IMPLAN Blog

This year, fans of the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the NFL at large will pour into Las Vegas, Nevada for Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. While in Las Vegas, they will stay in hotels, feast on beer and wings at local bars and restaurants, and shop for souvenirs to take home to their families. Some will pass time on the Las Vegas Strip before the game while others will visit grocery stores to stock up on tailgating essentials. 

This weekend, fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the NFL at large will pour into Glendale, Arizona for Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. While in Glendale, they will stay in hotels, feast on beer and wings at local bars and restaurants, and shop for souvenirs to take home to their families. Some will pass time in the Westgate Entertainment District before the game while others will visit grocery stores to stock up on tailgating essentials. 

Local events that bring communities together for holidays or regional celebrations often become annual traditions deeply intertwined with an area’s identity. In recent years, however, some localities have halted events like holiday parades, block parties, and July Fourth fireworks due to increasing regulations and rising costs. The immediate savings are beneficial. However, the significant, positive effects these events have on local economies are being lost in the process. While few studies exist regarding the impact of non-tourist, community events on economies, the framework exists to reliably analyze their effects. Before jumping into the event analysis methodology however, there are several factors to assess.

I’m sure you’ve heard the cliche “it’s too good to be true?” Well, hosting the FIFA World Cup is too good to be true.