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Who Scores from Hosting Sports Events? Local Spending Evidence from the EURO 2024

Author

Listed:
  • Florian Dorn
  • Marie-Theres Gasser
  • Kevin Kloiber
  • Simon Krause
  • Carla Krolage

Abstract

Hosting mega-sports events generates optimistic projections of economic benefits, yet empirical evidence on actual local returns remains mixed. Focusing on the UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany, we provide causal evidence on short-term local consumption effects using anonymized daily card-spending data. Using a difference-in-differences and local-projection framework, we document a 3% increase in consumer spending in host cities during the tournament, driven almost entirely by international visitors. Effects are concentrated in the group stage, on match days, in city centers, and in tourist-facing sectors. Domestic spending exhibits spatial displacement but no aggregate crowding out.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Dorn & Marie-Theres Gasser & Kevin Kloiber & Simon Krause & Carla Krolage, 2026. "Who Scores from Hosting Sports Events? Local Spending Evidence from the EURO 2024," CESifo Working Paper Series 12555, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12555
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jonas Hennrich & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2026. "More Than Just a Game? Soccer Tournaments and Firm Sentiment," CESifo Working Paper Series 12745, CESifo.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R22 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Other Demand
    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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