College Sports Central: Intercollegiate competitions help fill community coffers

Tracy Kimberlin, executive director of Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that while it’s nearly impossible to figure the revenue created by college sports for the local economy, the impact is significant.

“Any time you have a collegiate event going on, since most of the teams are a good distance away from Springfield, the teams and spectators that come in for the event are going to spend at least one night in a hotel,” Kimberlin said, noting that the CVB estimates sporting event visitors spend about $100 per day. “As to exactly how much it impacts the economy, all I can say is it’s substantial.”

The big boys

Among the five colleges and universities in Springfield that offer intercollegiate athletics, the largest programs are at Missouri State and Drury universities.

The MSU athletic program, with 15 intercollegiate teams has an annual operating budget of more than $12 million to pay for coaching salaries, trainers, traveling expenses and scholarships for some of the more than 400 student-athletes.

Drury has 225 student-athletes and 13 intercollegiate teams, according to Senior Assistant Athletic Director Dan Cashel. Figures released by Drury Vice President for Administration Ken Johnson show athletics expenditures of $2.5 million in 2006.

Drury Athletics Director Edsel Matthews was unavailable for comment.

Revenue for the schools comes mostly from ticket sales. Brent Dunn, assistant director of athletics and director of athletics development for MSU, said the university brought in about $2 million in gate receipts last year.

Drury posted about $200,000 from athletics ticket sales.

MSU hosted the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament May 23–26 at Hammons Field. Dunn estimated that nearly 2,000 people attended each of the 11 tournament games. Based on the CVB’s formula, the community could see $2 million in visitor revenue from that tournament alone.

Even so, both Dunn and Kimberlin agree that basketball is the most popular sport locally.

“Team sports in general bring in the most people – there are team members and coaches plus family members,” Kimberlin said. “As far as which sport brings in the most, I’d say basketball, because a large fan base follows those teams.”

Small school sports

While major college sports can be a key revenue source for the schools, it’s different at smaller institutions. David Stair, athletic director at Evangel University, said the 280 student-athletes participating in the school’s 11 sports programs aren’t a major source of money for the school. He estimated only about $20,000 annually in ticket sales – the school only charges admission for football and basketball, and students, faculty and staff get free admission.

For small schools, Stair said athletics aren’t about making money.

“Major college athletics is a business, and it’s an entertainment business – you have to put people in the stands whether your teams are winning or losing so you can pay for the program,” Stair said. “Here, it is about winning and losing – people are happier when you win – but coaches here can lose their jobs quicker if the kids are not good citizens and doing well in the classroom.”

Whether the schools are large or small, they’re all providing entertainment for local fans and a cause for which local residents can rally.

“We’re a big part of the community, and to provide a form of entertainment that’s good for all ages is very special,” MSU’s Dunn said.

Intercollegiate Sports Roundup

Baptist Bible College: Men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer, volleyball

Central Bible College: Men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer, volleyball

Drury University: Baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, volleyball

Evangel University: Baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, softball, track and field, women’s tennis, volleyball

Missouri State University: Baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, indoor women’s track, outdoor women’s track, women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball