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Economist: Hotel data shows hosting NFL Draft has minimal positive effect | Wisconsin

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www.thecentersquare.com – Jon Styf – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-21 08:34:00


Despite claims of massive economic benefits, a study by economist E. Frank Stephenson reveals that hosting the NFL Draft results in only modest hotel revenue increases for cities. From 2019 to 2024, cities like Nashville, Kansas City, and Detroit saw net gains of $4–6 million, far below reported estimates of $60–200 million. Most attendees are locals or day-trippers, limiting new economic activity. For instance, Las Vegas experienced a hotel stay decline, and Green Bay’s $105 million statewide impact claim relies on questionable survey data. The findings suggest that projected economic impacts are often overstated and used to justify public spending.

(The Center Square) – Cities that host the NFL Draft have seen small increases in hotel revenue in recent years but those gains are far smaller than what is claimed by teams, the National Football League and the marketing and tourism departments in local government have claimed.

The first three cities to host the draft after it left New York saw insignificant changes in hotel stays during the event while host cities since 2019 have seen between $4 million and $6 million in hotel revenue increases due to the event, according to a new paper provided to The Center Square from economist E. Frank Stephenson from Georgia’s Berry College.

Green Bay hosted the event in 2025 while Pittsburgh will host in 2026 and Washington, D.C. in 2027. All three claimed that large economic impacts would occur when hosting the event.

“The net gain in room rentals in the 2019-2024 host cities varies greatly from a decrease of nearly 20,000 room nights in Las Vegas to an increase of about 9,000 room nights in Nashville, but in all cases is a small fraction of the claimed number of people attending draft-related events,” Stephenson wrote. “Thus, the overwhelming majority of visitors are local residents or day-trippers and much of their spending is likely redirected from other local entertainment or dining options rather than being economic gains for the host cities.”

Stephenson wrote the paper hoping to shed light on annual claims by entities involved of large economic impacts related to hosting the event, used to justify spending on the event.

The paper comes as Experience Greater Green Bay and the Green Bay Packers claimed last week that there was an economic impact of $73 million in Brown County and nearly $105 million statewide.

Green Bay relied on surveys from marketing firm Sportsimpacts, which claimed that 50% of those attending the draft were from Brown County or day-trippers while 31% of attendees were from outside Wisconsin and 24% paid for overnight lodging with 29% staying in Brown County and 21% in Outagamie County.

Stephenson’s hotel data analysis ran through 2024, when Detroit hosted the draft. But the data consistently showed smaller impacts despite claims that hosting the draft had more than a $200 million impact on the Detroit area.

Wisconsin leaders claimed the event would have an economic impact of $94 million in the state and $20 million in the Green Bay area when attempting to divert public funding to the event.

“Every year these bogus economic claims about the NFL draft come out,” economist J.C. Bradbury wrote about the Green Bay tourism estimates heading into the event. “Economists haven’t studied it directly because it makes no sense. But we really could use an actual serious study to counteract this BS PR.”

The Las Vegas decrease in hotel stays for the draft are similar to when the city hosted the Super Bowl and Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, when it saw an increase in hotel rates but not occupancy.

Kansas City saw an increase in hotel rates and stays for the night before the draft and first two nights of the draft but then saw drops in hotel stays the third night of the draft and the night after that, what economists call the hangover effect of deterring regular guests after a large event.

“The cumulative effects … indicate a net gain of 4,416 room rentals and $4.98 million in hotel revenue,” Stephenson wrote. “While the effects in Kansas City are relatively large compared to all other host cities except Nashville, they do not support claims of a $60 million increase in lodging spending.

“As for other events, the Kansas City Chiefs increase room rentals by about 8,900 rooms and hotel revenue by $1.9 million per home game.”

The Detroit draft, meanwhile, led to a net increase of 2,800 room nights and approximately $5 million in additional hotel revenue compared to an increase of about 900 room nights and $450,000 in hotel revenue for each home Detroit Lions game.

“While a few host cities—Nashville, Kansas City, and Detroit—experience positive hotel occupancy effects, they are far short of claims about the event’s economic impact,” Stephenson wrote. “Moreover, even the modest positive hotel occupancy increases found in some cities are subject to leakages and may not benefit the host city’s economic conditions.”

