The team is...mediocre, but they drive lots of cash into the economy.
Understood; I’m sure there are others as well. Often the ones that don’t want the teams are ones that have been burned by them in the past. The reality is that they’re not the greatest jobs being created, and the way cities have sold their souls with incentives has them scratching their heads five years later wondering why they ever did it. I live within a few miles of Giants/Jets stadium, and the new Red Bulls (soccer) stadium, the Continental Arena, and the Prudential Center, and I have to tell you the area really doesn’t benefit from having them there. 2 of them are actively competing with each other (the Arena and the Pru Center, which really wasn’t needed at all but was a way for politicians and companies to pretend they care about black people in Newark); there is simply not enough business for both of them, and even after the Pru Center poached the NJ Devils they still can’t get people to stay in Newark after dark. They tried to strongarm the Nets into playing in Newark, but I think they’ve been unsuccessful so far. They initially provide some benefit as far as costs of municipal services, but that doesn’t last.