While many of the 35 projects tapped public funding, several relied solely on private financing.
That's the estimated total amount of public dollars spent on U.S. stadiums since fall of 2003.
$13.50 billion
Stadium madness
With the Chicago Bears and White Sox looking to build new stadiums with public money, it’s a good time to look at how other sports teams financed stadium construction.
The Chase Center opened in 2019 in San Francisco, ushering the Golden State Warriors out of Oakland, Calif., and into San Francisco. The arena itself was built entirely through private funding. Since the Chase Center opened, the Warriors have repeatedly sought to lower its assessed value, thus reducing the organization's property tax bill and the amounts sent to the city’s coffers.
28 of the 35 projects used public money.
Truist Park
Funding stadiums
28
7 of the 35 projects were privately funded.
7
Since the Solider Field renovation in 2003, 35 stadiums across the country have been built, are being built or have undergone major renovations costing $500 million or more.
$300 million
The amount of public money the Atlanta Braves used to build Truist Park
Atlanta braves
VS.
Teams asking for public funds often argue that building a stadium will lead to greater economic growth for the community, but is that the case? Good data is hard to come by and recent history suggests that sometimes it does spur growth, but other times it does not. Let's look at two examples.
Do stadium projects bring a measurable economic benefit to a city?
Chase Center
With more than 10.3 million people visiting in 2023, The Battery entertainment district surrounding Truist Park has made the stadium a success to many. In 2022, property taxes from The Battery and Truist Park offset the county’s general fund contribution to the debt payment for the first time. But Cobb County’s ongoing $12 million to $15 million annual debt obligation concerns critics.
$0
The amount of public money the Golden State Warriors used to build the Chase Center
Golden state warriors
Who used public money and who didn't?
Here are 35 stadium projects from across the country and how they were financed.
Citi Field
8 of 35
Teams: New York Mets
City: New York
League: MLB
Stadium price: $900 million
Public funding: $615 million
2000
2030
= Team used public funds
2009
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
19 of 35
Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC
City: Atlanta
League: NFL, MLS
Stadium price: $1.6 billion
Public funding: $700 million
2017
SoFi Stadium
25 of 35
Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers
City: Inglewood, Calif.
League: NFL
Stadium price: $5.5 billion
Public funding: $0
2020
Source: Crain's reporting
= Team did not use public funds
AT&T Stadium
7 of 35
Teams: Dallas Cowboys
City: Arlington, Texas
League: NFL
Stadium price: $1.15 billion
Public funding: $325 million
2009
EverBank Stadium
33 of 35
Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars
City: Jacksonville, Fla.
League: NFL
Stadium price: $1.4 billion
Public funding: $775 million
Projected for 2028
M&T Bank Stadium
3 of XX
Teams: Baltimore Ravens
City: Baltimore
League: NFL
Renovation price: $TK billion
Public funding: $430 million
2026
U.S. Bank Stadium
16 of 35
Teams: Minnesota Vikings
City: Minneapolis
League: NFL
Stadium price: $1.3 billion
Public funding: $498 million
2016
Climate Pledge Arena
28 of 35
Teams: Seattle Kraken
City: Seattle
League: NHL
Renovation price: $1.5 billion
Public funding: $0
2021
Fenway Park
3 of XX
Teams: Boston Red Sox
City: Boston
League: MLB
Renovation price: $tk billion
Public funding: $TK
2014-2019
Wrigley Field
23 of 35
Teams: Chicago Cubs
City: Chicago
League: MLB
Renovation price: $575 million
Public funding: $0
2014-2019
Chase Center
24 of 35
Teams: Golden State Warriors
City: San Francisco
League: NBA
Stadium price: $1.4 billion
Public funding: $0
2019
MetLife Stadium
9 of 35
Teams: New York Giants, New York Jets
City: East Rutherford, N.J.
League: NFL
Stadium price: $1.6 billion
Public funding: $0
2010
Nationwide Arena
36 of 36
Teams: Columbus Blue Jackets
City: Columbus, Ohio
League: NHL
Renovation price: $175 million
Public funding: $0
Projected for 2030
T-Mobile Arena
17 of 35
Teams: Vegas Golden Knights
City: Paradise, Nev.
League: NHL
Stadium price: $375 million
Public funding: $0
2016
American Family Field
29 of 35
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers
City: Milwaukee
League: MLB
Renovation price: At least $650 million
Public funding: $500 million
Started in 2024
Busch Stadium
4 of 35
Teams: St. Louis Cardinals
City: St. Louis
League: MLB
Stadium price: $365 million
Public funding: $328.5 million
2006
LoanDepot Park
13 of 35
Teams: Miami Marlins
City: Miami
League: MLB
Stadium price: $634 million
Public funding: $515 million
2012
Nationals Park
5 of 35
Teams: Washington Nationals
City: Washington, D.C.
