The witty host of HBO's 'Last Week Tonight' aired an eye-opening segment on how professional sports teams exploit public money for financial gain.

After a week off, John Oliver and his award-worthy HBO program Last Week Tonight are back, and this time, they're targeting one of America's favorite pastimes: pro sports.

But first, a disclaimer. "I love sports. In fact, the only times I've cried as a grown man have been while watching actors playing coaches deliver inspirational speeches set to stirring music," announced Oliver.

Then the Brit launched into a fascinating segment targeting the stadiums of professional sports teams, which he said "nowadays look like they were designed by a coked-up Willy Wonka," pointing to the Jacksonville Jaguars' in-stadium cabanas and swimming pools, and the Miami Marlins' massive aquariums behind home plate. Unfortunately, taxpayers are footing the bill for these extravagances.

"The vast majority of stadiums are made using public money," said Oliver, citing a report from 2012 stating there's been "$12 billion spent on the 51 new facilities opened between 2000 and 2010."

"Which begs the question: Why?" he asked. "Sports teams are wealthy businesses with wealthy owners and they still get our help. Two years ago, Detroit got approval to spend more than $280 million in taxpayer money for a new arena for the Red Wings just six days after the city filed for bankruptcy—even though the Red Wings owner is Mike Ilitch, the founder of the Little Caesar's pizza chain, who's worth an estimated $5.1 billion. That's a little hard to swallow."

"Pretending you're poor is wrong. It wasn't OK when Mary-Kate Olsen went through her hobo phase, and it's not OK now!" screamed Oliver.

To make matters worse, the sports teams get to keep all the revenue the stadiums produce—including naming rights—and the replacement rate for stadiums is more than 90 percent. Many teams "get their stadiums funded through tax-exempt municipal bonds," said Oliver, including the Miami Marlins, who were granted $500 million in public money toward their new stadium in 2008 after claiming they couldn't afford to build it themselves. The Major League Baseball team refused to open its books when questioned by city officials, and leaked documents later revealed the team had generated $50 million in profits over the previous two years.

This chicanery is so thoroughly ingrained in sports culture that it's even featured in the "owner" mode of the Madden NFL 15 video game. In real life, NFL teams the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and San Diego Chargers are all threatening to leave their cities unless they get new stadiums, and in Madden NFL 15, the easiest way to get a new stadium is to choose to relocate your team—and the best city choice for stadium relocation is Los Angeles since, according to the game, "they'll pay for $783 million of your stadium costs."

Read Full Story