The post Economist: Hotel data shows hosting NFL Draft has minimal positive effect | Wisconsin appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

This article from *The Center Square* exhibits a Center-Right bias through its skeptical framing of government and publicly funded tourism initiatives. The piece focuses on debunking the economic impact claims made by local governments and the NFL, using data from an academic economist to challenge widely publicized figures. While it reports factual data and cites credible sources, the overall tone reflects a fiscally conservative viewpoint that questions government spending and economic justifications for public-private partnerships. The framing is critical but avoids overt ideological language, aligning it with a restrained, center-right perspective rooted in economic scrutiny.

News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

Still awaiting a budget in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oregon | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-21 09:11:00


North Carolina is among three states—along with Pennsylvania and Oregon—facing delays in passing a state budget for the new fiscal year starting July 1. While North Carolina law prevents a government shutdown by continuing previous spending levels, disagreements remain over employee raises and income tax cuts. The legislature’s proposed budget is $65.9 billion, while Gov. Josh Stein suggested $67.9 billion. The state’s budget was also delayed by 84 days two years ago. Unlike North Carolina, Oregon’s budget impasse has led to 483 layoffs in its transportation department, prompting Gov. Tina Kotek to declare it an emergency affecting essential services.

(The Center Square) – North Carolina is one of three states late on an enacted budget for July 1.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Oregon are also late, according to research by The Center for Square and the National Association of State Budget Officers. Michigan’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and is the other state without a spending plan in place for the coming year.

The North Carolina fiscal year runs July 1-June 30, and two-year budgets are required by law in the odd-numbered years. These are also known as the long sessions of the two-year legislative calendar.

“As states enter fiscal 2026, they are contending with a combination of increasing spending demands, slowing revenue growth, and federal fiscal uncertainty,” the national organization said. “They are facing budget pressures in a number of areas such as Medicaid, employee health care, education, housing affordability, and disaster preparation and response.”

The Legislature adjourned in late June without having passed a budget bill.

However, under legislation passed in 2016, there will be no state government shutdown, with spending remaining the same as it was under the previous budget.

The North Carolina House and Senate disagree on raises for state employees and the size of income tax cuts.

The legislative budgets total $65.9 billion while Gov. Josh Stein proposed $67.9 billion in spending.

Two years ago, the North Carolina budget was 84 days late before it was signed into law.

Although the lack of a budget has not affected government services in North Carolina, it has in Oregon, where the impasse prompted the state’s department of transportation to announce 483 layoffs.

“Consequences to essential transportation services are imminent across the state,” Gov. Tina Kotek said in a July 7 statement. “This is not business as usual. These layoffs constitute an emergency in Oregon’s transportation system that will hurt every part of Oregon.”

The post Still awaiting a budget in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oregon | North Carolina appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The article presents a factual overview of budget delays in several states, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Michigan. It reports on the positions and disagreements of legislators, such as conflicts over employee raises and tax cuts, and includes statements from government officials without endorsing any particular side. The tone remains neutral, focusing on facts and consequences rather than advocating for a specific ideological stance or policy approach. Therefore, it maintains a centrist position by simply informing readers of current budgetary issues without expressing bias.

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The Center Square

House delivers Trump another win, passing $9 billion spending cut bill | National

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www.thecentersquare.com – Thérèse Boudreaux – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-18 06:12:00


The U.S. House passed a $9 billion rescissions package late Thursday, advancing President Donald Trump’s push to cut federal spending. The bill, which passed 216-213, targets funds already approved for foreign aid and public broadcasting. It revokes $7.9 billion from what Republicans label “woke” foreign programs and $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Cited cuts include funding for climate initiatives, gender diversity projects, and LGBTQ programs abroad. Two Republicans opposed the bill, joining all Democrats. Conservatives call it a step toward deficit reduction, while Democrats warn it could spark a government shutdown over future bipartisan funding cooperation.

(The Center Square) – The U.S. House in a late night vote passed Republicans’ $9 billion rescissions package, delivering another win for President Donald Trump and his promise to cut federal spending.

The measure, which cuts already appropriated federal spending on some foreign aid projects and public broadcasting programs, passed 216-213 in the House, the final voted needed to send it to Trump’s desk for his signature.

Two Republicans – U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, joined all Democrats in voting against the measure.

Originally clawing back a total of $9.4 billion, the package now revokes roughly $7.9 billion in “woke” foreign aid programs and $1.1 billion meant to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which finances NPR, PBS and some radio stations.

