MAPS & Legends - A Closer Look at the Metropolitan Area Projects Strategy

The Verdict Is In.
The People Said NO to MAPS.
This site was created in advance of the 1998 MAPS referendum in Birmingham, Alabama.
It is being maintained because there is still some interest in MAPS today.

What is MAPS?
Where will the money go?
Who wants MAPS?
What's so bad about MAPS?
Are there alternatives?
How can I find out more?
How can I get involved?

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