Jobs in Florida Created by Baseball

Baseball, the favorite American pastime, is not only continuing to keep people entertained, but also is doing its part to create jobs in Florida.

Bonn Marketing Research Group recently completed a study that found the total economic value of Major League Baseball Spring Training in Florida amounted to about $752.3 million. The study was commissioned by the Florida Sports Foundation and the state's Office of the Governor and Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.

The spring training season created or supported 9,205 part-time and full-time jobs and generated $284.2 million in total labor income. The overall economic impact was $299 million higher than the $453 million impact spring training had in 2000.

"Major League Baseball has a following that transcends economic downturns," Dr. Mark Bonn, president of the Bonn Marketing Research Group, said. "People make their decisions to travel almost a year out and many of the respondents were repeat attendees at spring training games. Economic conditions have little effect upon their decision to come to Florida for spring training. It's more about loyalty than economics."

The study found that the largest source of direct expenditures from the 39 days of spring training operations was fan spending, which accounted for 91 percent of total expenditures generated. Attendees spent an average of $313.65 per party per day, spent 5.82 nights and traveled with an average party size of 2.95 people.

More than 60 percent of fans surveyed had previously attended a spring training game, while 91.9 percent indicated they would attend another game in the future.