“…For example, Scherer and Sam (2008) analyzed the content of five public meetings, at which citizens deliberated on the use of public funds for the $143 million renovation of Carisbrook, a rugby stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, The researchers observed a number of coercive tactics and politicking in the meetings, and argued that those with a vested interest in the facility (e,g,, city officials, the firm commissioned to evaluate the feasibility of the stadium, rugby supporters, wealthy businesspeople) were using their positions to alter the structure of a supposedly democratic process to gamer more favor for the stadium, Scherer and Sam's work demonstrates that there are democratic alternatives to referendums and initiatives, but these alternatives are not necessarily immune from political influence, A number of other analyses of the politics behind sport stadium-finance deals have been structured as historical accounts (e,g,. Curry et al, 2004;Mason, 2010;Mondello, Schwester, & Humphreys, 2009;Trumpbour, 2006), Other investigations have centered on the makeup of assorted stakeholders, including voters (Coates & Humphreys, 2006;Mondello & Anderson, 2004), political leaders (Carr, 2009), and elite endorsers (Paul & Brown, 2006), Still others have focused on the alleged benefits and detriments of a publicly financed stadium (e,g,, Delaney & Eckstein, 2003;deMause & Cagan, 2008;Rosentraub, 2010;Zimbalist, 2004), This project encompasses each of these elements to provide a critical account of the Columbus PANA Plan, Second, we conceptualized and defined civic paternalism. Although the literature on political influence in stadium financing has been widespread (e,g,, Austrian & Rosentraub, 1997;Blair & Swindell, 1997;Rosentraub, 1999;Weiner, 2000), less scholarship has examined the motives and decision-making processes of elected officials from the perspective of individual policymakers, A consideration of this perspective is necessary to appreciate the nuances of the decision-making process.…”