Economic Impact of College Football on Employment

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There are a total of 3,878 jobs created from Penn State Football. This may not seem like a large number, but it is almost 4,000 people that would not have jobs if Penn State Football were irrelevant. The University of Nebraska is no slouch either when it comes to employment opportunities. Thompson and McClure (2014) found, “The University of Nebraska Department of Athletics is a significant employer in Lincoln and the State of Nebraska. The department had a payroll of $33.8 million during the 2013-14 fiscal year, and employed 326 full-time staff, thirteen part-time staff, 616 student part-time workers, 897 event staff, and concessions staff and other on-call temporary workers. The department also is a key part of the Lincoln and Nebraska …show more content…

If this were to happen, the athletic department, students, student-athletes, and State College would all suffer. Ryan Beckler (2012), author of Economically, We Need Penn State Football clarifies, Penn State football provides athletes from every sport with scholarships, students with internships, and hundreds of people — both young and old — with jobs and careers. The importance of Penn State football is enormous for just about everyone in State College. In the 2010-2011 football season Penn State Football profited over $53 million (Beckler). However, not all of that money goes to the football program. A large amount of it goes to the 27 other varsity sports (Beckler). Would it be possible for these other programs to survive without the football program? Realistically, probably not. Again, it is astounding to see the impact of major college football …show more content…

As a small town in the middle of Pennsylvania, State College relies on the university for the economy and jobs. State College would also take an enormous economic hit. Beckler (2012) concludes that the town and University are essential to one another and one cannot survive without the other. “The State College economy is dependent on Penn State. Penn State football is the primary force behind Penn State brand, hence State College is, was, and will always be economically reliant on Penn State football” (Beckler). To reiterate further on local businesses would be negatively effected, Beckler concludes that if indeed Penn State Football was shut down for a year or more, “Bars, restaurants, and merchandise stores are all impacted. But football is only played during the fall, right? Yes, however, the presence of Penn State football always looms over Centre County, emotionally and financially. State College might survive without football, but it wouldn’t thrive. Fact is, without Penn State football, hotel rooms would be vacant, jobs would be lost, and the State College community would economically wilt until the Nittany Lions return on Saturdays.” It is safe to assume that the Jerry Sandusky Scandal has effected the football program and State College, but not to the degree that many originally believed. Luckily for State College business owners, they are still

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