Historic Ole Miss Football Crowds Generate $325M Economic Impact

Fans shattered several Vaught-Hemingway Stadium attendance records during the seven home games, driving a substantial boost to area businesses, hotels and restaurants.

"Ole Miss is incredibly fortunate to have the most dedicated fans in college football and to be situated in the best college town in the nation," Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. "Combining these elements with the university's culture of hospitality is a recipe for tremendous success.

"We are so pleased that the economic impact of Ole Miss football enhances the community's prosperity and benefits so many people in Oxford and Lafayette County, both indirectly and directly." 

Visitor spending in Oxford during the seven 2024 home games totaled $325,283,234.

Fans broke the single-game attendance record four times this season, combining for 471,601 visitors in the fall of 2024, the largest on record.

On Nov. 9, a record 68,126 fans watched the Rebels defeat the University of Georgia Bulldogs. That weekend, visitors spent more than $71.6 million across the city.

"We are blessed to reside in one of best towns in the country, and it's exciting to see how our athletics success enriches the economic growth and quality of life in our community," said Keith Carter, Ole Miss vice chancellor of intercollegiate athletics.

"We appreciate the collaboration with our campus and city partners in making game days the bucket list experience they have become. We look forward to our continued partnership with community leadership to ensure sustained success."

Here is a closer look at visitor spending during all seven home game weekends:

1. University of Georgia – $71,695,869
2. Georgia Southern University – $62,728,064
3. University of Kentucky – $47,199,489
4. Oklahoma University – $47,161,996
5. Mississippi State University - $38,043,928
6. Furman University – $29,594,698
7. Middle Tennessee State University – $28,859,199.

"From packed hotels and restaurants to thriving local shops, each game weekend fuels our economy, strengthens small businesses and showcases the unmatched spirit of our community," said Kinney Ferris, executive director at Visit Oxford. "This milestone underscores how vital Ole Miss football is to Oxford's vibrancy and growth."

The city's food and beverage tax revenue for November 2024 spiked 18.37% compared to the same time in 2023, according to tax diversion reports released this month.

Comparing November 2024 to November 2023, Oxford's sales tax total spiked 7.97% and the hotel/motel tax total also jumped 6.75%.

The university serves as front porch for the city and county, said Ryan Miller, CEO of the Oxford Lafayette Economic Development Foundation.

"When people come to visit, they may have businesses that they say, 'Hey, my business would be great here. My business might thrive here. I love the quality of life. I love the cohesion between the town the county and the university and I want to be a part of that,'" Miller said.

"The events hosted by the university – whether football games, basketball games, baseball games, concerts or speakers – drive interest, energy and buzz."

The success of the university's athletics programs is a win for the entire community, Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill said.

"When Ole Miss wins, Oxford wins," Tannehill said. "Oxford swells from 28,000 full-time residents to more than 200,000 on home football game weekends.

"The visitors who come to Oxford and spend money in our community help us pay for the infrastructure needed to successfully host these large crowds. It has been a great year, and we look forward to many more successful seasons."

Top: The Ole Miss Rebels shattered attendance records during the 2024-25 season, driving an economic boost for the greater Oxford community. Graphic by John McCustion/University Marketing and Communications