New Deal Spending and Stadia: Constructions Utilized by National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Institutions

Abstract

The present study seeks to understand more about the contribution the United States’ New Deal Depression-era programs had on college sport stadia. To complete this research, we examined projects used by the schools and communities connected to the National College Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division I and provide answers to the following research questions: 1) What New Deal programs (i.e., 1933-1942) are connected to college football stadia construction; 2) What regions took advantage of these programs to support the development of their football product; and 3) How can any differences found between regions and New Deal programs be explained? Within the present work, we differentiate the various NEW Deal programs from one another. Next, we make a case for why sport stadia attracted New Deal monies. The results of our study show a substantial commitment to sport stadia, present an explanation on regional differences, and offer a rationale on why there were differences in funding commitments by the various New Deal programs along with the types of innovations incorporated into the new structures or renovations.