Whenever I can, I write about regional income on this site. Personal income is of course what drives sports ticket purchases. Leisure spending comes from what is left from personal income after all the necessities are purchased. As much as sports fans don't want to admit it, sports are not a necessity.
Unfortunately, a recent article published by TBO.com states Tampa Bay residents might not have the money to support as many local sports as they would like. This is because Tampa Bay is 25th in Median Household Income among major metro areas.
Of the 24 major metro areas above Tampa Bay, 20 are home to 23 Major League Baseball teams (Chicago, NY, and LA have two teams each).
While cost of living is not considered in this and is a huge omission - there are state taxes and other more expensive costs in other areas - the article does mention home prices. It states the median home price in Tampa Bay and Atlanta (#16) are both $265,000. That means people in Tampa Bay have less money in their pockets after spending on their home than people in Atlanta.
That's not a good thing.
Fortunately, there is a lot of talk about increased employment in Tampa Bay. More research would have to be done to determine whether the majority of these jobs is above or below the median income. Because if below, they will bring down the median and only hurt Tampa Bay's ability to support sports in the region.
Unfortunately, a recent article published by TBO.com states Tampa Bay residents might not have the money to support as many local sports as they would like. This is because Tampa Bay is 25th in Median Household Income among major metro areas.
Of the 24 major metro areas above Tampa Bay, 20 are home to 23 Major League Baseball teams (Chicago, NY, and LA have two teams each).
- Washington, D.C.: $93,294 - YES
- San Francisco: $88,518 - YES
- Boston: $78,800 - YES
- Seattle: $75,331 - YES
- Baltimore: $72,520 - YES
- Minneapolis-St. Paul: $71,008 - YES
- Denver: $70,283 - YES
- New York: $68,743 - YES (2)
- San Diego: $67,320 - YES
- Philadelphia: $65,123 - YES
- Portland, Ore.: $63,850 - NO
- Chicago: $63,153 - YES (2)
- Los Angeles: $62,544 - YES (2)
- Dallas: $61,644 - YES
- Houston: $61,465 - YES
- Atlanta: $60,219 - YES
- St. Louis: $56,483 - YES
- Riverside, Calif.: $56,087 - NO
- Phoenix: $55,547 - YES
- San Antonio: $55,083 - NO
- Charlotte: $54,836 - NO
- Detroit: $53,628 - YES
- Orlando: $51,077 - NO
- Miami: $50,441 - YES
- Tampa Bay: $48,911 - YES
While cost of living is not considered in this and is a huge omission - there are state taxes and other more expensive costs in other areas - the article does mention home prices. It states the median home price in Tampa Bay and Atlanta (#16) are both $265,000. That means people in Tampa Bay have less money in their pockets after spending on their home than people in Atlanta.
That's not a good thing.
Fortunately, there is a lot of talk about increased employment in Tampa Bay. More research would have to be done to determine whether the majority of these jobs is above or below the median income. Because if below, they will bring down the median and only hurt Tampa Bay's ability to support sports in the region.