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Victor Matheson

@victor-matheson.bsky.social

540 followers 510 following 120 posts

Sports and gambling economist at College of the Holy Cross, former President of North American Association of Sports Economists, current VP of National Association of Forensic Economics, aging soccer referee

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Feb 10

I am featured in the latest issue of the Holy Cross Magazine. If you want to read way more about Victor Matheson than you have ever imagined, this is your big chance!

magazine.holycross.edu/stories/meet...

Meet Dr. No

Economics Professor Victor Matheson, Ph.D., sets you straight on winning the lottery, the real cost of major sporting events and if there’s such a thing as a safe bet.

magazine.holycross.edu

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 5d

Happy to be featured on the latest episode of Freakonomics Radio discussing the crazy(???) idea of the NFL and NCAA merging and forming a promotion/relegation league.

freakonomics.com/podcast/the-...

The Merger You Never Knew You Wanted - Freakonomics

freakonomics.com

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 6d

I am passing up a B-52s/Devo concert to attend this

“Insights into Educational Inequality” better be as much a banger as “Whip It” or “Love Shack”!

Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · 8d

Giving a talk Holy Cross this week

Take that, Sister Carmelina

myhc.holycross.edu/mcfarlandctr...

Susan Dynarski / Insights into Educational Inequality - McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture

Susan Dynarski, an economist and Patricia Albjerg Graham Professor of Education at Harvard University, explains how the use of large-scale datasets and quantitative methods of causal inference in h...

myhc.holycross.edu

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 14d

If only Al Gore instead of GWB had been appointing SC Justices in the 2000s…

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 19d

Why is everyone buying lottery tickets? I will tell you on @marketplace.org!

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...

Why is everyone buying lottery tickets?

With $103 billion spent on tickets in 2023, big jackpots and economic stress continue to fuel America’s lottery habit.

www.marketplace.org

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 23d

Even if the WNBA has racked up operating losses of $500 million, the Mohegan Tribe alone has just earned a $315M capital gain by buying the CT Sun for $10M in 2003 and receiving a $325M bid to sell them this summer.

That alone covers over 1/2 of the league's "losses."

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 24d

What I can't believe is legal is a government appointee using his role as director of the FHFA to target political opponents by selectively investigating Democratic lawmakers and appointees.

Imagine the outcry if Obama or Biden had done that to Republicans.

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 28d

I don't know why anyone would trust a (reverse)carpetbagger like you to know anything about the Worcester sports market.

It's just too bad there aren't any decent sports economists in Worcester who could have given the city decent advice about the stadium.

J.C. Bradbury @jcbradbury.bsky.social · 28d

Gosh, if only City officials had been warned forcefully and repeatedly by many knowledgeable experts that this is exactly what would happen.

Polar Park's second inning: Almost five years into a 35-year project, WooSox are still drawing fans, but key parcels are underutilized

Since a tense November meeting between Worcester Redevelopment Authority and key ballpark district stakeholder Madison Properties, not much has changed in terms of groundbreakings or sales at Madison-...

www.wbjournal.com

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 29d

Here's a good article showing how far Trump has split MAGA and traditional business Republicans. AEI, a wildly conservative traditional thinktank, is talking about how to improve electric cars. Trump is talking about how to eliminate them.

www.aei.org/research-pro...

www.aei.org

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 29d

But to be fair, Steve Ballmer living out his midlife crisis by buying a sports team with his billions is probably better than Elon Musk living out his midlife crisis by destroying democracy.

J.C. Bradbury @jcbradbury.bsky.social · 29d

Sounds like a group well deserving of taxpayer assistance.

America’s Richest Sports Team Owners 2025

The top 20 owners on The Forbes 400 are worth $607 billion, up 20% from 2024. And with the cutoff rising to $10.1 billion, the club is more exclusive than ever.

www.forbes.com

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 29d

Good job by the state of Illinois understanding the basics of stadium finance. While you ***might*** be able to argue for local subsidies, there is no way the state makes anything simply moving a stadium from one location in the state to another.

frontofficesports.com/bears-withou...

