Rocky Mount Today

Wilson County spent $2,302,094 on men's collegiate football teams in 2023, an increase of 76.1% over the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

This translates to roughly 23.8% of all spending for sports teams at the Barton College, the only institution in the county during the 2023 season.

The average sports expenses at Wilson County have grown 319.2% since 2010.

College football is one of the biggest sports in the U.S., with some college teams eclipsing NFL teams in terms of attendance and profit.

In 2022, after a decades-long fight, student athletes nationwide gained the right to profit from their names, likenesses, and images as a result of a flurry of new state laws and an NCAA policy change.

Year	Football Team's Expenditures	% from grand total sport team expenditures
2023	$2,302,094	23.8%
2022	$1,307,349	16.1%
2021	$1,185,973	16.7%
2020	$0	0%
2019	$0	0%