It's Hardly Sportin' : Stadiums, Neighborhoods, and the New Chicago

by Spirou, Costas; Bennett, Larry

• ISBN13: 9780875803050
• ISBN10: 0875803059
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY PRESS

Summary

Across the nation, stadiums and sports centers are a vital aspect of urban redevelopment. How do these projects affect the communities near the new facilities? Focusing on the controversies surrounding three major Chicago projects-the United Center, Comiskey Park, and lighting Wrigley Field- It's Hardly Sportin'suggests fresh ways for cities to coordinate the expansion of sports facilities with neighborhood life. Shared interest in the home team's triumphs and tragedies can unify a city. But when disputes arise over new and improved sports stadiums, who wins and who loses at the neighborhood level? Using Chicago as a case study, Spirou and Bennett show what happens to neighborhoods when cities use sports as a strategy for revitalization. They argue that stadiums serve as effective tools for urban revitalization only if community organizations and local conditions are closely involved in the planning process. Offering provocative insights into the challenges of contemporary urban economic development, It's Hardly Sportin'calls attention to the crucial role of sports centers in American culture.

Table of Contents

Illustrations and Maps	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	3	(8)
Sports-Driven Urban Redevelopment in Chicago and Beyond	11	(26)
From Urban Renewal to the City of Leisure	37	(22)
The New Comiskey Park Economics, Politics, and Professional Sports Franchise Retention	59	(24)
Rebuilding Comiskey Park The Elusive Link between Stadium Construction and Community Development	83	(25)
Bringing Light to Wrigley Field	108	(18)
Lake View From Complete City to Port of Entry for All the Young People	126	(16)
Redeveloping the Near West Side From Conflict to Collaboration	142	(23)
Stadium Development, Three Neighborhoods, and Urban Revitalization	165	(22)
Appendix	187	(6)
Bibliography	193	(16)
Index	209