Public foots most of the $1.4 Billion for a stadium. Buffalo fans cheer.

The New York Times quoted Helen “Nellie” Drew as an expert in stadium economics in its story on funding for the Buffalo Bills’ $1.4 billion stadium. “Helen Drew, who teaches sports law at the University at Buffalo, said there was no way to put an exact dollar value on the project’s value, particularly regarding the positive attention that a good Bills team can bring,” according to the article. “She also noted that cities like Buffalo had long invested in civic auditoriums and other municipal works to encourage development. ‘You can rail against it,’ she said, ‘but it’s a reality that cities like this have to pay to compete.’”