Paper Title
Measuring The Economic Value Of Minor League Sports: A Guide For Team Owners And Urban Planners

Abstract
The American public, as well as those in many other countries, has long been fascinated with athletes, sports teams, and sports events. As a result, one of the many dilemmas confronting city managers and urban planners in their efforts to serve their residents is whether to seek to add a professional sports team to their city’s entertainment mix. Thus, one of the most critical questions is: How much economic value would there be to having a professional sports team in the city? This study’s results suggest that there can be a significant positive economic effect from having a minor-league baseball team in a city. However, variations among communities necessitates this analysis be made on a case-by-case basis—and our model provides a methodology for such an examination across different cities and types of sports. Index Terms- Economic impact, multiplier effect, sports expenditures, value of professional sports.