An economic impact report released by the L.A. Sports
Council and the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce showed that in
'96, the sports industry in L.A. generated over $800M in
revenues, which translates into an overall economic impact
of about $2B -- which the Council says is "nearly identical"
to the total revenue figure from a similar study in '93.
The study was conducted by a team of graduate students from
UCLA. L.A. Sports Council President David Simon: "Quite
remarkable, especially considering that in the timetable
between the two studies, L.A. has suffered the loss of its
two professional football teams, several annual sporting
events and an overall economic recession." The economic
impact figure was determined using '96 revenue, employment
and attendance figures collected by surveying all of the
"significant sports entities" in the five-county L.A. area.
The study included 18 pro sports teams, seven sports venues,
12 local colleges and universities, Hollywood Park, Santa
Anita and nine annual events such as the Nissan Open and the
Long Beach Grand Prix (L.A. Sports Council). In L.A., Nancy
Brooks writes the study indicates that the Southern CA
sports industry "has proven surprisingly resilient," despite
the loss of two NFL teams (L.A. TIMES, 6/11).
