UNA is conducting an Economic Impact Survey for UNA Athletics to determine the revenue being brought into the community through athletic events. The survey is being conducted at UNA football home games on the home side as well as on the visitor side.

“Our goal is to determine the economic impact on the number of jobs generated by UNA athletics in our area,” said Dr. Keith Malone, of the Center of Public Policy and Economic Research (COPPER).

The survey consists of five questions in order to estimate how much money people are spending at the games. If someone is visiting from out of town, then the estimated costs of a hotel room, dining, gas and other incidentals will also be included in the estimate since these items were bought because of the individual’s attendance at a UNA game.

Student volunteers conduct the survey at the entrance gates and by walking through the ticket lines. So far, this has helped generate several hundred surveys.

“We appreciate people being cooperative, because the more completed surveys we have, the better estimates will be made,” Malone said.

The purpose in the survey is to let people in the area know the economic results of a UNA home game, to know the benchmark and how they can affect jobs in the area. The results will be able to compare what UNA spends for a home game with what local attendees and visitors spend.

“With the transition to Division I, this can potentially help with future planning,” said Dr. Jim Couch, professor of economics and finance, who is helping with the survey. “We are just providing the numbers.”

Three years ago, an economic impact survey was done with a combination of information about academics and athletics.

“We have been collecting information about UNA’s academic impact since the spring semester, but this is the first time we’ve done an exclusively athletics survey for inclusion in the total economic impact of the university.” Malone said.

The last survey will be conducted at the UNA VS. West Georgia game Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. The results from the study will be ready in December. The results will also be a part of a greater survey being conducted to determine the economic results of UNA as a whole.