Utilization of Economic Impact Analysis in the Training of Graduate Students: The Senior Bowl Experience

Abstract

This economic impact study of the annual Senior Bowl football game conducted in Mobile, AL, sought to examine the financial benefits accrued to that city as a function of hosting a nationally recognized event. Graduate students in the sport and leisure, recreation, and tourism field were provided with applied research learning opportunities in the planning, data collection, and evaluation components of the study. Findings suggested that the students valued the experience seeing it as beneficial in future career opportunities. Overall findings indicated that the economic effect of the Senior Bowl on the local Mobile economy was estimated to be in the range of $13 million to $19 million dollars — a most significant impact from the study's perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• applications
• applied research
• economic impact
• student skills