†Robert A. Baade, Department of Economics and Business, Lake Forest College, Lake
Forest, IL 60045, 847-735-5136 (phone), 847-735-6193 (fax), baade@lfc.edu
††Robert Baumann, Department of Economics, Box 192A, College of the Holy Cross,
Worcester, MA 01610-2395, 508-793-3879 (phone), 508-793-3708 (fax),
rbaumann@holycross.edu
†††Victor A. Matheson, Department of Economics, Box 157A, College of the Holy Cross,
Worcester, MA 01610-2395, 508-793-2649 (phone), 508-793-3708 (fax),
vmatheso@holycross.edu
Working Paper Series, Paper No. 07-01
Down, Set, Hike: The Economic Impact of College Football Games
on Local Economies
Robert A. Baade†, Robert Baumann††, and Victor A. Matheson†††
February 2007
Abstract
This paper provides an empirical examination of the economic impact of spectator sports
on local economies. Confirming the results of other ex post analyses of sports in general, this
paper finds no statistically significant evidence that college football games in particular
contribute positively to a host’s economy. Our analysis from 1970-2004 of 63 metropolitan areas
that play host to big-time college football programs finds that neither the number of home games
played, the winning percentage of the local team, nor winning a national championship has a
discernable impact on either employment or personal income in the cities where the teams play.
While successful college football teams may bring fame to their alma mater, fortune appears to
be a bit more elusive.
JEL Classification Codes: L83, I20, O18, R11
Keywords: sports, football, college sports, impact analysis, mega-event
2
Introduction
College football is among the most popular spectator sports in the United States. Total
live attendance at all college football games in 2006 was nearly 48 million fans, which is more
than double the attendance of the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball League
(NBA), or National Hockey League (NHL) during recent seasons. Average attendance among
the 119 National Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NCAA