How can I find out more?

• The complete MAPS Amendment as adopted by the Alabama Legislature.
  (Another copy is at the RAPS site, with some passages highlighted.)
  (The MAPS site now has a copy as well.
• Are New Stadiums Worth the Cost? by Noll and Zimbalist.
• Field of Schemes: News about stadium scams around the country.
• The Stadium Trap, from May 1998 Governing magazine, reprinted by RAPS.
• Bad Sports: Stadium revenues don't benefit the surrounding communities - at least, not without a fight.
• A chat with Rick Horrow, NFL stadium consultant and MAPS Steering Committee member. You can also hear his radio show (requires RealAudio).
• MAPS needs work, says Post-Herald sports columnist.
• Public opinion poll, commissioned by Birmingham News, shows public opposed to MAPS tax.
• Spin City: Read about MAPS consultant Hank Sheinkopf and his business.

[The official PRO and CON sites]

• Official MAPS site - pretty to look at, but noticeably short on substance. This is where the MAPS Victory Committee publishes its press releases.
• RAPS: "Real Accountability, Progress, and Solutions" - another pretty site, but with far more information than the MAPS site. Jimmy Blake's Bill Summary is chaotic and cranky in places - but it does cover the MAPS bill in-depth and is worth a read. There are many interesting links.

[What other cities have done]

• Cities that Work: A U.S. News report. In a nutshell, the most successful strategy is "rejuvenation by taking care of the basics."
• Oklahoma City: MAPS. Compare the Oklahoma project with the one proposed for Birmingham.
• Visioning Has Helped Many Cities - including Chattanooga
• The Green Bay model for professional sports development

[After the fact] Here are some links I found after the MAPS proposal was defeated:

• Swell MAPS, a February '98 editorial from Wordgun.com
• Southern Shofar pitches MAPS to Jewish readers (May '98)
• Teams play on without MAPS, Aug. 5, 1998.
• Field of Schemes does a wrap-up on MAPS.
• Gene Hallman, MAPS promoter.
• Talk of domed stadium continues after MAPS defeat. May '99 Birmingham Business Journal.
• Indoor football coming to Birmingham.

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Edited by Rob Collins