On Last Week Tonight John Oliver examines how cities spend massive amounts of public money on privately-owned stadiums. Ay sports fans, that’s the rub. We know you love your team, and adore that monstrous stadium; but the billionaire team owner probably got you and your neighbors to build it for him. To add insult to injury, you gave up roads, hospitals and schools to fund this monstrous money-making machine, while he is contracted to rake in all of the profits in perpetuity!
The techniques used by team owners to manipulate fans resemble nothing so much as an emotionally abusive relationship. Teams threaten to leave if they aren’t provided a dream stadium, and they lie about the benefits it will have for the city.That’s why John is holding an emotional and inspiring half-time speech -set to music, just like in the movies. This is the scene that always turns the game around and brings a tear to the eye of the strongest man. John hopes to encourage fans and cities to ‘just say NO’ to wealthy team owners and their stadiums – unless they want to do something truly unique and pay for them!