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BYU fans have filled Sam Boyd Stadium for the past four years and boosted Las Vegas’ economy by about $14 million last year.
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Las Vegas Bowl Presser
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Initial thoughts on the selection of BYU and Oregon State to play in this year's Maaco Bowl Las Vegas from the programs' head coaches and players.
Reader poll
Las Vegas may not be at the top of the list of weekend getaways or vacation hot spots for BYU fans, but throw in a football bowl game and get out of the way.
The Cougars will play today in their fifth consecutive bowl game at Sam Boyd Stadium — this one called the Maaco Bowl — and their fans may add another notch to their own championship belt: In the 18-year history of the bowl game, BYU followers have contributed to the four most profitable ones. Today may make No. 5.
Largely because of the money BYU fans leave behind, the bowl is expected to break the $150 million mark in economic impact over the bowl’s history, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
“When BYU comes in here, it means it’s a sellout,” authority spokesman Vince Alberta said. “They bring fans who would otherwise not be in Las Vegas, and they are spending money.”
Indeed, the Las Vegas Bowl has sold out for four consecutive years. Alberta estimated that the total economic impact for the area would be right around last year’s figure of $14.2 million.
“We’ve seen consistent numbers — and they’ve been consistently great,” Alberta said. “Since BYU has been in the bowl, it’s the highest economic stimulus we’ve ever had.”
Before BYU became a fixture in the bowl game, the Las Vegas Bowl struggled financially. The average attendance from 2001-04 was just more than 22,000. Those games generated about $9.3 million for Las Vegas, plus what was spent gambling.
Since 2005 — with BYU in town — the average economic impact has been $13.6 million annually. The attendance at Sam Boyd Stadium has eclipsed 40,000 each year.
“Five years ago, this bowl game was on the verge of not meeting its attendance requirements,” BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “If you look at the partnership, which is what it has been with BYU, it’s been sold out ever since then. That’s because of BYU.”
Last year’s game between Arizona and BYU attracted about 32,700 attendees from out of town. For today’s game, about 32,000 will be from out of town.
By the end of today, more than 300,000 out-of-town fans will have seen Las Vegas Bowl games.
“All that adds up to a very winning combination to, ultimately, the residents of Southern Nevada because it’s helping the economy and creating jobs,” Alberta said.
He said the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas is one event that has made Las Vegas more popular in December than it had been in previous years.
The others: the National Finals Rodeo, NASCAR Champions Week and the Rock ’n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon.
“Historically, there were hotels that either shut down their showrooms or shut down parts of their facility for maintenance,” Alberta said. “Now, December is a busy month for the destination.”
Related Sun Content
- Rodgers brothers power Oregon State to bowl game (12-21-2009)
- Senior quarterbacks to share spotlight in bowl game (12-20-2009)
- BYU's Mendenhall to face off against alma mater (12-17-2009)
- BYU energized for fifth straight bowl in Las Vegas (12-11-2009)
- After missing Rose Bowl berth, Oregon State remains hungry (12-11-2009)
- Las Vegas bowl game will feature BYU, Oregon State (12-06-2009)
Its's hard to believe other schools wouldn't bring in the same amount of money or more, considering the gaming they don't do. But they do sell-out and right now, that works.
The drinking they don't do, the gambling they don't do, the partying in the clubs they don't do, etc. Its nice that it sells out, but I wonder if we could get a SoCal team like UCLA or something we could still sell out and get more $/tourist.
4 clueless and asinine comments, who's next?
desert_eagle: Looks like it is now at 5 ignorant comments.
I am a local who has family coming into town for the game. Let's do some simple math: They are renting two rooms at the Planet Hollywood for three nights. At current rates that's: 3 nights x 2 rooms x $89 (avg. rate) = $534. Add in food, valet parking, shopping at the miracle mile shops (which they did plenty of), tickets to the game, etc., we are easily looking at an impact of more than a $1,000, potentially a trickle effect of much more than that.
Just because you don't drink and game, doesn't mean you can't spend money in Vegas, that's just ignorant to think otherwise.
