There may be a lot more at stake in Houston for the next couple of week than the outcome of a football game, but will the impact have a lasting effect?
The 51st annual Super Bowl game will bring 140,000 people to the city to be a part of the championship game at NRG Stadium.
The people coming in will generate approximately $350 million in extra spending on food, lodging and entertainment, according to Texas tourist experts. The dollar amount varies depending on what is included. Another $4 million will go to nonprofits in the region through the NFL’s Charitable Giving Program.
Dr. Jason Draper, who holds a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management and teaches at the University of Houston, says infrastructure improvements were made to the light rail system in the city and renovations were made to the George R. Brown Convention Center, including a pedestrian mall where much of the activity outside of the game will be held.
The number of hotel rooms in the city has nearly doubled to 84,000 from the last time the city hosted the Super Bowl in 2004.
These improvements will benefit the city for years to come, he says.
But Partha Krishnamurthy, marketing professor at the University of Houston, says he does not think there will be much lasting impact.
“There will be a lot of talk about Houston for the next week, which is nice, and Houston will be top of mind for people looking to travel. But this not like the 1970s and 1980s. Ideas spread like wildfire now but they become past news in a hurry.
“Business in the area will get a boost that they need, but no long-term economic affect on the city is obvious to me,” Krishnamurthy says.