Sport Management
300 MacNaughton Hall, #321
Syracuse, New York 13244
315.443.8165
rpaul01@syr.edu
CV (PDF)
Rodney Paul
Ph.D.Undergraduate Director - Sport Analytics
Professor
Dr. Rodney J. Paul, a Sports Economist, is the Director of the Sport Analytics Program and a Professor in the Department of Sport Management at Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Paul’s research has appeared on Buffalo Sabres Gamenight and Forbes.com, in CFO Magazine, and in various newspaper and radio outlets, including interviews on National Public Radio focused on the NFL labor situation, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ financial difficulties, and the TV rights to the Olympic Games. He has presented at conferences both nationally and internationally, and his work has been published in The Journal of Sports Economics, International Journal of Sport Finance, Applied Economics, Atlantic Economic Journal, Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, and The Journal of Economics and Finance, among others. Paul has also authored numerous book chapters on sport economics and business. Paul serves as the faculty advisor to the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club at Syracuse University. The Club’s research involving the effect of atmospheric conditions on pitchers in Major League Baseball was presented in the poster session of the MIT/Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and was the focus of the Numbers column in ESPN the Magazine on the July 7, 2014. Dr. Paul, who has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, was honored with the prestigious Research Fellow Award by the Academy of Economics and Finance in 2014. He was also named Falk College Faculty of the Year for Research in 2014. Dr. Paul has consulted for major league teams and leagues throughout his career.
Education
Ph.D., Applied Economics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
M.A., Applied Economics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
B.S., Mathematics, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
B.A., Economics, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
Specialization
Economics and finance of sports, specific research in: attendance modeling; modeling of sports television ratings; market efficiency and sports wagering markets; prediction market in sports; impact of violence in sports
Research Focus
Topics addressed in his research include:
- Market Efficiency
- Behavioral Biases in Sports Wagering Markets
- Empirically Modeling Game Attendance
- Empirically Modeling Television Ratings
- Uncertainty of Outcome Hypothesis
- Competitive Balance
- Prediction Markets in Sports
- Voting Models of College Sports Polls
Courses
SPM 413 - Analyzing Baseball Data with R
SPM 315 - Sport Finance
SPM 300 - Analyzing the Baseball Organization
SPM 300 - Analyzing the Hockey Organization
SAL 213 - Sport Data Analysis I
SAL 495 - Sport Analytics Thesis
Recent Publications
- Paul, R.J., Garrett, C., Barbuto, C. et al. Celebrity attraction in the minors: the case of Tim Tebow. J Econ Finan 43, 795–812 (2019).
- Paul, R.; Weinbach, A.; Riccardi, N. Attendance in the Canadian Hockey League: The Impact of Winning, Fighting, Uncertainty of Outcome, and Weather on Junior Hockey Attendance. Int. J. Financial Stud. 2019, 7, 12.
- Paul, R.; Weinbach, A.; Mattingly, J. Tests of Racial Discrimination in a Simple Financial Market: Managers in Major League Baseball. Int. J. Financial Stud. 2018, 6, 24.
- Paul, R. & Weinbach, A.. (2017). “Hot arms” and the “hot hand”: Bettor and sportsbook reaction to team and pitcher streaks in Major League Baseball.
- Paul, Rodney. (2017). The impact of atmospheric conditions on actual and expected scoring in the NFL. International Journal of Sport Finance. 12. 14-31.
- Paul, Rodney & Weinbach, Andrew. (2017). An Exploration of Dynamic Pricing in the National Hockey League.