Allen publishes in Sport Management Review
Associate Professor of Finance Kyle Allen, had his paper, “Winning with Altitude: Evidence from College Football,” published in Sport Management Review.
His paper examines whether differences in elevation between college football teams can affect the outcome of a game. By using data from nearly 15,000 NCAA Division I (FBS) games played between 2001 and 2023, Allen was able to analyze whether or not a home teams’ location truly factors into the result of a game.
Allen found that teams playing at a higher elevation than their opponents had a 3.69% greater chance of winning and an average scoring advantage of +1.5 to +3 points. The advantage was even further amplified when there was a large difference in elevation between the teams.
These findings address a common discussion around sports and whether playing at elevation is in fact an unfair sporting advantage. Allen’s findings show how environmental factors can influence athletic performance as well as provide useful insight for team scheduling, travel and preparation.