16.1M views · Jul 13, 2015 · 19:08 · 2 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2016–2022
John Oliver's Last Week Tonight segment on cities spending public money on privately owned sports stadiums, including how tax-exempt municipal bonds subsidize them.
Why Hacker News points people here: Pointed to in debates over stadium subsidies as a persuasive case that cities should not pay for stadiums.
“After watching it, it's pretty clear that cities should not pay for stadiums.”HN comment, 2022
“After watching it, it's pretty clear that cities should not pay for stadiums.”
Makes clear cities should not pay for stadiums
John Oliver already settled this in 2015. After watching it, it's pretty clear that cities should not pay for stadiums. this video
“John Oliver did a good piece on this as well”
Good piece on public funding of stadiums
John Oliver did a good piece on this as well and how crazy it is that the public pays so much for these things: this video
“Because it doesn't work for sports stadiums.”
Evidence stadium subsidies are not a net gain
> Hey if it works for sports stadiums why can't it work to create a company town Because it doesn't work for sports stadiums. It works in the sense of corporate welfare, but it is not a net gain for the community. link link link this video It's sad watching cities fall over themselves to give Amazon (a half a trillion dollar company) a handout. Handouts no one can afford . > (but where cities take the hit if the company town fails) As a country [1], states [2], and many municipalities [3], we're very much insolvent as it relates to future obligations. Could we please stop supporting reckless behavior making it worse? [1] link [2] link [3] link
