Stadium Development and Urban Communities in Chicago
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Loyola University Chicago Loyola eCommons Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1996 Stadium Development and Urban Communities in Chicago Costas Spirou Loyola University Chicago Follow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Spirou, Costas, "Stadium Development and Urban Communities in Chicago" (1996). Dissertations. 3649. https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/3649 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Loyola eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Loyola eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. Copyright © 1996 Costas Spirou LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO STADIUM DEVELOPMENT AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO VOLUME 1 (CHAPTERS 1 TO 7) A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY BY COSTAS S. SPIROU CHICAGO, ILLINOIS JANUARY, 1997 Copyright by Costas S. Spirou, 1996 All rights reserved. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The realization and completion of this project would not have been possible without the contribution of many. Dr. Philip Nyden, as the Director of the Committee provided me with continuous support and encouragement. His guidance, insightful comments and reflections, elevated this work to a higher level. Dr. Talmadge Wright's appreciation of urban social theory proved inspirational. His knowledge and feedback aided the theoretical development of this manuscript. Dr. Larry Bennett of DePaul University contributed by endlessly commenting on earlier drafts of this study. I have learned much from my interactions with Dr. Bennett. His organizational insights and his ability to ask critical questions, allowed for the formation of a more comprehensive study. I have been fortunate to have met Dr. Bennett, whose scholarship I have come to value. Over the years, many people have also contributed to my academic and professional development. The late George Gable of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, first exposed me to the discipline of sociology and Dr. Charles Suchar and Dr. Felix Padilla of DePaul University, further cultivated my interests during my Masters degree studies. Finally, I wish to thank Dr. Edward Risinger, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Phyllis Neulist, Professor Emeritus and Marion May Kissane, Associate Professor, all of whom are at National-Louis University, Evanston, IL. Over the years, they have shown me enormous encouragement. The support of others needs to also be mentioned, since without them this project would have never been completed. Mr. Anthony Dades, Mrs. Mary Dades and Mrs. Stacy Dades Popovich were instrumental in allowing me to continue my studies in the United States. Without them I would have never had the chance to pursue a Ph.D. A great thanks is also owed to my brother Stamatis who has shared many of my struggles. Finally, a sense of deep appreciation is due to my wife Patrice Martin Spirou. The completion of this project, I owe to her. Her support, consideration, patience, love, and engaging spirit have made it all possible. I thank her for sharing all the positives and negatives associated with the completion of this manuscript. She has been great. To my children, Jack-Stelios, 6 years old, Tara-Elefteria, 4 years old and MaryEve, 2 years old, who have come to know the iii meaning of a dissertation as well as the subject of this study, I am very happy to report that this project has finally come to an end. Their cry for ''No more dissertation Dad!" has been finally answered. This project is dedicated to my parents, Mr. Ploutarchos-Stylianos Spirou and Mrs. Yvonne Charalambaki Spirou. Their love and value of education has meant so much to me. iv ABSTRACT In recent years, cities across the United States have invested considerable amounts of public funds to finance the construction of stadium facilities. Supporters of these projects have utilized, through the use of multiplier effects, positive direct and indirect economic outcomes, as well as community building and cultural identification factors to argue in favor of these public expenditures. As sports become part of a culture industry, questions remain as to whether these sports construction projects are viable urban development tools. This study examines the relationship between three urban communities in the city of Chicago (South Armour Square, Lake View and Near West Side) and the stadiums which rest within their boundaries. Qualitative and quantitative data was employed to conduct this research and investigate the relationship among stadium development, business interests and community issues. This study concludes that (1) there is a strong relationship