12-13-2010, 01:27 PM
Study: Stetson football would bring jobs, cash
By KELLY CUCULIANSKY, Staff Writer
kelly.cuculiansky@news-jrnl.com
December 4, 2010 12:05 AM
DELAND -- Millions of dollars in revenue and nearly 200 jobs in the first seven years are expected to come along with the return of football and a new women's lacrosse team at Stetson University, according to a city study.
A draft of an economic impact analysis prepared for Stetson's Athletic Department found local sales would pour an extra $5 million into Volusia County in 2012 -- the potential first year of the programs -- and would increase to $7 million each year once athletes start playing in 2013.
Looking in the long term, the sports have a potential of adding a total of $47 million to the county's gross domestic product through 2018.
An earlier study, completed this summer, showed that the football program would be profitable and sustainable, though the college continues to explore its feasibility and hasn't made any commitments yet, said Jeff Altier, Stetson athletic director.
The nonscholarship football team would be a part of the current 10-team Pioneer Football League, which includes Jacksonville University. The NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference also has schools -- such as Butler, Davidson and Valparaiso -- that, like Stetson, are better known for basketball when it comes to sports.
Creation of a women's lacrosse team would be established to meet the requirements of Title IX, Altier said, which requires equal investments in women's and men's sports. The school is also considering a women's sand volleyball program, an emerging new sport in the NCAA Division I, though that was not part of the economic study.
While Altier already knew lacrosse and football would be good for Stetson, he said the economic impact is impressive and good for city officials to consider.
"This is not just a Stetson thing, this is something that affects our entire community," Altier said. "It's a tool to gather more community support because I don't think anyone can look at it and not realize there is a great benefit for the city of DeLand, the university and West Volusia."
The study was prepared by the city of DeLand, in cooperation with the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, which provided economic analysis through a computer modeling program. It examines money spent by students, employment, construction and redevelopment, and game attendance.
"I think the numbers pretty much speak for themselves that it would benefit this entire section of Volusia County," said Assistant City Manager Dale Arrington, who spearheaded the report.
The study shows the sports programs' effect will trickle down through the local economy.
Both programs will employ about 30 full- and part-time employees, with salaries totaling about $788,000, not including taxes and benefits.
Known to drive up enrollment, the sports could require the college to hire about 40 more people -- including faculty with doctoral degrees and higher salaries to keep the 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Once football and lacrosse are playing, the student body could increase by about 344 students and generate about $16.5 million in tuition, residence and other school fees.
Butch Paul, chairman of the Stetson Board of Trustees, said club sports have been successfully received at the college, but the trustees view football as more than just an athletic program.
"The trustees, for a while now, have been looking at an overall strategy to increase enrollment and improve the retention rates of students and, as a result, looking for how to create excitement for campus vibrancy," Paul said. "Football is one of those strategies."
That strategy could translate into about 70 jobs in the area once the sports are established and have generated student enrollment, new faculty and the university's additional demands for products and services. Seven years into the programs, Volusia could net about 194 jobs.
How the city will accommodate the teams remains an ongoing conversation, though officials have said improvements would be needed at Spec Martin Stadium where the DeLand High School's football team already plays.
Getting both the campus and stadium ready could cost about $2 million, according to the city's study, and funding sources haven't yet been discussed, officials said.
By KELLY CUCULIANSKY, Staff Writer
kelly.cuculiansky@news-jrnl.com
December 4, 2010 12:05 AM
DELAND -- Millions of dollars in revenue and nearly 200 jobs in the first seven years are expected to come along with the return of football and a new women's lacrosse team at Stetson University, according to a city study.
A draft of an economic impact analysis prepared for Stetson's Athletic Department found local sales would pour an extra $5 million into Volusia County in 2012 -- the potential first year of the programs -- and would increase to $7 million each year once athletes start playing in 2013.
Looking in the long term, the sports have a potential of adding a total of $47 million to the county's gross domestic product through 2018.
An earlier study, completed this summer, showed that the football program would be profitable and sustainable, though the college continues to explore its feasibility and hasn't made any commitments yet, said Jeff Altier, Stetson athletic director.
The nonscholarship football team would be a part of the current 10-team Pioneer Football League, which includes Jacksonville University. The NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference also has schools -- such as Butler, Davidson and Valparaiso -- that, like Stetson, are better known for basketball when it comes to sports.
Creation of a women's lacrosse team would be established to meet the requirements of Title IX, Altier said, which requires equal investments in women's and men's sports. The school is also considering a women's sand volleyball program, an emerging new sport in the NCAA Division I, though that was not part of the economic study.
While Altier already knew lacrosse and football would be good for Stetson, he said the economic impact is impressive and good for city officials to consider.
"This is not just a Stetson thing, this is something that affects our entire community," Altier said. "It's a tool to gather more community support because I don't think anyone can look at it and not realize there is a great benefit for the city of DeLand, the university and West Volusia."
The study was prepared by the city of DeLand, in cooperation with the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, which provided economic analysis through a computer modeling program. It examines money spent by students, employment, construction and redevelopment, and game attendance.
"I think the numbers pretty much speak for themselves that it would benefit this entire section of Volusia County," said Assistant City Manager Dale Arrington, who spearheaded the report.
The study shows the sports programs' effect will trickle down through the local economy.
Both programs will employ about 30 full- and part-time employees, with salaries totaling about $788,000, not including taxes and benefits.
Known to drive up enrollment, the sports could require the college to hire about 40 more people -- including faculty with doctoral degrees and higher salaries to keep the 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Once football and lacrosse are playing, the student body could increase by about 344 students and generate about $16.5 million in tuition, residence and other school fees.
Butch Paul, chairman of the Stetson Board of Trustees, said club sports have been successfully received at the college, but the trustees view football as more than just an athletic program.
"The trustees, for a while now, have been looking at an overall strategy to increase enrollment and improve the retention rates of students and, as a result, looking for how to create excitement for campus vibrancy," Paul said. "Football is one of those strategies."
That strategy could translate into about 70 jobs in the area once the sports are established and have generated student enrollment, new faculty and the university's additional demands for products and services. Seven years into the programs, Volusia could net about 194 jobs.
How the city will accommodate the teams remains an ongoing conversation, though officials have said improvements would be needed at Spec Martin Stadium where the DeLand High School's football team already plays.
Getting both the campus and stadium ready could cost about $2 million, according to the city's study, and funding sources haven't yet been discussed, officials said.
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