A game of millions: Professional sports facilities and the media's influence on the agenda setting process

New multi-million dollar professional sports facilities are constructed at unprecedented rates across the United States. This building boom continues into its fourth decade as billionaire and multimillionaire franchise owners have found a willing financing partner in city and state officials as well as taxpayers. All told, an estimated ;This dissertation uses a Bayesian Poisson changepoint model to indicate how professional sports facility referenda successfully compete against other issues for space on the local government agenda. The research includes a review of newspaper articles leading up to and following a professional sports facility referendum. This review demonstrates the evolution of issue tone over the course of a referendum election cycle. Also, the research determines if positive newspaper articles serve as a powerful endorsement of professional sports financing plans. In addition, the project reveals the emergence of new arguments and attributes from both sides of the referendum as the election cycle progresses (Jones and Baumgartner, 2005b).;There is no evidence to suggest that the sports facility construction boom is coming to an end. In fact, with an average facility lifespan of 20 years or less; the building boom will indeed continue. The broader impact of this research is to supply city and state leaders as well as taxpayers and voters information beyond the economic benefit analysis of a stadium proposal. Although it is important to understand the economic benefits of a publicly financed sports facility, it is as important to understand how framing effects are used to define this issue and how the media influences the agenda setting process.