Economic Impact of Tulane Athletics Valued at 42 Million Dollars
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May 30, 2003
NEW ORLEANS - Tulane Athletics events annually bring more than $42 million into the local economy, according to a study by University of New Orleans professor and expert Dr. Tim Ryan.
Ryan made his evaluation based on figures available from the 2002-2003 seasons. The $42 million total primarily includes spending by visiting teams and their fans. The total does not include an estimated $2.8 million in state and local tax revenue generated by the visitors. Also, the many Tulane fans who come to the region from out of town for events were not considered in the calculations.
Tulane annually plays host to nearly 200 events in the New Orleans region while also bringing events like the 2003 Conference USA Baseball and Volleyball championships, and the 2003 NCAA Men's Tennis Regional, to the city. Other recent success stories include the 2002 football home game with Texas, which drew 46,678 fans to the Superdome, the NCAA record-setting baseball game with LSU in the Superdome in 2002 with a crowd of 27,673, and the Homecoming football game in City Park which last year attracted 28,123 to Tad Gormley Stadium.
"This study shows what many of us have already known," said Tulane Associate Athletic Director Scott Sidwell, "and that is, Tulane Athletics is a vital part of this community in an economic sense, as well as culturally and as part of the entertainment line-up."
Factors considered in the economic impact study included hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment, shopping and local transportation. Restaurant spending was the largest single factor with an estimated $12.4 million expended in New Orleans in that area alone.
Tulane will play host to six home football games in 2003, and Fogelman Arena is the site of the Conference USA Volleyball Championships in November. In addition, Tulane University is the host institution for the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four to be played at the New Orleans Arena April 4th and 6th.
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