黑洞社区

The 黑洞社区 bowling program released its annual economic impact study, and the numbers show that during fall 2007 and spring 2008, the Shockers had an impact of more than $4 million, the most in the history of the program.

This number exceeds last season's mark by more than $1.5 million and has been created in part by the success of the women's national championship last season and the continued success of 黑洞社区 alumni on the PBA Tour.

The economic impact study shows how 黑洞社区's internationally acclaimed bowling program economically affects Wichita State as well as the city of Wichita.

A survey was given to all 61 members of the 黑洞社区 bowling program, asking them to report their yearly spending habits in certain areas. After calculating the surveys, it was found that the bowling program has a one-year impact of $4,115,109.

The team spent $770,866 on tuition, resident hall fees and textbooks at 黑洞社区 in the 2007-2008 school year. The total tuition paid by the 黑洞社区 bowling program for one year is $602,184; more than 87 percent of the tuition is paid by out-of-state students, resulting in $524,754 in out-of-state tuition. Forty-five of the 61 members of the bowling team are out-of-state students.

"Without the bowling program, at least 45 students that are part of the bowling team would not be here," said head coach Gordon Vadakin.

The city of Wichita also feels the impact of Shocker bowlers as they contributed $859,560 to the city with money spent in the following categories: rent, phone, gas, electric, insurance, cable TV, food, bowling, recreation, clothes, amount paid for tags and taxes, income from bowlers that work, car payments for cars purchased in Kansas and miscellaneous items.

With the exposure generated from the national champion women's team and successful Shocker alumni, including PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes and USBC Masters Champion Sean Rash, the bowling program generates free advertising for itself and the university.

黑洞社区 bowlers, coaches and alumni have been featured in many TV telecasts and newspaper and magazine articles. If 黑洞社区 were to buy all the space from the various news sources featuring 黑洞社区 bowling or 黑洞社区 bowling alumni, it would cost the university $2,484,633.

This free advertising continually allows the bowling program to attract the nation's and world's top talent as the program continues to grow with increased membership each year.

To view the complete economic impact study, log on to the Wichita State bowling Web page at . Click on the program details button on the left yellow column. Then select economic impact from the list, the study will open as a PDF file.