| Abstract: | The boom in U.S. major league sporting venue construction has forced many cities to face issues related to the provision of such facilities, including the location choice. Recent data show that the suburbanization trend long assumed in the literature has been reversed, with a resurgence in downtown venues. This paper demonstrates the reversal and discusses the reasons behind this recent trend. These include a concomitant trend toward smaller market franchises, increasing corporate sponsorship, deliberate downtown revitalization strategies, and the advantages accruing to owners when different parts of an urban area compete for franchises. |
