As Escondido works its way through a decision on whether to build a $45 million ball park for a San Diego Padres farm team, one need not look very far to find sources advising caution. Many say that sports facilities usually do not pay off for the cities that build them, and are sometimes exceptionally bad deals. There are links to articles from this point of view after the jump.

On the other side, a recent report by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation says San Diego has done well with the Petco Park development, which “exceeded all of the City’s expectations with regards to job creation, sales tax revenue, private investment, increased property values, hotel rooms, commercial space, housing units and property taxes.” Read the report (Caution, large PDF). In addition, a study by Stanford University faculty says ‘The project turned out to be a huge success for the Padres, the City of San Diego and the taxpayers of the City.” (Read more. Purchase required to read the entire study.)

San Diego’s positive experience

Study: Petco Park A Home Run for County Economy
San Diego Business Journal, July 19, 2010

Ballpark’s 7.6% return tops forecasts
Study could affect Chargers stadium
The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 14, 2010

Has PETCO Park Been a Good Investment?
KPBS Radio, January 26, 2010

The not so positive experience of other cities

Field of Schemes blog (follows stadium development proposals from around the country)
Based on the book “Field of Schemes:  How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit,” by Neil deMause and Joanna Cagan.

As Stadiums Vanish, Their Debt Lives On
The New York Times, September 7, 2010

From Miami: Marlins’ profits came at taxpayer expense
Yahoo Sports, August 24, 2010

The Stadium Gambit and Local Economic Development
The Cato Institute

A Closer Look at Stadium Subsidies
The Journal of the American Enterprise Institute

Stadium debt
In a number of cities, the debt repayment continues long after the team has departed.
The Sports Economist

Ballpark figures (fee to read)
Sports economists agree that cities — and taxpayers — get close to nothing from spending public money on sports teams. What they haven’t figured out is why we’re still doing it.
The Boston Globe, March 19, 2006