Although the rescissions package – compiled by the Office of Management and Budget – does not include many details over specific program cuts, Republican leaders have floated a list of foreign aid initiatives deemed wasteful that will lose funding, including:

  • $21 million for wind farms in Ukraine
  • $18 million to promote gender diversity in the Mexican street lighting industry
  • $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico
  • $5 million to strengthen the “resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movements” globally
  • $4.4 million for the Melanesian Youth Climate Corps
  • $3.3 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe
  • $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street
  • $2.5 million to teach children about how to make “environmentally friendly reproductive health” choices

It will also revoke millions in funds for “climate resilience” projects in developing countries – such as electric buses in Rwanda – as well as other global aid programs Trump deemed “woke,” promoting everything from abortion pills and vegan foods to DEI awareness and LGBTQ activism.

Conservative groups and fiscal watchdogs have urged lawmakers to support the package as a small step towards tackling the federal deficit. Democrats, however, have threatened to later force a government shutdown in October if it passes, which it did early Friday. They argue that Republicans “cannot expect” Democrats to work with them on bipartisan government funding bills, which require 60 votes in the Senate to pass, if GOP lawmakers will later rescind anything they don’t like, which requires only a majority vote in the Senate.

The rescission package needed only 51 in the Senate to pass.

The post House delivers Trump another win, passing $9 billion spending cut bill | National appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Right-Leaning

The article predominantly presents information from a perspective sympathetic to the Republican proposal and the Trump administration’s spending cuts. The framing uses terms like “delivering another win for President Donald Trump” and highlights conservative fiscal watchdog support, which positively portrays the rescission package. Moreover, the detailed listing of the foreign aid cuts includes language that subtly belittles these programs by emphasizing what are depicted as frivolous or ideologically driven expenses (e.g., “woke” foreign aid, gender diversity in street lighting, Iraqi Sesame Street). Although the article does report Democrats’ opposition, it is presented primarily in terms of political strategy (threatening a government shutdown) rather than as a substantive challenge, which could influence readers towards viewing the Republican action as reasonable and the Democratic response as purely confrontational. These elements indicate a right-leaning bias rather than neutral reporting, which would avoid such evaluative language or framing that favors one side’s narrative.

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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

No change in Tennessee unemployment rate | Tennessee

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-17 16:07:00


Tennessee’s unemployment rate remained steady at 3.5% in June, slightly higher than June 2024’s 3.3% but below the national average of 4.1%. Nonfarm jobs increased by 6,100 in June, with professional and business services, education and health services, and trade sectors leading growth. Average weekly earnings fell by $22.13 to $1,000.82 and hourly earnings dropped by 48 cents to $24.47, both below national averages. Over the past year, Tennessee added 22,900 net jobs, mainly in government, leisure, hospitality, and education-health services, while construction, administrative services, and nondurable goods manufacturing saw declines.

(The Center Square) – Tennessee’s June unemployment rate was 3.5% for the third straight month as nonfarm jobs increased by 6,100.

The number is just slightly higher than the June 2024 rate of 3.3% and lower than the national average of 4.1%, according to information from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The average weekly earnings dropped by $22.13 from $1,022.95 to $1,000.82. It remains below the national level, which increased by $7.40 in June to $1,187.38.

The state’s average hourly earnings are down 48 cents in June from $24.96 to $24.47. The national average is up slightly to $28.82, according to the department.

The sectors with the most job growth in June were professional and business services, education and health services and trade, transportation and utilities. Durable goods manufacturing, the federal government and construction had the biggest decreases, according to the department. Tennessee gained 6,100 net jobs in June.

Job growth has been steady over the year in the Volunteer State, with the addition of 22,900 net jobs, the department said. Government, leisure and hospitality and the education and health services sector grew the most year over year.

The three sectors that lost the most jobs over the year are construction, administrative, support and waste services and nondurable goods manufacturing.

The post No change in Tennessee unemployment rate | Tennessee appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents a straightforward, data-driven report on Tennessee’s June unemployment rate and job sector changes, using official statistics from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The content avoids emotive or ideologically charged language, does not frame the economic performance in a partisan context, and refrains from attributing credit or blame to political actors. It focuses on facts such as job growth, wage trends, and sector-specific performance without interpretation or commentary. As such, it maintains a neutral tone and adheres to standard economic reporting, reflecting a centrist, nonpartisan stance.

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