Citizens Against Government Waste Releases Issue Brief on the Scandal of Taxpayer Funded Stadiums

Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released a new issue brief, "Fields of Failure: The Scandal of Taxpayer Funded Stadiums," co-authored by CAGW President Tom Schatz and CAGW State Government Affairs Associate Ryan Lanier, which details how taxpayer funded stadiums have become a scourge on the nation, costing taxpayers billions of dollars each year in new expenses and lost tax revenues.

Tom Schatz and Ryan Lanier issued the following statement:

"Since 2000, publicly constructed facilities have cost taxpayers more than $43.1 billion. Billionaire owners continue to force taxpayers to pay for their team's brand-new stadiums with promises of an economic boom, but studies show that publicly funded stadium projects provide little to no economic benefits to local communities. Owners also often force taxpayers to fund upgrades to prevent teams from moving to another locations. Without reforms, taxpayers across the country will continue to subsidize billionaire team owners and some of the richest sports leagues in the world while fans watch their beloved hometown teams leave town at the whims of owners seeking a better deal. This issue brief is a must-read as it gives an in-depth look at steps that should be taken to help protect taxpayers from being forced to cover bad investments."

CAGW is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.