between the interests of stadium developers and the actions of public officials, who work to support private enterprise, (2) Race matters since minority communities prove to be more directly affected by these projects, (3) v the media plays an important role as it works to support the interest of the developers, (4) social inequality proves to be the outcome of these projects within the urban environment, and (5) the stadium as an urban development tool is capable of not only reorganizing the physical space but also of transforming local culture. Thus, stadium development can effect urban change. vi To my parents, Mr. Ploutarchos-Stylianos Spirou and Mrs. Yvonne Charalambaki Spirou TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iii ABSTRACT . v LIST OF TABLES . xii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Goal of this Project . ...... ... 1 Selection of Communities and Stadiums for Case Studies . 5 Methodology . 7 Organization of the Project.................. 12 2. THE STATE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: STADIUMS AND URBAN GROWTH Introduction . 18 Growth Machine and Growth Ideology.......... 21 The Political Environment: Private Interests and Public Needs........... 27 Capital Investment and Competition: Stadiums, Professional Franchises and Urban Growth . 32 Sports Driven Economic Rejuvenation......... 36 The Use of Cultural Factors in Urban Development . 40 The Arts as part of Urban Growth............ 43 Sports as a Culture Industry................ 45 The Role of Race and Ethnicity in Stadium Development . .. ...... .. 48 Urban Social Movements . ... .. 51 Conclusion . 54 3. MULTIPLIER EFFECT AND STADIUM DEVELOPMENT Introduction . 57 The Multiplier Effect . 58 Regional Input-Output Analysis .. ... 59 How Are Economic Multipliers Determined? 60 The Use of Economic Impact Studies ... 62 Manufacturing and Related Impacts . .. 63 Urban Renewal and Enterprise Zones Impacts . 6 5 The Impact of Urban Tourism............ 67 The Impact of the Arts . .. ...... .. 69 Economic Impacts through the Use of Multipliers in Sports . ....... .. .. 70 A Critique of Regional Economic Multipliers . 76 Problems with Definition............... 77 vii CHAPTER 3. Problems with Estimation .............. 80 Problems with Assumptions ............. 82 Problems with Vested Interests ........ 87 Sports Stadiums and Economic Development ... 88 The Malling of Stadiums: Capturing the Consumer .......................... 91 In Search of an Economic Impact ....... 93 Conclusion ................................. 96 4. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF SPORTS: ARE THEY REAL? Introduction . 98 The Social Function of Sports ........ ... 99 A Professional Franchise as an Urban Status Symbol ......................... 102 Other Proposed Social Benefits for the City, Resulting from the Presence of a Professional Sports Franchise ............................ 108 A Professional Franchise as Generator of Social Cohesion and Community Building 109 Cultural and Symbolic Elements ......... 112 Stadium Construction as a Source of City Greatness ......................... 116 Perceived Social Benefits as Reasons for Franchise Support ...................... 118 The Problematic of Exclusively Viewing Sport as a Social Function .................. 119 Conclusion . 121 5. THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE NEW COMISKEY PARK IN SOUTH ARMOUR SQUARE Introduction . 123 Was it Unsafe or Was it the Posts? .......... 128 Moving to the Suburbs ....................... 133 Anti-urbanism, Racism and the loss of the Black Fans . 133 The Addison Location ................... 137 The Chicago Response ........................ 139 Economic Rationalizations and the Eventual Site ........................... 143 Going to Florida or Staying in Chicago: The Media Push . 14 9 State Financial Support and Implications . 153 Rationalizing Competition: Government Perceptions of, Outcome ........... 158 Was a Sox Move out of State a Financially Sound Possibility for the Team? . 161 Contracting the Facility and the Actual Product .......................... 165 viii CHAPTER 6. COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO STADIUM DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN SOUTH ARMOUR SQUARE Introduction . 1 70 The Community of South Armour Square ........ 170 The old Comiskey Park and the Local Community . 172 Setting the Stage for the Takeover: Politicizing the Issue ...................... 175 The Community Response ...................... 179 One Voice: Accept the Relocation Package . 183 Another Voice: Reject the Relocation Package ..................... 185 McCuddy's: The Loss of History and Local Culture . 192 First Alternative: Restoring old Comiskey Park . 195 Second Alternative: The Armour Field Proposal 197 The Armour Field