MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University athletics means big money for Monongalia County and the state of West Virginia as a whole.
According to a study released by athletic director Shane Lyons on Wednesday, the athletic program is responsible for an annual economic impact of $302.7 million to the state and $78.8 million to the county. WVU athletics also helps the state fill its coffers, with an estimated $18.6 million in tax revenue generated by its presence.
On top of the dollar amounts, there’s also the matter of job generation. The study estimated that WVU athletics directly or indirectly supports 2,109 jobs in West Virginia, 709 of which are based in Monongalia County.