Bears, Without State Funding, Officially Pivot Stadium to Suburbs

The Bears have declared their days along the downtown Chicago lakefront as numbered, announcing plans for a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

frontofficesports.com

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · 29d

Nope. Huge stadium subsidy for Boston’s new NWSL team.

I’ll try to think of some others…

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Sep 3

If NFL stadiums cause great neighborhoods, why does the current neighborhood next to the new stadium need to be revitalized? It's been next to an NFL stadium for almost 30 years?

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Sep 2

I wonder if any economists have studied the economic benefits of new stadiums…

Dan Nexon @dhnexon.bsky.social · Sep 2

She must *really* want that stadium.

Bowser welcomes federal law enforcement presence indefinitely

Bowser issued an executive order Tuesday requiring local coordination with federal law enforcement “to the maximum extent allowable by law.” The order gives no expiration date.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Sep 2

So, the US military is now engaging in extrajudicial assassinations of citizens of countries we are not at war with?

That somehow sounds bad when I say it like that...

www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/p...

US military ‘conducted a lethal strike’ on alleged ‘drug vessel’ in southern Caribbean, Rubio says | CNN Politics

The United States “conducted a lethal strike” against an alleged “drug vessel” in the southern Caribbean, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday.

www.cnn.com

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Sep 1

We’ll invite you to a seminar at Holy Cross sometime, and grab one afterwards.

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Sep 1

Hah! Almost just stopped by Treehouse on my way home from Worcester. So add,

5) Day not ruined by random
visit from economist crashing your pleasant beer at Treehouse.

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Aug 26

Firing the head of BLS. Dismantling the independence of the Federal Reserve.

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Aug 12

It is wildly depressing that our primary economic data collection agency is now slated to be run by a guy with such poor qualifications that he wouldn't be competitive for an assistant professor job at my college.

www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-bls-nominee-e-j-antoni-suspending-monthly-jobs-report/

Trump's BLS nominee E.J. Antoni suggests suspending monthly jobs report

E.J. Antoni, an economist nominated by President Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, said the jobs report is flawed.

www.cbsnews.com

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Aug 4

Can’t we think of a more efficient use of taxpayer money like maybe sports stadiums?

www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon

This is the first major agency effort by the interim NASA administrator, who is also the Transportation secretary and a former Fox News host.

www.politico.com

Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Aug 3

Met this guy walking with my dog today.

Fortunately coyotes are typically only dangerous if you have small animals, your pet is unleashed, or the coyote is carrying any packages labeled “ACME”.

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Aug 2

Yeah, I don’t think this is right at all. The only thing Wolfers got potentially wrong in 2020 is to say that the BLS hadn’t been compromised in any way ***yet***.

Trump 2025 is a way different (and worse) beast than Trump 2020.

Reposted by Victor Matheson

Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · Aug 2

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

August 1, 2025
AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the American Economic Association on the
Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner

Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today.
The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day.
Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias.
The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity.
Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions.
We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure.

Lawrence Katz
President, American Economic Association
Katharine Abraham
President-Elect, American Economic Association
Karen Dynan
Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics
Kenneth Troske
Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

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Reposted by Victor Matheson

Bill Shea @billshea19.bsky.social · Aug 1

This is what totalitarian regimes do, cook the numbers to please Dear Leader

zensoul.bsky.social @zensoul.bsky.social · Aug 1

#ProudBlue Typical for the felon - the jobs number isn’t his responsibility - let’s fire the messenger. 🙄🤬

Trump demands official overseeing jobs data be fired after dismal employment report.

apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump demands official overseeing jobs data be fired after dismal employment report

President Donald Trump said Friday that he has directed his team to fire the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs figures, after a weak report showed hiring slowed and was much weaker in ...

apnews.com

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Victor Matheson @victor-matheson.bsky.social · Aug 1

Trump in a social media post said Erika McEntarfer, the BLS commissioner, would be “replaced with someone much more competent and qualified,” asserting without evidence that the government’s jobs numbers have been manipulated for political purposes.

This is bad. Like East Germany or Zimbabwe bad.

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Reposted by Victor Matheson

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Jul 28

Just so’s we’re all clear, almost 3/4 of everything we buy from Europe is now 15% more expensive.

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