The purpose of this report is to examine the costs and benefits to cities associated with attracting or keeping professional sports franchises. The elements contained in this report include (1) a description and analysis of the "psychological" benefits of hosting a professional sports team; (2) an examination of sports as business; (3) an analysis and conclusions regarding previous academic studies of the economic impact of professional sports teams on their host cities; (4) a description of citizens' opinions regarding municipal investment in professional sports; and (5) conclusions and recommendations regarding the costs and benefits to cities to host professional sports teams.
--Author's foreword.
