Whether you’re an LSU Tiger or Kentucky Wildcat, chances are, you take your SEC football fandom pretty seriously. You’re in good company.
Now, a new survey from SunTrust Bank examined just how much green we put behind our SEC-related activities, and the findings may surprise you. Based on SunTrust-sponsored analysis by Wakefield Research, the average costs for college football fans in the Southeast this season will be $1,212. That figure leaps to a staggering $4,232 if hotel bookings are included.
Ready for some more jaw-dropping stats? When survey participants were asked what trade-offs they are willing to make to pay for one season of college football-related expenses, 33% would give up their gym membership, 31% would stop using online shopping services, and 22% would skip their vacation.
Of course, the total costs of attending home games vary based on team, location, and ticket demand for a specific game, but the researchers found that the average fan spends $411 on ticketing (this figure is based on ticket price and lowest priced season ticket donation required), $383 on parking, and $3,020 on hotels.
Since you’re reading this, you’re likely interested on the nitty-gritty by school. Based on their survey findings, the most expensive school to follow, not including lodging, is University of Georgia. Dawg fans will spend an average of $1,431 this season, followed by Florida at $1,359, and Auburn at $1,335. When the costs of hotels are included, The University of Alabama is most expensive at $6,212 this season, followed by University of Mississippi at $6,191, and University of Georgia at $5,288.
“We want to help people build financial confidence, so they can enjoy the moments that matter,” said Brian Ford, SunTrust Financial Well-Being executive.“ It is possible to spend responsibly and even splurge a little without post-game regret. A little planning is all it takes to keep the budget in bounds.” To that point, SunTrust offers fans financial advice on saving for their football fund here.
Source: Southern Living
Press Release: SunTrust
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