NASHVILLE, Tenn., (Feb. 20, 2009) – Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl representatives announced today the 2008 Bowl game between Boston College and Vanderbilt University produced a $9.97 million impact on the local economy. 

 

Building on the success of the 2007 Bowl, pre-team announcement tickets were at a record high for the New Year’s Eve game. 27,227 tickets were sold prior to the announcement of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference schools. That number is up approximately 13 percent over the previous year. 

 

“One of our goals has been to grow the Bowl game into both a community-wide and regional event. The significant results of the pre-team announcement sales underscore those efforts and show we’re reaching that goal,” said Scott Ramsey, President and CEO of the Bowl.

 

Attendance at the 2008 Bowl game was 54,250 with 68 percent of attendees from the Nashville MSA. The number of in-town attendees was a record high for the game.

 

“The success of the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl continues to exceed our expectations,” said Aubrey Harwell, Bowl chairman. “This year we dealt with a weakened economy, but we were astounded at the support of the local community and thrilled with our results. We are excited about the direction the Bowl is headed in the coming years and look forward to increased community involvement and exciting ACC vs. SEC match-ups.”

 

The pre-team announcement sales underscore the continued support of the local community. Throughout the years, the Bowl has consistently worked toward local ownership of the event through participation of not only the Bowl, but various events during the week prior to the game.

 

Furthermore, in support of the Bowl’s regional youth football program the Bowl spent $42,500 and donated nearly $140,000 worth of game tickets through the generous support of local companies and individuals. Over 4,500 youth and their families attended the Bowl through the Youth Football Program.

 

The Bowl broadcast on ESPN garnered a 2.78 rating, with 3,645,829 national viewers tuned in to watch the game. Through its national radio network, Nevada Sports Radio Network, and participating team affiliates, the Bowl had more than 150 radio stations across the country broadcast the game. 185 credentialed media attended and covered the event.

 

Since 2001, the Bowl has utilized 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.

 

 

For more information call the Bowl office at (615) 743-3130 or visit the Bowl online at MusicCityBowl.com.

 

 

About the Bowl:

 

The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (501 c-3 not-for-profit) is an annual post-season collegiate bowl featuring the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern Conferences. Televised nationally to millions of viewers and listeners on ESPN and Nevada Sports Radio Network, the Bowl is Nashville’s Holiday Tradition. For more information, call the Bowl office at 615-743-3130 or visit the Bowl online at MusicCityBowl.com.

 

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