"Most Yankee/Shea Stadium Fans Come from Outside New York City" Independent Budget Office 09/28/98

MOST YANKEE/SHEA STADIUM FANS COME FROM OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY

IBO study finds only one-third of Yankee attendees, 4 in 10 Shea fans, live in five boroughs.

Report argues for regional contribution if public subsidies needed
for stadiums, especially since suburban incomes are higher.

The clear majority of attendees at Yankee and Shea stadiums come from outside New York City, according to a study by the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO).

The study, the results of a survey of nearly 4,000 fans at weeknight, weekday, and weekend games, showed that 33 percent of Yankee Stadium attendees came from the five boroughs, as did 39 percent of attendees at Shea Stadium.

New Jersey fans, with 22 percent, made up the largest single block of attendees at Yankee Stadium other than city residents. New Yorkers from Westchester and Rockland counties were the next largest group, with 11 percent.

At Shea Stadium, the largest contingent of fans other than city residents were from Long Island, accounting for 26 percent of attendees. New Jersey fans were the next largest group, representing 13 percent.

"Besides the teams, the fans attending the games are the biggest beneficiaries of new stadiums regardless of where they live," said Douglas A. Criscitello, IBO Director. "Because the majority of fans come from outside the city, it would be unfair if city residents are forced to pay a disproportionate share of stadium construction costs. Moreover, suburban fans tend to have substantially higher incomes than city residents."

The study suggests that if public subsidies are called for, they should be raised on a regional basis as has been done in Maryland for Camden Yards and in Colorado for Coors Field, or by targeting taxes on stadium-related activities such as ticket sales and concessions.

The IBO study also indicates that in general higher income households are most likely to attend major league baseball games. The average household income in the zips codes reported by Yankees fans was $58,627 or 40 percent higher than the average New York City household income of $41,882. The Yankees fans visiting from the tri-state area came from zip codes where the average household income was $67,783 or 62 percent higher than the city resident average.

The zip codes reported by Mets fans have an average household income of $56,397, 35 percent higher than the city average income. Mets fans from the tri-state area outside the city came from zip codes with an average income of $66,688.

INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE
The City of New York
110 WILLIAM STREET, 14TH FL., NEW YORK, NY 10038

For Immediate Release
September 28, 1998 Contact: Vanessa Richards
(212) 442-0340