from Soldier Field with a $5 billion stadium.
www.chicagotribune.com
February 14, 2026 at 11:47 PM
I am confused as to how a $5 billion stadium could be built for the Bears "with no taxpayer dollars." Seems like a rather important detail to leave out of the story. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/p...
How it started / How it's going
February 14, 2026 at 2:34 PM
How it started / How it's going
"This one will be different!"
Should Cuyahoga County quadruple taxes on cigarettes, alcohol to fund future stadium repairs?
Would Cuyahoga County voters agree to increase - or potentially quadruple - the sin tax on alcohol and cigarettes to pay for repairs at Cleveland's three sports stadiums? The current tax of 1.5…
buff.ly
February 14, 2026 at 2:19 PM
"This one will be different!"
To advocate for such a radical change in how the state finances its operations without asking for a fiscal note is beyond irresponsible. The reason why no fiscal note has been provided is that its sponsors know what it will say, and they don't want anyone to see that.
It's hard for me to take someone seriously if they didn't even get a fiscal note, an estimate of a bill's costs prepared by nonpartisan state staff or profs
georgiarecorder.com/2026/02/12/s...
georgiarecorder.com/2026/02/12/s...
Senate Republicans sign off on cuts to Georgia’s income tax rate while ending some corporate perks • Georgia Recorder
The proposal would cut a number of corporate tax credits and require that income tax credits without a sunset date be reauthorized in five years.
georgiarecorder.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:32 PM
To advocate for such a radical change in how the state finances its operations without asking for a fiscal note is beyond irresponsible. The reason why no fiscal note has been provided is that its sponsors know what it will say, and they don't want anyone to see that.
Reposted by J.C. Bradbury
It's hard for me to take someone seriously if they didn't even get a fiscal note, an estimate of a bill's costs prepared by nonpartisan state staff or profs
georgiarecorder.com/2026/02/12/s...
georgiarecorder.com/2026/02/12/s...
Senate Republicans sign off on cuts to Georgia’s income tax rate while ending some corporate perks • Georgia Recorder
The proposal would cut a number of corporate tax credits and require that income tax credits without a sunset date be reauthorized in five years.
georgiarecorder.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:07 PM
It's hard for me to take someone seriously if they didn't even get a fiscal note, an estimate of a bill's costs prepared by nonpartisan state staff or profs
georgiarecorder.com/2026/02/12/s...
georgiarecorder.com/2026/02/12/s...
Why do local boosters promote public stadium projects as "generational"? What does that even mean? These people are so deep into the groupthink, they just keep recycling old talking points, even if they're nonsense. This isn't part of a public debate, it's an oath of allegiance.
Column: New Rays stadium is a generational opportunity for Tampa Bay’s workforce - Tampa Bay Business Journal
A regional business leader argues the project represents a both-and strategy: expanding education infrastructure while attracting mobile skilled workers to Tampa Bay.
www.bizjournals.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Why do local boosters promote public stadium projects as "generational"? What does that even mean? These people are so deep into the groupthink, they just keep recycling old talking points, even if they're nonsense. This isn't part of a public debate, it's an oath of allegiance.
$217 million in public money for a minor-league soccer stadium. Every day, it just gets dumber.
D.C. United pushing for professional Baltimore soccer teams
Baltimore is one of the nation’s few major cities without a professional outdoor soccer team, and soccer-starved residents have long pined for one.
www.thebanner.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:48 AM
$217 million in public money for a minor-league soccer stadium. Every day, it just gets dumber.
Nobody:
RFK Jr: I'm not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.
February 12, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Nobody:
We have a serious problem in this country, where we elect incompetent/immoral individuals who, rather than represent their constituents, hire economic prostitutes (aka, "consultants") to tell them whatever they want to hear, and no one really calls them on this obvious ruse.
February 12, 2026 at 4:39 PM
We have a serious problem in this country, where we elect incompetent/immoral individuals who, rather than represent their constituents, hire economic prostitutes (aka, "consultants") to tell them whatever they want to hear, and no one really calls them on this obvious ruse.
