Objective
Georgia Soccer has undertaken a series of research efforts to gain information about the Economic Impact of soccer in Georgia.
Three research programs were conducted:
(1) the Soccer Family Spending Survey,
(2) the Team / Tournament Impact Study,
(3) the League / Association Spending Study.
Key Findings
Preliminary data indicates that Soccer Families in Georgia spend over $74 million each year on soccer-related expenses. In addition, the 76 affiliated youth leagues in Georgia spend over $10 million each year maintaining their facilities and programs. Soccer tournaments also contribute greatly to the state’s economy, pumping over $35 million each year into the respective host communities.
It should also be noted that these research efforts did not include the over 6,000 amateur players in Georgia nor did the studies examine indoor, high school, college, or professional soccer.
Study of Family Spending
Method of Study
In an effort to gather accurate and detailed reports of family spending, the Georgia State Soccer Association sent surveys to over 300 soccer families across the state. Enclosed with each survey was a self-addressed stamped envelope, making it convenient for the families to return the survey. As a result, more than 70% of the surveys were returned. In addition, nearly 65% of the families surveyed had more than one child playing soccer. The returned surveys featured a large representation of players in every age group, league, playing level and geographic area. The surveys were sent out based on a weighted scale, insuring that age groups with the greater number of players would receive the greater number of surveys.
The questionnaires asked the families to report their spending habits in a variety of soccer-related areas. Some expenditures are quite obvious: registration fees, cleats, shin guards, and balls. Other spending, however, is often overlooked, such as mileage, soccer camps, tournament costs, and eating out after games.
Key Findings
The information gathered from the returned surveys indicates that the families of youth soccer players contribute over $74 million each year to Georgia’s economy.
Our findings show that youth soccer affects even those not directly involved with the sport. Hotels and restaurants, for example, are major beneficiaries of soccer. The restaurant industry in Georgia earns over $18 million each year from soccer players and their families on the way to and from games or practices. In addition, soccer families spend over $7 million each year on hotel rooms while at tournaments or distant road games. It is quite obvious that soccer in Georgia benefits even those who are not directly involved with the sport.
Spending Increases with Age Levels
In the Under-6 age group, there are over 4,500 players statewide, with the family of each player spending an average of $480 each year on soccer. In addition to the average registration fee of $62 per season, the typical Under-6 family spends $30 on cleats. Each year these families rack up nearly 400 miles driving to and from practices and games. They also spend an average of $158 a year at restaurants after games or practices.
At the opposite end of the spending spectrum are the Under-16 Select players, who spend an average of $3,845 per year. These are members of highly competitive, hand-picked, “traveling” teams. While spending an average of $104 per season on registration fees, they tack on another $121 for uniforms, $134 for cleats, and $32 for soccer bags. These players also take part in an average of five tournaments each year, spending over six nights in hotel rooms. In fact, players at this level spend over $1,800 each year on tournament and travel costs and another $755 annually at restaurants.
A complete listing of each age group and their average annual spending can be found at the end of this report.
Soccer in Georgia Growing at a Breakneck Pace
Just three years ago there were 59 youth leagues and 35,000 players in Georgia. We now have 71 youth leagues with several more expected to form in the next four months. The number of youth players is growing at an annual rate of over 18% with over 52,000 now registered in Georgia. As the number of players continues to increase, so does the economic impact of youth soccer in Georgia. While soccer may be a game, its economic impact is anything but child’s’ play.
League Spending
As youth soccer grows, so does the need for new fields and facilities.
There are currently over 500 soccer fields utilized by affiliated youth leagues, and over 150 new fields are in the planning stages for the next year. Field space is currently at a premium, with 66% of the leagues using their game fields daily for practices.
Not only are more people playing soccer than ever before, kids are starting at a younger age. The average youth player, for example, begins playing at five years of age. In addition, the players who start are staying active in soccer for a longer time. The suburban areas in Georgia are growing by leaps and bounds, attracting families from all over the country, many of whom are involved with or will become involved with soccer. In other words, more soccer fields are needed, and almost every league has expressed this concern.
The 71 youth leagues in Georgia spend over $10 million each year on the upkeep of fields, facilities, and programs. For example, the “large” leagues in Georgia (those with over 1,000 registered players) each spend an average of $73,000 annually on uniforms. These leagues spend another $35,000 on referees.
The “medium” leagues (those with between 500 and 999 players) spend $19,000 each year on uniforms and $26,000 on referees, while the “small” leagues (those with under 500 players) spend $6,000 each year on uniforms and $9,000 on referees.
Economic Impact of Soccer Tournaments
Georgia Soccer has undertaken an extensive study which focuses on tournament spending. This report, the first of its kind in the country, indicates just how much money is pumped into the local economies as a result of youth soccer tournaments. As with the Family Spending Survey, questionnaires were sent out to families from across the state, representing all age groups and playing levels.
There are over 40 youth soccer tournaments in Georgia each year, contributing over $35 million into the state’s economy.
Tournament Spending
When traveling to out-of-town tournaments, the typical soccer team takes 48 people (players, coaches, parents, siblings, etc...) The surveys show that each family spends nearly $200 per tournament for lodging and over $300 for food. An additional $200 is spent on such items as gasoline, T-shirts, and entertainment. Local malls, movie theaters, miniature-golf courses, and other recreational facilities are positively affected by large tournaments. Sporting goods vendors also fare well, often using on-sight tents or other portable facilities from which to sell their products.
Family Spending Adds Up Quickly
The typical family traveling to tournaments spends over $700. Research indicates that the average team is accompanied by 14 families (not all players are joined by their parents; some are chaperoned by other parents, coaches, etc...) Taking these figures into account, the average individual soccer team spends over $10,000 per tournament. A large soccer tournament, therefore, will pump over $2 million into the respective community.
In fact, many families combine soccer tournaments with family vacations. A major factor in deciding upon which tournaments to attend is the availability of entertainment and recreation. Areas with such amenities equate to higher family spending.
Columbus, Georgia will play host to the 1998 Regional III Tournament, featuring the top teams from each state. An extensive study reports that this week-long tournament (most tournaments are only three days long) will pump more than $10 million into that city’s economy!
What About the Local Players?
While the out-of-town teams spend a great deal of money on lodging and other expenses, the local teams taking part also contribute greatly to the economy. Our studies show that local families spend nearly $200 per tournament, mostly at restaurants and on tournament souvenirs, such as T-shirts.
Summary
It should also be noted that many teams from Georgia travel to tournaments in other states, spending a great deal of money along the way. Likewise, Georgia’s tournaments play host to teams from other states as well as many other countries. With an annual impact of over $35 million, youth tournaments positively affect the local communities, as does youth soccer as a whole.
