But legislators won't even consider the car rental and ticket tax bills unless voters approve the whole package. And there are several cards that are about to be plucked. Proponents say the projects would spur development not only uptown but throughout the city. He said the team also helps the city lure large employers. He says such things are important in a city whose economy is more fragile than people realize, where banks are subject to outside takeovers and a proposed airline merger could put local jobs in jeopardy.
Many economists say the economic benefits of professional sports are overblown.
He and others argue that money spent at games or nearby restaurants is simply money that would have been spent on entertainment and at restaurants elsewhere. He says about half the money fans spend at games goes to the owners, players and coaches. Baade also disputes the notion that professional teams lure jobs. Cities wealthy enough to support pro sports, he says, are wealthy enough to have the skilled labor force and other amenities sought by employers. The benefit of pro sports, he says, is not economic but psychological.