Redistributed by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
Contact: Justine Mitchell, Public Relations Manager, (561) 233-3189, jmitchell@palmbeachsports.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2006
Contact: Nick Gandy, (850) 488-1422 or ngandy@flasports.com
Sports means $32 billion to the State of Florida
TALLAHASSEE -- With the beginning of a new year, the State of Florida can look forward to an infusion of $32 billion in 2006 due to Sports and Recreation.
Sports and recreation activities provide a $32 billion annual economic impact to Florida’s economy, according to an “Economic Impact of Sports and Recreation Activities in Florida Survey,” prepared by the Washington Economics Group, Inc. and commissioned by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida.
Besides the $32 billion in economic impact, the survey showed sports and recreation provide support for 434,000 employment positions and generate $12.9 billion in annual labor compensation.
In preparing the survey, using data from the 2004 calendar year, the Coral Gables-based Washington Economics Group, separated the sports and recreation activities into nine components for which there was sufficient data to prepare the survey. The components are:
Consumer spending on sports and recreation apparel and equipment
Local government expenditures for parks and recreation
Sport fishing (including associated boating)
Hunting and wildlife associated recreation
Recreational golf and golf courses
Professional sports teams
Sports associated with pari-mutuel wagering
Recreational ownership of horses
Sporting events sponsored by Florida’s 18 Regional Sports Commissions
Major Professional Golf and Tennis Tournaments
“This survey will show sports and recreation are an important activity in the State,” said Robert Cruz, Chief Economist for the Washington Economics Group. “The number of jobs sports and recreation creates in the State was quite impressive to me. I think it showed a very significant impact that had not been done before and those numbers are conservative. Of the 9.2 millions jobs in Florida, sports and recreation accounts for about 5% of jobs statewide.”
As the official sports promotion and development organization of the State, the Florida Sports Foundation strives to promote Florida's unique sports industry and realize its economic benefit. The study also sought to uncover the externality benefits directly affecting the society or economy at large.
Externality benefits associated with sports include; the encouragement of participation, inclusion and citizenship; creating confidence and discipline; facilitating recruitment of high wage and the promotion of health increasing longevity.
One of the reasons behind Florida’s success is the competitive advantage the state possesses in the sports and recreation sector.
Florida has extensive experience hosting nationally and internationally renowned sporting events.
The State has hosted 12 Super Bowls and been selected to host 3 more through 2010
The Annual Daytona 500 kicks off the NASCAR season of races with a crowd of more than 200,000
Four PGA Tour Events take place in Florida during the month of March
The 2006 Citgo Bassmasters Classic, known as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing,” will be held in Kissimmee in February
Florida boasts five college bowl games, tied with Texas for the most bowl games in the country, bringing visiting fans to Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami.
Florida has exceptional representation in high-profile professional sports franchises.
Major League Baseball’s Florida Marlins were World Series Champions in 1997 and 2003.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League won the Super Bowl in 2002.
The Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
Florida is a preferred worldwide destination for playing and training in several outdoor sports, specifically golf, baseball, tennis boating and fishing.
18 Major League Baseball teams hold their annual Spring Training in 17 Florida locations.
Florida boasts more than 1,200 golf courses.
Florida offers more than 7,700 lakes, 10,550 miles of rivers and streams, and 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline for anglers and boaters alike to enjoy.
Florida boasts versatile and modern sporting facilities and claims a critical mass of headquarters of numerous amateur sports’ governing bodies and organizations.
Since 1999, Miami’s Dolphins Stadium, Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium and Jacksonville’s ALLTEL Stadium have hosted Super Bowls.
The Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour is located in Ponte Vedra Beach.
The International Softball Federation is located in Plant City.
The United States Specialty Sports Association is located in Kissimmee.
The complete version of the Economic Impact of Sports in Florida can be found at www.flasports.com in a pdf format document.
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