Was Amazon's headquarters search 'a giant ruse'? NYC, D.C. centers of power prevail

Amazon's selection of New York City and Arlington, Virginia, for its new headquarters — as well as Nashville for a major investment — leaves major cities throughout the country wondering what could have been.

As Amazon dangled the prospect of 50,000 jobs and economic transformation, virtually every major city in the country jockeyed to win an economic development race for the ages.

But cities such as Chicago, Denver, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Miami and Los Angeles were ultimately left empty-handed.