Description
Book SynopsisStudies the connections between professional team sports in North America and the places where teams play. This book examines the relationships between major professional team sports - baseball, basketball, football, and hockey - and the cities that attach their names, their hearts, and their increasing amount of tax dollars to big league teams.
Trade Review"It will be the authority on the subject for a long time coming."--Frank Deford, Newsweek "In America, a professional sports team tends to play a big part in the emotional life of its host city; it nearly broke New York's heart when the city's beloved Brooklyn Dodgers threw it over for L.A. Michael Danielson knows all about home-team loyalty; growing up in Brooklyn in the '50s, the Dodgers were his first love. In this book, he combines that personal interest with a professional one in urban politics."--Washington Post Book World "Danielson examines every side of the business of sport, from ceilings on player salaries to leases on grounds, to cable TV rights... [His] account ... could not be more timely or relevant."--Albert Scardino, New Statesman "Fascinating historical evidence presented in a fluid writing style."--John R. Thelin, Philadelpia Inquirer "Danielson has ingested an enormous amount of information and come up with some interesting observations."--Allen Barra, Chicago Tribune
Table of ContentsList of TablesList of FiguresList of AbbreviationsPrefaceCh. 1Places to Play3Ch. 2Urban Games19Ch. 3Market Tests36Ch. 4Private Businesses51Ch. 5Business Partners68Ch. 6Teams in Leagues83Ch. 7Big League Cities102Ch. 8Competing for Teams117Ch. 9Changing Places134Ch. 10Playing for Keeps152Ch. 11The Expanding Realm169Ch. 12Making the Cut185Ch. 13Back Door Play202Ch. 14Ballpark Figures218Ch. 15Newer, Bigger, Better235Ch. 16Political Players253Ch. 17Political Contests272Ch. 18Private Games and Public Stakes287Appendix: Places and Team Names307Notes323Note on Sources257Index379
