Raise the Hammer

Rosentraub spoke at McMaster last night and seemed to present an unbiased lecture about sports, stadiums, urban development and economic opportunity.

The next morning CHCH reports one aspect of the lecture through a Ticat spokesperson spinning and stating, `...it gives us confidence that the Longwood rail site looks good.' Rosentraub never suggested one location over another. If anything could be read into his lecture its that urban renewal brings life back to the core of a city. Maybe West Harbour is still the more practical site, if it is a full fledged multipurpose facility and definitly in the 25,000 seating capacity range.

Based on two books Rosentraub has written - Major League Losers (1999), then ten years later - Major League Winners (2009), he has brought full circle the pros and cons of a sport entertainment development area. In 1999 he wrote:

"deals negotiated under the threat of a team leaving town result in many owners receiving land, investment opportunities, luxury suites, prime office space, and practice facilities—all financed by the taxpayers. Mark S. Rosentraub, a leading analyst of the economic impacts of sports on urban areas has studied the truth behind the claims routinely made by mayors, team owners, and the media..."

Ten years later Rosentraub continued his research and wrote about:

"... how communities can use sports and cultural centers to spur economic and social development... he examines approaches that municipalities take and how they relate to the success or failure of their projects... discusses the economics of sports and cultural centers and provides case studies examining economic redevelopment in several cities."

Afterwards, I got to wondering how the latest front runner Longwood area could ever become anymore than a single purpose football stadium bounded by highway, escarpment and residential neighbourhood. The community and Hamilton can get more bang for the buck nearer the downtown core.