Where did these projected financial returns come from? Very simple, they were concocted by degenerate liars.
Wyandotte County claims it will totally make money on $180m+ subsidy of Chiefs stadium
We finally have a number for how much tax money Wyandotte County could hand over to Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt following last Thursday's vote to funnel virtually all sales and hotel taxes fro...
www.fieldofschemes.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Where did these projected financial returns come from? Very simple, they were concocted by degenerate liars.
This Oren Cass calling himself an "economist" affair raises the question: what is an economist? It's not academic credentials (though not irrelevant), but established competency in economics . Cass has produced no credible economic analysis The media should recognize he's a hack.
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 PM
This Oren Cass calling himself an "economist" affair raises the question: what is an economist? It's not academic credentials (though not irrelevant), but established competency in economics . Cass has produced no credible economic analysis The media should recognize he's a hack.
Another subsidy request is in the works.
Where do the Bucs’ Raymond James Stadium lease, renovations stand?
Bucs chief operating officer Brian Ford says the team wants to learn more about the Rays’ proposed projects.
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Another subsidy request is in the works.
Funny how Atlanta keeps getting outbid by teams that don't have all that Battery money the Braves keep bragging about. Almost as if the corporate owner likes holding onto the revenue generated by its taxpayer-subsidized honey pot.
February 12, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Funny how Atlanta keeps getting outbid by teams that don't have all that Battery money the Braves keep bragging about. Almost as if the corporate owner likes holding onto the revenue generated by its taxpayer-subsidized honey pot.
But she was able to find $1.5 billion to hand over to the local sports teams for new/renovated luxury venues. Your fiscal pain is her luxury box access.
Bowser prepares D.C. Council for fiscal pain, tough policy trade-offs
Administration officials say that to run programs and services as they are today would require $1.1 billion more in revenue.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:54 PM
But she was able to find $1.5 billion to hand over to the local sports teams for new/renovated luxury venues. Your fiscal pain is her luxury box access.
Solid use of taxpayer money. www.crainscleveland.com/sports-recre...
New Browns stadium renderings show off reimagined Dawg Pound
The latest Browns stadium renderings highlight a reimagined Dawg Pound, expanded footprint and fan focused upgrades planned for the team’s new Brook Park home.
www.crainscleveland.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Solid use of taxpayer money. www.crainscleveland.com/sports-recre...
We've got to start electing better people. There is zero legitimate policy justification for this. Oregon voters probably don't like this either. Vote these incompetent jerks out.
Oregon bill offers Blazers owner all income taxes from in and around arena in exchange for not threatening to move yet
The Portland Trail Blazers are in the middle of being sold to Carolina Hurricanes owner/subprime auto loan baron/"glass chewer" Tom Dundon, and apparently the threat of the team's expiring lease in…
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
We've got to start electing better people. There is zero legitimate policy justification for this. Oregon voters probably don't like this either. Vote these incompetent jerks out.
I'm sure the lawmakers proposing this will enjoy their luxury box seats, or perhaps they already have.
In a move bordering on parody, Iowa lawmakers filed a proposed bill Tuesday designed to try to lure the Bears to their state. Senate File 2252 would expand a current state economic development program to incentivize building an NFL stadium in Iowa.
Iowa Bears? Really? State looks to lure NFL team with stadium funding pitch
chicago.suntimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:44 PM
I'm sure the lawmakers proposing this will enjoy their luxury box seats, or perhaps they already have.
Reposted by J.C. Bradbury
In a move bordering on parody, Iowa lawmakers filed a proposed bill Tuesday designed to try to lure the Bears to their state. Senate File 2252 would expand a current state economic development program to incentivize building an NFL stadium in Iowa.
Iowa Bears? Really? State looks to lure NFL team with stadium funding pitch
chicago.suntimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:21 PM
In a move bordering on parody, Iowa lawmakers filed a proposed bill Tuesday designed to try to lure the Bears to their state. Senate File 2252 would expand a current state economic development program to incentivize building an NFL stadium in Iowa.
