Cities Hike Construction, Remodeling of Stadiums

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By Steven J. Viuker

N.Y. Times News Service

So maybe consumers are not buying a whole lot of cars. And, yes, businesses have cut back on firstass airline tickets and fourar lunches. But there is one area of conspicuous spending in these recessionary times: sports stadiums.

Domes, parks, yards and coliseums (few seem to be called stadiums or arenas anymore) are being built or remodeled across North America at a pace not seen in two decades.

Among the cities with new stadiums just opened or in the works are Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, San Antonio and San Jose. In New York, Madison Square Garden recently underwent a facelift.

These …