Coast casinos hope to cash in on game in New Orleans

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 10:48 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BILOXI, Miss. -- Hotel and tourism officials on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are expecting to reap profits from the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Florida and Miami will play in the bowl game, which usually results in many fans opting to stay in coast hotels and commuting to New Orleans on game day.

"They have to cross us to get there," said Misty Velasquez of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Being on the way definitely helps."

Smaller properties could be the big winners, getting the spillover from the casino resorts that generally are filled for New Year's Eve.

Calls are already being made to drum up business to alumni associations and other groups.

MGM MIRAGE'S Beau Rivage hotel-casino spokeswoman Sandy Zanella said the resort is working with alumni groups from both schools.

"At this time we still have rooms available, but it's limited," Zanella said.

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