What: Symposium: The House that Taxpayers Built: Stadiums, Speech, and Public Funding
Where: Villanova University School of Law, 299 North Spring Mill Road, Villanova, PA 19085. Room 29, Garey Hall.
When: 1 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2008
Overview: Professional sports teams have long been a source of civic pride and publicity. In the 1990s, American cities began to compete for sports franchises by offering resources to help teams build a new class of stadiums that focus on spectator amenities. As the cost of modern stadiums continues to rise, states and municipalities are now expected to make substantial financial contributions during and after construction. Nevertheless, the stadiums remain privately owned. These private sporting organizations have recently begun regulating fan speech, behavior and attitude well beyond that which is required for public safety and stadium security. This symposium will evaluate First Amendment jurisprudence and the possibility of a constitutional remedy when private owners restrict speech in these publicly funded and socially important spaces.
Cost: Free for Villanova students and staff. $12 for non-Villanova students. $30 for general registration. Click here to register.
