A groundbreaking study published in Sports Economics Review has shed light on the impact of professional sporting events on local seasonal influenza mortality. Conducted by a team of researchers including University of South Carolina Department of Sport and Entertainment Management Associate Professor Nick Watanabe from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, the study aimed to investigate the role played by spectator attendance at sporting events in the transmission of airborne viruses, particularly influenza.
Using a difference-in-differences model, the researchers analyzed data from a sample of US cities that gained new professional sports teams between 1962 and 2016. The findings revealed a significant correlation between the presence of sporting events and an increase in local influenza mortality rates. Depending on the sport, the study found that the presence of games in these cities led to an increase in influenza mortality ranging between four and 24 percent compared to cities with no professional sports teams.
Watanabe highlighted the importance of these findings in understanding the dynamics of airborne virus transmission in densely populated areas. "Our research provides compelling evidence of the role played by sporting events in exacerbating local influenza mortality," said Assistant Professor Alex Cardazzi of Old Dominion University, another of the paper’s authors. "This underscores the need for health policy decisions to consider the potential risks associated with large gatherings such as sporting events, particularly during flu seasons."
Interestingly, the study also observed fluctuations in influenza mortality rates in cities with professional sports teams during years when work stoppages occurred in sports leagues. This suggests a possible correlation between reduced attendance at sporting events and a decrease in influenza transmission.
"Work stoppages in sports leagues inadvertently led to a decline in attendance at games, which in turn may have contributed to a decrease in influenza transmission," Watanabe explained. "This highlights the potential effectiveness of reducing large gatherings as a means to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases."
The implications of these findings extend beyond seasonal influenza, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the emergence of the coronavirus, understanding the role of sporting events in increasing airborne virus transmission has become even more critical.
"Health policy decisions, as well as decisions regarding the subsidization of professional sports, should take into account the risks associated with large gatherings and their potential impact on local influenza and coronavirus mortality," Watanabe emphasized.
As policymakers navigate the complexities of public health and safety amidst a backdrop of cultural and economic considerations, studies such as this provide valuable insights into the broader implications of social gatherings on infectious disease transmission.
Citation
Cardazzi, A., Humphreys, B. R., Ruseski, J. E., Soebbing, B. P., & Watanabe, N. (2023). Do sporting events amplify airborne virus transmission? Causal evidence from US professional team sports. Sports Economics Review, 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.serev.2023.100013