I've been to the last 4 Vegas bowl games and it is easy to see that they (BYU) bring more fans to the game than any opponent. I remember when UCLA came and didn't even sell out their ticket allotment. I received an email from BYU informing everyone that BYU now had extra tickets to sell because UCLA failed to sell out.
Be grateful that anyone is coming to Vegas right now and be glad that it is BYU. The other option would have been Utah, and do you really think they would have brought as much as BYU?
desert eagle......I'm interested in hearing your plan, unless pot shots from the back row is how you roll, figured.
You guys act like the Mormons drive from their homes right to the stadium, walk in, watch the game, bring camel bags full of water for drink, suck on salt licks for nourishment, then walk to their car when the game is over and then drive straight home.
The hot chocolates sell for the same amount as a beer...plus there's a higher profit margin. I went to the game two years ago and the hot chocolates were sold out by the 3rd quarter. My family of four drank a total of 8 hot chocolates at $6.00 a pop. The price went up last year to $8 each. The tickets for four were $160.00. We are from Vegas so we did not need hotel rooms, but the other 30-40 that went to the game with us all stayed at the JW Marriott at $90/night for 3 nights. They also all went to the Down Town festivities and spent money at the buffets. etc. They all bought shirts/sweatshirts from the game. Now multiply that by 18-20,000 people. There is probably 30,000 BYU fans but many of them live here and some do drive in the day of the game and leave that night or the next day.
Don't forget, they also have to fill up their gas tanks with gas and eat food while they're here. There's also a growing trend of taking taxis and buses out to the game because the stadium parking is a joke.
Both teams have huge banquets, fundraisers and partys throughout the entire week. Whether they are official banquests or private funraisers at private donor's homes. Do you think BYU brings the food and workers from Provo? No, they buy it at local stores and use local workers.
Seriously people, think before you speak.
Go Cougars beat those Beaver's
eylboarder &arvilleart Hate to burst your bubble, but I'm glad that BYU and their fans come here and spend their money. I don't think any other teams fans would spend that much money or bring nearly that many fans! Thanks for reading too much into my comment, thanks for playing!
Great way to treat your guests!
Welcome BYU Fans, we *love* you!!
And OSU fans too! Have a great time in Vegas and don't let these jerks ruin it for you!
The LVCVA is working hard to bring events to town when we need them. Which, sad to say, is all the time. I am sure they used the traditional multiplier of about $710 for each of the 20,000 attendees (half the gate). This gets you to 14.2. Of course the "traditional" multiplier may be off for non-drinking, non-gambling attendees but its also off for everybody that is not average. In February they will use the same multiplier for the Super Bowl where the drinking, gambling is probably a tad higher. I will cut them slack on their accounting as they are way above average on calculating things "on average".
speak for yourselves i hate those pretentious d bags everyone of em they raise their kids d bags as youngsters ... rah rah rah on these cougs!
Go Bevaers,,,,,,,beat the Cougers ... I hope know one gets to mad about the Cougers not being very big Wales,,I know you Beavs like to spend money for a good time ,,It seem though in vegas if u don't spend like a Wale u a low life.
Thanks BYU for bringing the fans! I am a diehard UNLV fan and I am envious of your support, even when you had bad seasons you managed to put 55-60K in your stadium. If UNLV was playing tonight the announced attendance would be around 22K. Pretty sad!
If the BYU fans bring in $14.2 million, I wonder how much the Wisconsin fans bring in? The town is absolutely covered in a sea of Badger red when they are in town.....and the times I've seen their fans on the Strip, they are drinking their a$$ off. Also, since they are traveling from the middle of nowhere, the Wisconsin fans have a longer length of stay here in town and they gamble too.
Las Vegas Sun - Can you find out the answer to this question?
S711
How about if we have UNLV play Wisconsin every year that way they are here every other year instead of having them for the Bowl game where they might get invited every few years. Hmmmm.... I think UNLV does play wisconsin and how we all know the sea of badger red.
@Richard
You don't have to wait long. Wisconsin is our first game next season.
Yep, the badgers are up first next season. Now what other team would come to Vegas every year and whose fans spend money like drunken US Senators trying to get a 60th vote.
desert eagle..you win, what was I thinking trying to reason with someone who makes points from both sides of the fence
WOW! Are things that bad now in Vegas that we push for the visiting team to bring their fans into town to pump up the local economy. I hope the next coach isn't reading this board!
