The impact of MLB team relocation on hotel demand

Abstract

This study examines the effect of a Major League Baseball team moving to Cobb County, Georgia on attracting visitors by observing changes in hotel room rentals. We employ a synthetic difference-in-differences event study approach to measure the causal effect of the team’s interjurisdictional relocation within metropolitan Atlanta on hotel stays and room prices. We identify no meaningful impact of the team’s move at the county level or in close proximity to the stadium. In total, the findings are not consistent with the hypothesis that sports venues offer a channel to increase community wealth through tourism.