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
· Aug 15
This One Will Be Different
False Promises and Fiscal Realities of Publicly Funded Stadiums, by economist J.C. Bradbury.
jcbradbury.com
Publication dates for This One Will Be Different are now set.
Hardcover: October 9
E-book: August 24
Links to booksellers:
jcbradbury.com/towbd/
Hardcover: October 9
E-book: August 24
Links to booksellers:
jcbradbury.com/towbd/
This article casts doubt on the commissioned study's estimates as contrary to existing research, but you wouldn't know if from the headline. "Could" is doing a lot of work here.
Kansas City Royals' proposed downtown stadium could generate $1.4 billion in taxes
A new financial report says the proposed Royals stadium in Crown Center could generate about $1.4 billion in total tax revenue over 30 years. Economists have thrown cold water on similar estimates, th...
www.kcur.org
October 6, 2026 at 9:37 PM
This article casts doubt on the commissioned study's estimates as contrary to existing research, but you wouldn't know if from the headline. "Could" is doing a lot of work here.
How much was this consultancy paid to produce projections that matched exactly what city leaders needed? Just curious.
October 6, 2026 at 5:19 PM
How much was this consultancy paid to produce projections that matched exactly what city leaders needed? Just curious.
Kansas City's mayor is touting non-credible findings of a commissioned "study" that projects a revenue boost from the Royals stadium. It's malfeasance for an elected official to present purchased propaganda as some sort of reasonable projection of a favorable policy outcome. x.com/QuintonLucas...
October 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Kansas City's mayor is touting non-credible findings of a commissioned "study" that projects a revenue boost from the Royals stadium. It's malfeasance for an elected official to present purchased propaganda as some sort of reasonable projection of a favorable policy outcome. x.com/QuintonLucas...
We're three weeks away from my Atlanta book launch event at Manuel's Tavern (Oct. 27 at 7pm), hosted by A Cappella Books (@acappellabooks.bsky.social). Looking forward to a lively conversation with Rafi Kohan about This One Will Be Different.
October 6, 2026 at 12:50 PM
We're three weeks away from my Atlanta book launch event at Manuel's Tavern (Oct. 27 at 7pm), hosted by A Cappella Books (@acappellabooks.bsky.social). Looking forward to a lively conversation with Rafi Kohan about This One Will Be Different.
I asked my artist friend to draw this cartoon, but he didn't have have time. He said, "you can draw it"...And so, I did. 🤣
But we all know post hoc ergo propter hoc, right, Courtney Johnston?
October 6, 2026 at 2:52 AM
I asked my artist friend to draw this cartoon, but he didn't have have time. He said, "you can draw it"...And so, I did. 🤣
I don't know much about open records requests in KC, but I'd love to know how much KC paid for this report. It is awful.
New Royals stadium report projects $1.4B in revenue, concerts, and All-Star game
Crucial to the project is a tax district covering 4 square miles around the stadium, which one economist criticized as excessively broad.
www.kansascity.com
October 5, 2026 at 10:35 PM
I don't know much about open records requests in KC, but I'd love to know how much KC paid for this report. It is awful.
No shit. This well-known surge in attendance is called the novelty effect. It results in more money for the team, not the community, which is why owners want new venues.
New report projects attendance increase at Royals’ planned ballpark
A financial report by Chicago-based development consulting firm Hunden Partners on the Royals’ planned ballpark at Crown Center details how many more fans are expected to attend games in the future.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
October 5, 2026 at 9:48 PM
No shit. This well-known surge in attendance is called the novelty effect. It results in more money for the team, not the community, which is why owners want new venues.
Reminder, when it comes to describing economists' views on stadium subsidies: "Avoid phrases of convenience that describe objecting economists as merely 'skeptical or 'not convinced.'"
October 5, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Reminder, when it comes to describing economists' views on stadium subsidies: "Avoid phrases of convenience that describe objecting economists as merely 'skeptical or 'not convinced.'"
The Royals are shooting for a 2030 opening. There's no way the Rays new Tampa stadium will be ready by 2029. 2031 is probably more realistic for both.
October 5, 2026 at 9:23 PM
The Royals are shooting for a 2030 opening. There's no way the Rays new Tampa stadium will be ready by 2029. 2031 is probably more realistic for both.
Reposted by J.C. Bradbury
I'm framed as "skeptical" about the mayor logic. I'm pretty sure, on record, I said something like, "Great, more of this f'ing sh*t." I suppose we can debate the meaning and intensity of skepticism, but it's worth being clear: I'm not skeptical. I know it's crap.
www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...
www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...
New Royals stadium report projects $1.4B in revenue, concerts, and All-Star game
Crucial to the project is a tax district covering 4 square miles around the stadium, which one economist criticized as excessively broad.
www.kansascity.com
October 5, 2026 at 1:47 PM
I'm framed as "skeptical" about the mayor logic. I'm pretty sure, on record, I said something like, "Great, more of this f'ing sh*t." I suppose we can debate the meaning and intensity of skepticism, but it's worth being clear: I'm not skeptical. I know it's crap.
www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...
www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by J.C. Bradbury
A key insight from Bradbury is not merely that politicians, boosters, and the media misrepresent the public benefits of taxpayer funded stadiums. They really don't care. They're just starstruck. From my review:
October 5, 2026 at 3:47 PM
A key insight from Bradbury is not merely that politicians, boosters, and the media misrepresent the public benefits of taxpayer funded stadiums. They really don't care. They're just starstruck. From my review:
Here's the client list of the consultancy who conducted the commissioned "Revenue & Impact Study" of the KC Royals stadium. How many clients would it have if it showed what the actual research evidence has demonstrated for 50 years? This isn't a "study" it's purchased propaganda.
