Economics Faculty Working Papers Series Economics 2017 The ffecE t of Superstar Players on Game Attendance: Evidence from the NBA Brad Humphreys West Virginia University,
[email protected] Candon Johnson West Virginia University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/econ_working-papers Part of the Economics Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Digital Commons Citation Humphreys, Brad and Johnson, Candon, "The Effect of Superstar Players on Game Attendance: Evidence from the NBA" (2017). Economics Faculty Working Papers Series. 29. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/econ_working-papers/29 This Working Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Economics at The Research Repository @ WVU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Economics Faculty Working Papers Series by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Department of Economics Working Paper Series The Effect of Superstar Players on Game Attendance: Evidence from the NBA Brad R. Humphreys Candon Johnson Working Paper No. 17-16 This paper can be found at the College of Business and Economics Working Paper Series homepage: http://business.wvu.edu/graduate-degrees/phd-economics/working-papers The Effect of Superstar Players on Game Attendance: Evidence from the NBA Brad R. Humphreys∗ Candon Johnsony West Virginia University West Virginia University July 31, 2017 Abstract Economic models predict that \superstar" players generate externalities that increase at- tendance and other revenue sources beyond their individual contributions to team success. We investigate the effect of superstar players on individual game attendance at National Basketball Association games from 1981/82 through 2013/14.