Kansas City Star columnist Hearne Christopher Jr. today ran a long interview with me on that city’s new subsidized arena (which still lacks a sports tenant) and subsidized renovations to the stadiums of the Chiefs and Royals. Key quote:

“I think there are things that can be done to slow it, but I’ve been predicting the tide will turn for 10 years and it hasn’t. Until local officials start saying no and they cut off the money supply, teams are always going to do this because the rewards for the teams are so great that they’ll wait out recessions. They’ll even wait out Barack Obama.”

Thanks to Hearne for giving me the space to pontificate at length, though his head is still bigger than mine.