A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR IMPACT FOUNDED ALMOST 200 YEARS AGO IN 1831. THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE. MICHAEL IS TAKING A LOOK AT HOW THOSE WHO CALL ALABAMA HOME BENEFIT FROM THE UNIVERSITY’S INVESTMENT, NOT ONLY IN TUSCALOOSA BUT ACROSS THE STATE. WELCOME TO TUSCALOOSA. LOCATED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER, WHERE WATER FLOWS LIKE THE CRIMSON TIDE, A PLACE ABOUT 100,000 PEOPLE CALL HOME. TUSCALOOSA IS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE, A CITY SOME MIGHT CALL QUAINT, WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES. AUGUST 1ST CELEBRATED OUR 46TH YEAR IN BUSINESS. BETHANY TRIPLETT OWNS THE SHIRT SHOP ON GREENSBORO AVENUE. IT WAS STARTED BY CHARLES SPURLIN, A GENTLEMAN WHO OPENED IT AND OWNED IT FOR 42 YEARS AND IS VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEN I BOUGHT IT FROM HIM IN 22. I WORKED HERE AS A STUDENT. TRIPLETT SAYS TUSCALOOSA IS FILLED WITH A GREAT LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT REALLY SUPPORTS EACH OTHER, AND THE WAY THEY CONTINUE TO THRIVE IS IN LARGE PART THANKS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. THE LATEST ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY SHOWS UA SET NEW RECORD HIGH ECONOMIC AND FISCAL IMPACTS ON THE STATE OF ALABAMA. THOSE IMPACTS BREAK DOWN TO $3.333 BILLION, 14,505 JOBS AND $151.6 MILLION IN INCOME AND SALES TAXES. THAT BREAKS DOWN TO 46.1 MILLION. STATE SALES TAX 47.9 MILLION. STATE INCOME TAX AND 57.6 MILLION. AND THOSE LOCAL SALES TAXES. WE ARE INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND THE PRESENCE THAT THEY HAVE IN OUR CITY. THEY’VE INVESTED SO MUCH MONEY INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME HERE. THE UNIVERSITY BRINGS IN PEOPLE FROM ALL ACROSS THE WORLD, AND ALL OF THE MONEY THEY SPEND GOES RIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY. PART OF THAT GOES INTO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTING IN THAT, MAKING SURE OUR CITY STAYS SAFE. IT ALSO GOES INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE. SO INVESTING IN THE UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD STREETSCAPE, THAT’S ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT THE CITY IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, AS WELL AS GREENSBORO AVENUE. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE FUNDED BY SALES TAX REVENUES, AND WE ALL KNOW COME FOOTBALL SEASON THAT IMPACT IS EVEN GREATER. THE CITY LITERALLY DOUBLES IN SIZE ON GAME DAYS, MAKING IT THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE. DOWNTOWN FULLY TRANSFORMS WITH JUST DROVES OF PEOPLE AS THEY’RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET. IT’S REALLY GREAT SEEING FROM CITY HALL THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING AND INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE COMING FOR GAME DAY, AND IT’S GREAT. THE ATMOSPHERE IS DIFFERENT. EVERYBODY’S HAPPY, EVERYBODY’S READY TO GO. IT’S JUST THE BEST TIME OF YEAR. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY SHOWS THERE’S AN AVERAGE INVESTMENT OF $29.9 MILLION PER GAME, WITH TOTAL STATEWIDE IMPACT OF THE SEVEN HOME FOOTBALL GAMES AT 209 MILLION. THIS IS A TOURIST TOWN. YOU KNOW, IT TURNS INTO A TOURIST TOWN 100%. SO THE STUDENTS ARE THEY COME IN, THEY BRING THEIR FAMILIES, THEY’RE EXCITED. THEY’RE WANTING TO EAT LOCAL, THEY’RE WANTING TO SHOP LOCAL. THEY’RE WANTING TO DRINK LOCAL. THEY’RE JUST WANTING TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CULTURE OF ALABAMA. AND OFFICIALS EXPECT BUSINESSES TO CONTINUE THRIVING AS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THOSE VISITING WILL KEEP ROLLING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SOME CHANGES TO THE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WILL HELP WITH THAT. NO, ABSOLUTELY. THE SEC, AS YOU’LL REMEMBER, JUST ANNOUNCED JUST REALLY WEEKS AGO THAT THEY ARE MOVING TO A NINE GAME CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, MEANING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FANS TO COME INTO TOWN AND
The University of Alabama’s record-high economic impact of $3.333 billion is significantly benefiting Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama, supporting thousands of jobs and generating substantial tax revenue. One business that has benefited greatly from the university over the years is The Shirt Shop on Greensboro Avenue.”It was started by Charles Berlin, a gentleman who opened it and owned it for, 42 years,” said current owner Bethany Triplett. “And, is very involved in our community. And then I bought it from him in 22. I worked here as a student and started working here as a sophomore in college and worked for him for almost ten years before I bought it from him in 22.”Triplett emphasized the strong local community support in Tuscaloosa, attributing much of the city’s thriving business environment to the University of Alabama’s presence. Emily Hayes, business relations officer for the city of Tuscaloosa, expressed gratitude for the university’s investments, saying, “We are incredibly thankful for the University of Alabama and the presence that they have in our city. They’ve invested so much money into our community and encouraging