League: MLB
Stadium price: $783 million
Public funding: $535 million
2008
Truist Park
20 of 35
Teams: Atlanta Braves
City: Cumberland, Ga.
League: MLB
Stadium price: $622 million
Public funding: $300 million
2017
Petco Park
1 of 35
Teams: San Diego Padres
City: San Diego
League: MLB
Stadium price: $474 million
Public funding: $301 million
2004
Target Field
10 of 35
Teams: Minnesota Twins
City: Minneapolis
League: MLB
Stadium price: $555 million
Public funding: $350 million
2010
Citizens Bank Park
2 of 35
Teams: Philadelphia Phillies
City: Philadelphia
League: MLB
Stadium price: $458 million
Public funding: $221 million
2004
Paycom Center
3 of XX
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder
City: Oklahoma City
League: NBA
Renovation price: $900 million???
Public funding: $0
TK
Bank of America Stadium
35 of 35
Teams: Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC
City: Charlotte, N.C.
League: NFL, MLS
Renovation price: $800 million
Public funding: $650 million
Proposed for 2029
Highmark Stadium
31 of 35
Teams: Buffalo Bills
City: Buffalo, N.Y.
League: NFL
Stadium price: $1.7 billion
Public funding: $850 million
Projected for 2026
Lambeau Field
3 of XX
Teams: Green Bay Packers
City: Green Bay, Wisconsin
League: NFL
Renovation price: $TK billion
Public funding: $TK
2024
Levi's Stadium
15 of 35
Teams: San Francisco 49ers
City: Santa Clara, Calif.
League: NFL
Stadium price: $377 million
Public funding: $114 million
2014
Lucas Oil Stadium
6 of 35
Teams: Indianapolis Colts
City: Indianapolis
League: NFL
Stadium price: $720 million
Public funding: $100 million
2008
Nissan Stadium
32 of 35
Teams: Tennessee Titans
City: Nashville, Tenn.
League: NFL
Stadium price: $2.2 billion
Public funding: $1.2 billion
Projected for 2027
Gas Plant Stadium
34 of 35
Teams: Tampa Bay Rays
City: St. Petersburg, Fla.
League: MLB
Stadium price: $1.3 billion
Public funding: $600 million
Projected for 2028
Intuit Dome
30 of 35
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers
City: Los Angeles
League: NBA
Stadium price: $2 billion
Public funding: $0
2024
Allegiant Stadium
27 of 35
Teams: Las Vegas Raiders
City: Las Vegas
League: NFL
Stadium price: $1.97 billion
Public funding: $750 million
2020
Paycor Stadium
3 of XX
Teams: Cincinnati Bengals
City: Cincinnati, Ohio
League: NFL
Stadium price: $TK billion
Public funding: $TK
TK
Little Caesars Arena
21 of 35
Teams: Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons
City: Detroit
League: NHL, NBA
Stadium price: $862.9 million
Public funding: $287 million
2017
Barclays Center
14 of 35
Teams: Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty
City: New York
League: NBA, WNBA
Stadium price: $1 billion
Public funding: $1 billion
2012
PPG Paints Arena
11 of 35
Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins
City: Pittsburgh
League: NHL
Stadium price: $290 million
Public funding: $290 million
2010
FedEx Forum
3 of 35
Teams: Memphis Grizzlies
City: Memphis, Tenn.
League: NBA
Stadium price: $250 million
Public funding: $250 million
2004
Kia Center
12 of 35
Teams: Orlando Magic
City: Orlando, Fla.
League: NBA
Stadium price: $480 million
Public funding: $430 million
2010
Fiserv Forum
22 of 35
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks
City: Milwaukee
League: NBA
Stadium price: $524 million
Public funding: $250 million
2018
Golden 1 Center
18 of 35
Teams: Sacramento Kings
City: Sacramento, Calif.
League: NBA
Stadium price: $534.6 million
Public funding: $255 million
2016
Globe Life Field
26 of 35
Teams: Texas Rangers
City: Arlington, Texas
League: MLB
Stadium price: $1.1 billion
Public funding: $500 million
2020
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Indianapolis Colts
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Alamy
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Jason McGregor
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Texas Rangers
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Climate Pledge Arena/DP Drones
Jason McGregor
Intuit Dome
Buffalo Bills
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Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Rays
Carolina Panthers
Photo c/o Columbus Arena Sports & Entertainment
Correction: This graphic has been updated to reflect that AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta used public financing, $325 million and $700 million, respectively.
Year opened
Correction: This graphic has been updated to reflect that AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta used public financing, $325 million and $700 million, respectively.
Note: Data is for stadiums hosting teams in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League.