How Tracks and Sports Complexes are Giving back to the Public

How Tracks and Sports Complexes are Giving Back to the Public

By: Zach Frei

The diverse events and brutal competition of a track meet have never failed to draw in large numbers of spectators to each event. From pole vaulting to steeplechase and everything in between, there’s something for every athlete and audience member. However, none of this would be possible without, of course, a track to host all of the events. At the collegiate level, high quality tracks are a must have for event, and schools are willing to dish out heaps of cash to fund construction for these first-class facilities. It’s easy to spend a few million dollars to get a high quality track and stadium. The track alone can cost around one million dollars, but then add in seating, facilities, and maintenance.  So where does the money to fund these massive projects come from and where is the benefit to the public? It comes from and goes back into local businesses that fund and benefit from these types of events. Tracks and sports complexes offer a way for a local community to invest into itself and allow for growth amongst local businesses.

Track and field is by no means a high revenue generating sport compared to others, average revenue from entry fees and concessions being around ten thousand per event (Mondo). Yet hosting prestigious collegiate meets attracts thousands of athletes, fans, and spectators from around the area. All of these people need food, a place to stay, and of course some opportunities to spend money on souvenirs and entertainment. The demand for food and shelter go up as visitors expect to stay at a decent hotel and be able to eat somewhere. Hotels will often drop prices as to encourage visitors to rent out their rooms and compete in the perfect competition of hotels in the area. This allows for an increase in quantity of rooms demanded by spectators. Restaurants also benefit by much of the same way. Many will advertise in order to create greater consumer taste for their restaurant and thus increasing demand for their restaurant amongst visitors. Stores and merch shops in downtown areas benefit by again lowering prices to increase quantity demanded and sell more to the incoming consumers.

An example of these events is during June 2014 during the Wisconsin state track meet hosted by the University of LaCrosse. According to university, “Last year’s event brought a total of about 23,800 people to the area with a total estimated economic impact of about $3.9 million” (UWL Sponsors). These statistics get even more interesting when considering this is an annual event and only a high school level meet. Collegiate level meets are much larger as they are hosted in the larger areas of every state and are often more frequently occurring. These marginal benefits clearly outweigh the marginal costs of the initial price of building and maintaining these complexes. Businesses who invest in projects like these often see a large return due to the large intake of new consumers in the area for the corresponding events. These complexes offer services for student athletes as well as a way to help grow the local economy by investing money back into the community and stimulating growth in the local businesses.

Works Cited

Mondo. "The Positive Economic Impact of World-Class Track and Field Facilities for Cities and Local Businesses." Www.sportscommissions.org. N.p., 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.

Sponsors, UWL. "Campus News – UW-La Crosse." Campus News UWLa Crosse. UW LaCrosse, 3 June 2014. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.

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