October 5, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Here's the client list of the consultancy who conducted the commissioned "Revenue & Impact Study" of the KC Royals stadium. How many clients would it have if it showed what the actual research evidence has demonstrated for 50 years? This isn't a "study" it's purchased propaganda.
Here's an article summarizing many of the tax breaks the new Cleveland Browns stadium is receiving. l
Browns $3.6 billion Brook Park project stands to get millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives
TIFs, tax abatement and outright tax exemptions are all on the table for Browns stadium and mixed-use project
www.cleveland.com
October 5, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Here's an article summarizing many of the tax breaks the new Cleveland Browns stadium is receiving. l
Again: No method exists for projecting the economic impacts of sports stadiums. What we do know is that no stadium has ever generated enough new tax revenue to pay for itself. There's a reason you have to hire a paid consultant to come of with these numbers: they're bogus. @gpropheter.bsky.social:
October 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Again: No method exists for projecting the economic impacts of sports stadiums. What we do know is that no stadium has ever generated enough new tax revenue to pay for itself. There's a reason you have to hire a paid consultant to come of with these numbers: they're bogus. @gpropheter.bsky.social:
Reposted by J.C. Bradbury
Today's newsletter: The weekend action, the Sex Pistols, J.C. Bradbury's "This One Will Be Different," some actual good news about the end of the universe, and some words about my mental state now that the weather has broken
www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...
www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...
Cup of Coffee: October 5, 2026
The weekend action, the Sex Pistols, J.C. Bradbury's "This One Will Be Different," some actual good news about the end of the universe, and some words about my mental state now that the weather has…
www.cupofcoffeenews.com
October 5, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Today's newsletter: The weekend action, the Sex Pistols, J.C. Bradbury's "This One Will Be Different," some actual good news about the end of the universe, and some words about my mental state now that the weather has broken
www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...
www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...
1st review. @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social reviews TOWBD this morning: "This One Will Be Different will, for a long, long while, stand as the foremost statement about and against public subsidies for professional sports facilities. It's a book that anyone who is interested in the topic should read."
Cup of Coffee: October 5, 2026
The weekend action, the Sex Pistols, J.C. Bradbury's "This One Will Be Different," some actual good news about the end of the universe, and some words about my mental state now that the weather has br...
www.cupofcoffeenews.com
October 5, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1st review. @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social reviews TOWBD this morning: "This One Will Be Different will, for a long, long while, stand as the foremost statement about and against public subsidies for professional sports facilities. It's a book that anyone who is interested in the topic should read."
While we're discussing how much influence academic economics research has on policy, 100+ studies have found sports venues are bad public investments. These findings aren't just ignored by policymakers, they are openly rebuffed with great hostility.
Our comprehensive survey of research on the economic impact of teams and stadiums in Journal of Economic Surveys. Long story short: teams and stadiums are not drivers of economic development. @dcoatesecon.bsky.social and @bradhumphreys.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The impact of professional sports franchises and venues on local economies: A comprehensive survey
Local governments routinely subsidize sports stadiums and arenas using the justification that hosting professional franchises produces economic development and social benefits in the community. The p...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 4, 2026 at 11:40 PM
While we're discussing how much influence academic economics research has on policy, 100+ studies have found sports venues are bad public investments. These findings aren't just ignored by policymakers, they are openly rebuffed with great hostility.
Zalupski: "I wouldn't be surprised if this is a movie one day, honestly." If they make a movie, I don't think the well-connected billionaire sports team owner who gets what he wants from jock-sniffing politicians will be the good guy. It's an old story, but I'd love to see it on the big screen.
How the Tampa Bay Rays’ new owners found a home — and a new future
Patrick Zalupski brought development expertise and deep Florida ties; Ken Babby brought a lifetime in baseball — a partnership built to tackle the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium problem and transform the fra...
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
October 4, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Zalupski: "I wouldn't be surprised if this is a movie one day, honestly." If they make a movie, I don't think the well-connected billionaire sports team owner who gets what he wants from jock-sniffing politicians will be the good guy. It's an old story, but I'd love to see it on the big screen.
I think I've spotted a flaw in this argument.
October 3, 2026 at 2:43 PM
I think I've spotted a flaw in this argument.
The Bears already play in a public stadium that received a billion dollar renovation (essentially rebuilt for the team) in 2003.
www.chicagobusiness.com
October 3, 2026 at 2:27 PM
The Bears already play in a public stadium that received a billion dollar renovation (essentially rebuilt for the team) in 2003.
Reposted by J.C. Bradbury
I can’t recommend highly enough JC Bradbury’s new book “This One Will Be Different” a story & study of the economics of publicly funded sports arenas in the US.
It’s a wonderful read.
It will, however, cause you to lose respect for the elected officials who so readily drank Dundon’s Koolaid.
It’s a wonderful read.
It will, however, cause you to lose respect for the elected officials who so readily drank Dundon’s Koolaid.
Exactly. Dundon is just an asshole. It's time for Portland and Oregon leaders to stand up to this jerk. This treatment isn't worth an NBA team. You're better than this.
October 3, 2026 at 1:10 AM
I can’t recommend highly enough JC Bradbury’s new book “This One Will Be Different” a story & study of the economics of publicly funded sports arenas in the US.
It’s a wonderful read.
It will, however, cause you to lose respect for the elected officials who so readily drank Dundon’s Koolaid.
It’s a wonderful read.
It will, however, cause you to lose respect for the elected officials who so readily drank Dundon’s Koolaid.
Exactly. Dundon is just an asshole. It's time for Portland and Oregon leaders to stand up to this jerk. This treatment isn't worth an NBA team. You're better than this.
October 2, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Exactly. Dundon is just an asshole. It's time for Portland and Oregon leaders to stand up to this jerk. This treatment isn't worth an NBA team. You're better than this.