Music City Bowl Announces Economic Impact Numbers

by Press Release - Tue Feb 16 22:32:35 GMT-04:00 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 16, 2010) – Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl representatives announced today that the 2009 Bowl game (formerly the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl) between the University of Kentucky and Clemson University produced a $12.6 million impact on the local economy.

Attendance at the 2009 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (Dec. 27) was 57,280 with 69 percent of attendees visiting from out of town. Out-of-town visitors spent $193.85 per day which was up 12 percent year-to-year. A total of 17,529 hotel room nights were booked which included 2,510 from the participating team and band hotel room nights.

“We are pleased with the results from the 2009 Bowl,” said Christine Karbowiak, Bowl chair. “During the past 11 years, the Bowl has cumulatively produced a $165 million economic impact, an average of $15 million per year, which has been a tremendous benefit to our local economy. The Bowl continues to deliver positive results for our community and we are excited about the bright future ahead and momentum we have moving forward.”

The Bowl telecast on ESPN garnered a 1.95 national rating, with 2,790,317 viewers in its first primetime game in its history. More than 300 credentialed media covered the event and more than 150 radio stations broadcast the Bowl across the country and through Kentucky and Clemson affiliates.

Local community ownership is a pivotal element of the success of the Bowl. In 2009, 23,553 tickets were sold prior to participating team announcements. “Growing our ticket base locally and making the Bowl a regional event is a key strategic component,” said Scott Ramsey, Bowl president & CEO. “We will continue to focus building the Bowl brand in Middle Tennessee as an event that is important for the local community economically and an exciting Bowl destination for our out of town fans.”

Furthermore, the Bowl’s Youth Football Program provided more than $62,500 in support of youth football leagues in the region. More than 4,000 youth and their families attended the 2009 Bowl through the program, which impacts more than 20,000 youth in over 80 communities in Middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky, and northern Alabama.

Since 2001, the Bowl has used the Nashville Sports Council’s nationally recognized Scorecard report to measure the impact and effectiveness of sporting events on the local economy. The Scorecard measures economic impact, media exposure, and community involvement based on ratings and surveys from participants, spectators, volunteers, and media that attended the event.

2006 – 2009 SEC vs. ACC Bowl Summary of Results

*Bowl Conference Agreements are in Four-Year Cycles

Category 2006 2007 2008

Date/Time Fri Dec 29 12 pm CST Mon Dec 31 3 pm CST Wed Dec 31 2:30 pm CST

Match-up Clemson vs. Kentucky Kentucky vs. FSU BC vs. Vanderbilt

Economic Impact $20,665,771 $27,094,078 $9,974,618

Attendance 68,024 68,661 54,250

National TV Rating 2.23 4.02 2.78

Out of Town Visitors 51,018 53,556 17,498

2009

Sun Dec 27 7:30 pm CST

Kentucky vs. Clemson