Let’s get this straight. The local “economic impact” of today’s Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte is supposed to be some $20m., down from last year’s $25m. number.
Last year’s game was a sell-out of 73,000-seat Bank of America Stadium but today only about 45,000 fans are expected. Moreover, Pitt only sold about 4000 tickets compared to the 40,000 that West Virginia brought to the game last year. So….
Out-of-town ticket sales are down at least 80 percent, overall attendance will be down at least 33 percent, and the magical “economic impact” number will only fall by 20 percent? How much more made-up can these figures be?
Moreover, they never, ever account for the local substitution effects of big events. Going to the ballgame means not going to the movies, not going shopping, not going bowling, etc. When you have so many local Tar Heel fans in the stands this impact is amplified. Then you have to factor in the extra costs of hosting and policing the event paid by the city of Charlotte and other tax-funded entities such as the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. Once you have subtracted out both of those factors, you might have some semblance of a reasonable number. But only if your “economic impact” multiplier is not completely nuts.
In any event, go Tar Heels. I’ll be watching the game down the street in HD.
