Record-setting attendance at the 1999 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl and Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship translated into an economic windfall for San Antonio, according to a survey conducted by the Tourism Research Center and the Tourism Management Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Combined, these two games brought more than 89,000 out-of-town visitors to San Antonio and generated a direct and indirect economic impact of $46.6 million for the City in December 1999.
“The SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl has become one of San Antonio`s annual marquee events and is gaining in profile every year,” said Derrick Fox, Executive Director of the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl. “In addition to the $46.6 million impact to the local economy, the bowl also contributed $5 million to institutions of higher learning in 1999, bringing our total contributions to more than $19 million.”
“From a visitor standpoint, these games are a boost in that they draw a large out-of-city fan base to our City during what is typically a slower time of year,” said Steve Moore, Executive Director, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Secondly, they bring with them tremendous media exposure – hundreds of outer market media were credentialed for each game and the national television exposure is invaluable,” added Moore.
Both Fox and Moore noted that the games would not be possible without the Alamodome.
“The SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl has established itself as the signature event for the Alamodome,” said Michael Abington, Director of the Alamodome. “It is through the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl’s involvement that we are able to attract the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship to San Antonio. These types of events represent the most fundamental benefit in San Antonio’s economic cycle of visitation.”
The 2000 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl will be played on Saturday, December 30 at 7 p.m. CST in San Antonio’s 65,000-seat Alamodome and televised on ESPN. Applications for new bowl option holder tickets and corporate memberships are now available on the bowl’s website at alamobowl.com or by calling the bowl office at (210) 226-2695. Individual game tickets will go on sale to the general public at the Alamodome Box Office and through TicketMaster on Saturday, September 2. For more information, please call Rick Hill at the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl at (210) 704-6388.
