I know I'm always stopping by downtown to visit the laboratory

I know I'm always stopping by downtown to visit the laboratory
The dangerous combination of not having a clue, combined with the war chests of every damned tech bro in SF.
Once you've got tier 2 buildings, a laboratory will give you 3 research points per hour to unlock the rest of the tech tree, but a soccer stadium gives +4 to tourism. Both get bonuses if they're within 5 squares of a university. You could go either way really.
I'd rush tech imo. Once you get to Terraforming and Advanced Genetics 2 you can just ignore your population problems and make new land and workers!