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2025 Men’s College World Series Game Finals Game Two - LSU vs Coastal Carolina
Mac Johnson

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Men's College World Series Delivers Record $147.6 Million Economic Impact to Omaha

Independent Goss & Associates Report Shows 67% Growth Since 2019, Plus $2.8 Billion in Publicity Value for the City

OMAHA, Nebraska – The 2025 NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS) generated a record $147.6 million in economic impact for the Omaha metropolitan area, marking a 67% increase over the last pre-pandemic measurement in 2019. The findings come from an independent economic study released today by Goss & Associates Economic Solutions, LLC, as Omaha prepares to host the 2026 event beginning June 12th.

Commissioned to mark the 75th anniversary of the CWS in Omaha, the report quantifies the tournament's substantial contributions to the local and state economies, the regional workforce, and Nebraska's tax base on an annual basis. Beyond the dollars, the study highlights a trajectory of sustained growth that far exceeds simple post-pandemic recovery.

"After 75 years in Omaha, the Men's College World Series remains a grand slam for the city and state," said Ernie Goss, Ph.D., Principal Investigator on the study. "It delivers outsized economic returns through spending, jobs, and tax revenues, while also providing intangible benefits — from civic pride and fan engagement to national visibility."

Key Findings from the 2025 CWS:
  • Record Economic Impact: $147.6 million in total economic activity for the Omaha Metro area and $136.4 million for the State of Nebraska.
  • Job Creation & Earnings: Approximately 1,515 full-time-equivalent jobs supported across hospitality, retail, transportation, and other service industries, generating $47.9 million in local wages.
  • Worker Earnings: $47.9 million in wages and salaries for local workers in the Omaha Metro.
  • Tax Revenue: $14.4 million generated in state and local tax collections, including $4.5 million in sales tax and $3.3 million in property taxes.
  • Tourism Influx: Roughly 370,000 fans attended over the 10-day event, with nearly 71% traveling from outside Nebraska — driving hotels to near-full capacity.
  • Top Industries Impacted: Restaurants ($36.5M), lodging ($27.8M), amusement and recreation ($7.9M), car rentals ($4.2M), and real estate ($3.8M).
A Partnership for Success
The historic growth reflected in the study is the result of a long-standing collaboration. "These record-breaking numbers are a testament to the incredible synergy between our partners at the NCAA, the City of Omaha, MECA, and our co-hosts Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha," said Jack Diesing, Chairman of CWS of Omaha, Inc. "Their dedication ensures that Charles Schwab Field Omaha remains the pinnacle of college baseball. This success is a result of a community-wide effort to welcome the world to our city every June."
 
National Spotlight Worth Billions
The tournament's impact extends far beyond the box score. Media coverage from January through June 2025 produced 46,987 placements reaching an estimated 100.2 billion audience impressions. The advertising value equivalency (AVE) totaled $932.7 million, contributing to an overall publicity value of approximately $2.8 billion for the city of Omaha.

Fans Give Omaha High Marks

The Goss & Associates survey of 733 groups representing 4,024 attendees from 43 states and 3 nations found that fans rated the MCWS experience an average of 9.4 out of 10 and the City of Omaha 8.9 out of 10. Nearly 43% of those surveyed were attending the CWS for the first time.

Since 2019, the MCWS has shown compound annual growth rates of 8.0% in new visitor spending, 8.5% in total economic activity, and 8.8% in state and local tax collections — underscoring the event's accelerating role as a driver of Omaha's tourism-driven economy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Contact Amy Hornocker, CWS of Omaha, Inc., for photo and interview requests.  
 
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