For years, a crucial part of Detroit’s identity and economy has been the four professional sports teams in the city. The Tigers (MLB), The Lions (NFL), The Red Wings (NHL) and The Pistons (NBA), have represented the city throughout decades. In recent years, with the uprising of some of these teams, the people of Detroit have created a culture unmatched by any other city. This swing in economic growth and population, spiked by the recent success of various teams, paired with the rich history among the Detroiters has sparked many widely recognized sources to view the magnification of the Detroit area.
According to many online sources including Downtowndetroit.org, All four major teams are situated in the downtown area, making it one of the few U.S cities where fans can enjoy the games and the amenities the city has to offer.
“Sports tourism in metro Detroit can bring about $70 million a year in visitor spending,” Corpmagazine.com said, displaying how the city creates lots of revenue for the city’s business section.
This past summer, Detroit hosted the NFL draft, which was a record-breaker in many categories. The draft boosted the economy for so many businesses and created many employment opportunities. With large sporting events coming to the city, It impacts the economy and culture of Detroit.
A study came out shortly after the draft concluded exemplifying how the draft took the economy towards another level. People wanted to travel from all over to Detroit for this event.
“$161.3 million in gross economic impact represents new spending within the Detroit region created by the presence of the 2024 NFL Draft,” Detroitsports.org, online paper, said. “30.2% of all attendees traveled more than 100 miles to attend the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.”
Recent successes by Detroit’s sports teams have prompted job growth specifically in retail, hospitality, and event management. Stadiums such as Ford Field and Comerica Park have reinforced their employment opportunities with more fans attending games. So many of these opportunities have also led to businesses hiring more staff due to the increased population of fans visiting for the games.
“The NFL’s total spend on local minority-owned businesses was $12.1 million,” Detroitsports.org said. “The Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA) members hired more than 500 staff to meet work demand, resulting in approximately $1.2 million in staff income during Draft week.”
