Football big business for local restaurants, retailers - Gainesville Times

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Football big business for local restaurants, retailers

A group of friends eats Thursday evening at Wild Wing Cafe. They came to watch South Carolina play Texas A&M and root against USC, they said. “Because it’s a big Georgia rivalry,” said Jean Metzger, center right, sitting next to her husband, Bill. Carol and Bill Kruskamp sit with their backs to the camera. - photo by NAT GURLEY

0829football 3 — A group of friends eats Thursday evening at Wild Wing Cafe. They came to watch South Carolina play Texas A&M and root against USC, they said. “Because it’s a big Georgia rivalry,” said Jean Metzger, center right, sitting next to her husband, Bill. Carol and Bill Kruskamp sit with their backs to the camera. - photo by NAT GURLEY

Joshua Silavent

Updated: Aug 29, 2014, 5:04 AM

Published: Aug 29, 2014, 5:08 AM

Football, at every level of competition, is more profitable than ever. The average NFL team, for example, is worth $1.43 billion, according to Forbes. Meanwhile, revenue generated by the 10 most profitable college teams, including the University of Georgia, increased from about $300 million in 2001 to about $759 million in 2012, according to a report in Bloom- berg Businessweek.

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