Economic development effects of major and minor league teams and stadia

Authors

Nola Agha, University of San FranciscoFollow
Daniel A. Rascher, University of San Francisco

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

Professional teams and leagues claim new stadiums lead to economic development. To test this, we utilize data from the Census Bureau on net establishment and employment changes across 871 Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas from 2004 to 2012. Difference-in-differences and panel data techniques allow for a cross-sectional and time series comparison for both teams and new stadia in both professional and development leagues. Nearly all results from hundreds of models are insignificantly different from zero. Results from between- and random-effects models suggest that teams move into markets that already have higher employment and establishment growth. (JEL R58, H71, L83, Z28)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1177/1527002520975847

ORCID

0000-0002-9277-7559

Recommended Citation

Agha, N. & Rascher, D. A. (2021). Economic development effects of major and minor league teams and stadia. Journal of Sports Economics, 22(3), 274-294. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527002520975847