I really wish we would build a new stadium here that could attract a real bowl sponsorship and teams. Have you been to Sam Boyd Stadium recently? I was just there last month for the Las Vegas Locos game and the experience was just a notch above a High School game. I think Gorman has a better facility than that. LOL
The food choices were terrible and there was almost nothing to speak of for retail options. I would like to see it move more towards what they do at Cashman Field. They have a great food selection.
S711
Go Beavers. Send those Mormons back to polegamy homes!
The author of this story is actually smoking crack as he is typing this nonsense. Economic impact? Please, if by economic impact you mean buying an extra pack of huggies at Wall Mart as you speed up and down I-15 then I understand. I hate BYU and I hope they get destroyed like last year.
with all the bigoted, illiterate comments against Mormons, I think is should be a humbling event for all of you who need jobs, that they bring their Mormon dollars to spend here. I suppose graciousness would be too much to ask of the riff-raff who make snide comments.
I hate BYU as well...If they were playing the Iranians...I would cheer for Iran, since the mormons are sorta like the Taliban anyway!!
Not a big fan of either team (as is obvious by my online handle), but I have nothing against their money.
@ lobo69
Send Lobo back to spelling class.
@ dirtpig
You're right. Remember that time mormons killed the President and took over our country, and then murdered all those who spoke up against it?
@ epenn
Your grasp of reality and simple economic foundation frightens me.
Sorry reagan. Polygamy. I grew up in Cedar City so dont hold it against me, hold it against the school district. I was being sarcastic because all of the anti-byu fans like to bring up polygamy.
Pac-10 does travel well for the right game and city. Arizona sold out it's Holiday Bowl allotment in a couple of days.
@ Lobo
Cedar City, huh? What happened to Brad's Food Hut? The food has gone down hill.
The Mormon haters almost make me want to join their church just so I wont be on the same side as the idiot posters here. They seem to be scum.
Y'know, if the world's biggest cult would drink beer or something, they'd probably contribute another $2 million. Maybe they can change the rules again like they did with cola...
@ RebelRicky
Please teach me more about your "knowledge" of the LDS church. When did they change their stance on cola?
If you knew anything the teachings say to take care of our bodies which includes not taking drugs, smoking, driking alcohol, drinking tea or coffee. Drugs would include watching caffeine intake.
The thing that kills me about people like RebelRicky is that doctors and FDA have told us the harms of drugs, caffeine, alcohol, too much meat, cigarrettes, coffee, tea...when they teach our children its called education and health. But when LDS parents teach their kids to take care of their bodies it's a cult.
Well done moron, you have shown your true colors...you are an illogical and unrealistic bigot.
Does BYU have any Osmonds playing?
Reagan21: How about Mountain Dew? I see many of the faithful slugging that down. More caffeine than most soda's. What's wrong with tea? Most cultures find that healthy in moderation. Having lived in Salt Lake City, I find some LDS will turn on you if you don't follow everything they believe. Your example comes to mind.
BYU attends the game well more out of blithe religious duty than an appreciation of athletic competition. BYU loathes Las Vegas because they loathe everything non-Mormon; the feigned politeness notwithstanding. Don't forget the title of the article: "We Love BYU in a Bowl Game." And only in a bowl game.
Of course they bring in more money. Every team they have to pay for a family meal they have to buy for 10 instead of 4!
To: lvnative81
Your comment (Of course they bring in more money. Every team they have to pay for a family meal they have to buy for 10 instead of 4!) shows either your ignorance or your inability to have a rational thought process.
Lets see if you can follow something:
If 4,000 10 person families each attend the game or 10,000 4 person families each attend the game, which one will have more people at the game? Did you figure it out yet? Do you need help? Either way it is 40,000 people.
Your comment shows a certain level of bigotry and stereotyping that I find unbecoming and unnecessary. Please, do us all a favor and don't post again.
Reags-
Not a bigot. Just don't believe the lies the Mormon church preaches. The cola comment was a sarcastic one on that the LDS owns the Pepsi and/or Coke Corp. that some people claim.