Final answer:
Historic leaders like Mobutu Sese Seko used sports stadiums to unify and control the population. Today, attracting professional sports teams and building stadiums is a strategy for economic growth in U.S. communities. The use of stadiums extends from ancient history, like the Roman Colosseum, to modern public financing challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leaders like Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) used sports stadiums and events to 'pacify their populations.' One example of such a use was the investment in the Stade du 20 Mai stadium as part of an effort to showcase the country's unity, strength, and prosperity, especially when hosting international events like the famous boxing match, 'The Rumble in the Jungle.' These public spectacles, while serving as entertainment, also operated as a tool for propaganda and to foster a sense of national pride and identity.
In contemporary times, communities in the United States adopt the strategy of attracting professional sports teams and constructing stadiums as a means to stimulate economic development, create jobs, and promote business growth. Articles by James Joyner, John Siegfried, and Andrew Zimbalist discuss the public financing of these stadiums and their supposed economic benefits, such as the potential to utilize the economic multiplier effect.
Historically, figures like Mobutu and the ancient Romans with their Colosseum drew parallels by offering mass entertainment that aligned with political purposes and social control. Today, while the motives may differ, the construction and financing of sports facilities continue to be a significant economic and social consideration for governments and communities.