San Diego’s two post-season college football games combined to produce an economic impact of $41.5 million for the San Diego region in 2007.  This figure was the result of a study conducted by the San Diego State University Center for Hospitality and Tourism Research.  The games are organized by the San Diego Bowl Game Association.

The 30th annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, which was played December 27 and featured the Texas Longhorns and Arizona State Sun Devils, generated $30.3 million in economic impact.  Direct visitor spending totaled $15.7 million, while $14.6 million was derived from indirect spending.  The study revealed that 33,290 fans traveled from outside the County of San Diego to attend the game.  Total attendance at the Qualcomm Stadium event was 64,020.

The 3rd annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, which was played December 20 and featured the Navy Midshipmen and Utah Utes, generated an economic impact of $11.2 million.  Direct visitor spending totaled $5.8 million, while $5.4 million was derived from indirect spending.  According to the study, 17,216 fans traveled from outside the County of San Diego to attend the game.  Total attendance was 39,129.

“In our 30th year we were stronger than ever,” said 2007 President Rudy Castruita.  “The bowl games have always made a huge impact on San Diego’s tourism industry, and this year was no different.  What would normally be a slow time for hotels and restaurants was filled with the excitement and revenue of the Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls.  We work hard each year to contribute to our community, and it feels great to see the success of our efforts.”

The mission of the non-profit San Diego Bowl Game Association is to generate tourism, exposure, economic benefit and civic pride for San Diego and its citizens by presenting the nation’s most exciting and entertaining bowl games and festivals of events.

Since its inception in 1978, the San Diego Bowl Game Association has created an impact of $480.5 million.

For more information on the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, visit PacificLifeHolidayBowl.com.  For the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, visit PoinsettiaBowl.net.