Q: How many NFL stadiums are there, and how many of them have been built with private, or non-government, funds?
—Richard Sartini, Fayetteville
A: There are 31 NFL stadiums. Public funds contributed to the construction of 26 of those stadiums, Judith Grant Long, an associate professor of urban planning at Harvard who wrote "Public-Private Partnerships for Major League Sports Facilities," told Q&A on the News in an email. The five "paid for privately by the team, often with help from the league's loan pool," are: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.), Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.), FedEx Field (Landover, Md.) and Sun Life Stadium (Miami). She wrote, however, that when land and infrastructure is included, "then these five deals all include a public contribution, although a much smaller amount than in the majority of NFL deals." Long added that other public costs are "routinely uncounted, such as municipal services and foregone property tax revenues, that add considerably to the taxpayer's tab over the life of the lease."
Q: How can I find the name of the wonderful band that was entertaining travelers in the atrium of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport during the night of Nov. 21?
—Michelle Hutchinson, Marietta
A: The Infinity Show Band — infinityshowband.com — played at the airport that night during its annual Thanksgiving music series. The free holiday music series will return to the atrium in the domestic terminal from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 10-14 and Dec. 16-21. This month's lineup includes "a selection of jazz, gospel, rock and holiday classics," an airport spokesman told Q&A on the News in an email.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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