Build It Your Own Damn Self (and They'll Come)

Reason Online has an interesting column discussing how the Supreme Court's impending decision in Kelo v. New London (the eminent domain case) could spell the end of publicly funded stadia for pro sports teams. Eminent domain is a key tool in acquiring the land to build new stadia. If the Court backs the property owners in Kelo (unlikely, but possible), public bodies may be less likely to fund new stadia that, it's been shown, don't produce the economic development goodies the teams promise. This is not just a big city issue, either. Charleston (and various other WV agencies) just ponied up several millions to build a new downtown ballpark for the local Class A baseball team. As much as I want to see MLS teams have soccer specific stadiums built for them, I hope the league foots the bill instead of suckling at the public teat.