UAB’s pride is great in Birmingham and throughout the state, and this can be seen through its active athletics programs. Supporting 18 Division I sports teams, UAB attracts students and visitors to Birmingham for athletics events. Every year, UAB Athletics events attract visitors to the area who spend on goods and services (athletic merchandise, hotels, restaurants, etc.). In FY22 alone, 194,863 tickets were sold to UAB Athletics events. The spending associated with these visitors, along with the direct spending of the UAB Athletics Department, generate significant impacts for the Birmingham region and the state.

Generating Economic Activity 

Direct spending by UAB Athletics generates economic activity throughout the state. In FY22, the direct spending of UAB Athletics, in combination with the indirect and induced impacts of dollars being re-spent throughout the economy, generated $58 million in overall economic impact to the state ($19.6 million in direct impact and $38.4 million in indirect and induced impact). 

Providing and Supporting Jobs 

In FY22, UAB Athletics directly employed 132 individuals (full-time or part-time positions). This direct employment generates additional spending throughout the region and state that in turn supports additional indirect and induced jobs created when UAB Athletics, its employees, and visitors spend in the region and state. In total, UAB Athletics supports 462 jobs throughout Alabama. 

Generating State and Local Government Income 

State and local government revenues attributable to UAB Athletics’ presence totaled approximately $2.5 million in FY22.