College football attendance in the long run: The Football Championship Subdivision

managerial and decision economics

12 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2022

See all articles by Linlan Xiao

Linlan Xiao

Central Michigan University

Gregory A. Falls

Central Michigan University

Paul Anthony Natke

Central Michigan University

Date Written: 2021

Abstract

A balanced panel (61 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football teams over
38 years) is used to estimate four regression models using time series and panel
methods and identify variables that drive per-game season attendance. Variables are
either stationary or co-integrated. Most coefficients are consistent across models:
season win percentage, lifetime win percentage, undergraduate enrollment, and real
gas price per mile driven were positive while real state per capita income exerted a
negative impact. Unexpectedly, FCS games are inferior goods and greater travel costs
raise attendance. Other coefficients displayed inconsistent results: playoff appearances in the last 10 years, county population, and state unemployment rate.

Keywords: college football, attendance, time series, panel regression

JEL Classification: L83, D12

Suggested Citation

Xiao, Linlan and Falls, Gregory A. and Natke, Paul Anthony, College football attendance in the long run: The Football Championship Subdivision (2021). managerial and decision economics , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4027625

Linlan Xiao

Central Michigan University ( email )

Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
United States

Gregory A. Falls

Central Michigan University ( email )

Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
United States
517-774-3655 (Phone)
517-774-2040 (Fax)

Paul Anthony Natke (Contact Author)

Central Michigan University ( email )

Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
United States

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