people to come here.”The university attracts people from around the world, and the money they spend directly benefits the community, contributing to public safety and infrastructure projects like University Boulevard and Greensboro Avenue. Hayes noted, “Part of that goes into our public safety, investing in that, making sure our city stays safe. It also goes into the infrastructure. So investing in the University Boulevard, streetscape, that’s one of the projects that the city is working on right now, as well as Greensboro Avenue. Those are all things that are funded by sales tax revenue.”Football season amplifies this impact, with the city doubling in size on game days, becoming the largest city in the state. “Downtown fully transforms with just droves of people as they’re walking down the street,” said Hayes. “It’s really great seeing from City Hall the amount of people that are coming and investing in our community that are coming for game day, and it’s great. The atmosphere is different. Everybody’s happy. I rise ready to go. It’s just the best time of year.”The economic impact study shows an average investment of $29.9 million per game, with the total statewide impact of the seven home football games reaching $209 million. Triplett shared her perspective on the influx of visitors, saying, “I tell my friends who own stores, not in college towns all the time, that this is a, tourist town. You know, it turns into a tourist town 100%. So the students are, they come in, they bring their families, they’re excited. The atmosphere is just exciting. You know, everyone is wanting to support the town. They’re wanting to eat local. They’re wanting to shop local. They’re wanting to drink local. They’re just wanting to be involved in the culture of Alabama.”Officials anticipate continued business growth as the financial impact of visitors remains strong. Changes to the football schedule, including the SEC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule next year, are expected to bring even more fans and events to Tuscaloosa.
The University of Alabama’s record-high economic impact of $3.333 billion is significantly benefiting Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama, supporting thousands of jobs and generating substantial tax revenue.
One business that has benefited greatly from the university over the years is The Shirt Shop on Greensboro Avenue.
“It was started by Charles Berlin, a gentleman who opened it and owned it for, 42 years,” said current owner Bethany Triplett. “And, is very involved in our community. And then I bought it from him in 22. I worked here as a student and started working here as a sophomore in college and worked for him for almost ten years before I bought it from him in 22.”
Triplett emphasized the strong local community support in Tuscaloosa, attributing much of the city’s thriving business environment to the University of Alabama’s presence.
Emily Hayes, business relations officer for the city of Tuscaloosa, expressed gratitude for the university’s investments, saying, “We are incredibly thankful for the University of Alabama and the presence that they have in our city. They’ve invested so much money into our community and encouraging people to come here.”
The university attracts people from around the world, and the money they spend directly benefits the community, contributing to public safety and infrastructure projects like University Boulevard and Greensboro Avenue.
Hayes noted, “Part of that goes into our public safety, investing in that, making sure our city stays safe. It also goes into the infrastructure. So investing in the University Boulevard, streetscape, that’s one of the projects that the city is working on right now, as well as Greensboro Avenue. Those are all things that are funded by sales tax revenue.”
Football season amplifies this impact, with the city doubling in size on game days, becoming the largest city in the state.
“Downtown fully transforms with just droves of people as they’re walking down the street,” said Hayes. “It’s really great seeing from City Hall the amount of people that are coming and investing in our community that are coming for game day, and it’s great. The atmosphere is different. Everybody’s happy. I rise ready to go. It’s just the best time of year.”
The economic impact study shows an average investment of $29.9 million per game, with the total statewide impact of the seven home football games reaching $209 million.
Triplett shared her perspective on the influx of visitors, saying, “I tell my friends who own stores, not in college towns all the time, that this is a, tourist town. You know, it turns into a tourist town 100%. So the students are, they come in, they bring their families, they’re excited. The atmosphere is just exciting. You know, everyone is wanting to support the town. They’re wanting to eat local. They’re wanting to shop local. They’re wanting to drink local. They’re just wanting to be involved in the culture of Alabama.”
Officials anticipate continued business growth as the financial impact of visitors remains strong. Changes to the football schedule, including the SEC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule next year, are expected to bring even more fans and events to Tuscaloosa.