This article is co-published with the Houston Chronicle and ProPublica as part of an initiative to report on how power is wielded in Texas.
When Texas dedicated $22 million to host the 2017 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, state officials expected a return on their investment.
But a state analysis after the Patriots’ thrilling comeback win said it was “impossible” to tell if Texas taxpayers broke even on their investments.