JS article on how Oklahoma City improved with the NBA

[Ari Gold]

Great article on how Oklahoma City built their metropolitan area with help from an NBA team:

Each effort failed. And when the city was named a finalist for 4,500 United Airlines
maintenance jobs, and was seen as having the best incentives package, Norick was stunned to see his hometown lose, this time to Indianapolis.

He toured Indianapolis and saw a vibrant downtown as he walked along the Central Canal. He learned how Market Square Arena, home to the city's NBA Pacers and a minor-league hockey team, kept restaurants and bars packed with sports fans. Oklahoma City might have had the better incentives package, but Norick quickly concluded that Indianapolis won the competition by offering a better quality of life

Norick returned home determined to change his city's fortunes. He dared to suggest that the city aspire for big-league status by building an arena in hopes of attracting an NBA or NHL franchise.

Hope Milwaukee takes note

[MUFlutieEffect]

I agree, albeit timidly.  Seemingly all objective research suggests cities lose tremendous amounts of money funding arenas and stadiums.  Ultimately though, the prestige (deserved or not) that comes from having your name in the spotlight 82 nights a year is impossible to assess.

I had no idea Oklahoma City even existed (outside of the bombing and its status as a state capitol) growing up.  On the other hand, as an avid NBA fan from age 5-15, I would've been familiar with OKC from kindergarten onward had the Thunder been in town.  Definitely something un-quantifiable, but worth considering.

[Eldon]

I agree, albeit timidly.  Seemingly all objective research suggests cities lose tremendous amounts of money funding arenas and stadiums.  Ultimately though, the prestige (deserved or not) that comes from having your name in the spotlight 82 nights a year is impossible to assess.

I had no idea Oklahoma City even existed (outside of the bombing and its status as a state capitol) growing up.  On the other hand, as an avid NBA fan from age 5-15, I would've been familiar with OKC from kindergarten onward had the Thunder been in town.  Definitely something un-quantifiable, but worth considering.

Very true.  However, my intuition, like yours, is that there are so many intangible benefits to having a pro-sports team (one of the four major ones) that the statistics cannot pick up on. 

For example, I recall a MJS article quoting a bunch of Milwaukee-area business leaders saying how they were disappointed about the Bucks losing Yi Jinlian because it was often a talking point between them and their Chinese clients/fellow businessmen.  They would give the Chinese clients and/or potential clients Jinlian jerseys and were able to talk about the NBA with them.  I feel that these intangibles possibly get lost in the econometric studies, but I still hesitantly defer to the peer-reviewed, scientific studies.

[GGGG]

I have said this hundreds of times.  Cities should not build sports arenas for the sake of economic investment.  They should build them because they want professional sports teams and everything that they bring to a city...civic pride, entertainment, etc.  That is why I have no problem with cities spending money to do so even if it doesn't make economic sense.

[Ari Gold]

For those who can keep an ear open at work MULS is having a discussion about a new arena today:

http://law-media.marquette.edu/Mediasite/Play/53bd4c8295e24e2c8009c7a2863e98341d

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Well, I guess Milwaukee should bring in an NBA team, then.

[MerrittsMustache]

Well, I guess Milwaukee should bring in an NBA team, then.

The Heat's run to a second consecutive championship will start against the Bucks. Sounds like a good marketing opportunity 

[keefe]

Great article on how Oklahoma City built their metropolitan area with help from an NBA team:

Each effort failed. And when the city was named a finalist for 4,500 United Airlines
maintenance jobs, and was seen as having the best incentives package, Norick was stunned to see his hometown lose, this time to Indianapolis.

He toured Indianapolis and saw a vibrant downtown as he walked along the Central Canal. He learned how Market Square Arena, home to the city's NBA Pacers and a minor-league hockey team, kept restaurants and bars packed with sports fans. Oklahoma City might have had the better incentives package, but Norick quickly concluded that Indianapolis won the competition by offering a better quality of life

Norick returned home determined to change his city's fortunes. He dared to suggest that the city aspire for big-league status by building an arena in hopes of attracting an NBA or NHL franchise.

Hope Milwaukee takes note

Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City...Good Lord. Only needs Cleveland to make it a Grand Slam.