311K visitors expected in Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend
Whether the New England Patriots or Philadelphia Eagles win this weekend, Las Vegas covers.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority predicts 311,000 people this weekend in the valley, many likely here to place bets.
That’s an increase of 2,000 people from last year, or less than 1 percent, and would be the highest Super Bowl visitation since 2000.
Super Bowl weekend is typically strong for the valley, LVCVA spokesman Jeremy Handel said.
The agency doesn’t compare Super Bowl weekend with locally based sports events like the National Final Rodeo or events that last longer, like March Madness.
The visitors this year are expected to have a $410.1 million total economic impact on the area, an increase of $2.8 million from 2017, or less than 1 percent.
Those hundreds of millions of dollars are calculated based on community spending to accommodate those tourists, like restaurants spending on ingredients and hotel employees buying groceries with their wages.
LVCVA changed its economic calculations for the Super Bowl held in 2015, when the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks. Las Vegas saw 291,000 visitors directly spend $199.5 million. The total economic boost was calculated as $335.7 million.
Before the calculation change, 2014 saw the highest nongaming economic effect, with $122 million, an $11.5 million or 10 percent boost year over year.
Other highlights from the data:
■ Las Vegas saw a 27,000, or 11 percent, increase in visitors for the 2002 Super Bowl despite the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and early 2000s recession. The Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams 20-17.
■ During the Great Recession, the 2009 Super Bowl saw 48,000, or 17 percent, fewer people visit the valley year over year. Nongaming economic effect decreased by $28.7 million, or 28 percent year over year. The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.
■ With the country emerging from the recession, the 2012 Super Bowl saw 35,000, or 13 percent, more people visit the valley year over year. Nongaming economic effect increased by 16.4 million, or 18 percent, year over year. The New York Giants beat the Patriots 21-17.
Factors that can change Super Bowl visitation to the valley include the time frame for Chinese New Year and the calendar for major conventions, Handel said.
LVCVA isn’t always correct in its predictions. The Super Bowl in 2015 missed LVCVA projections, with 16,000 fewer visitors than predicted.
Contact Wade Tyler Millward at wmillward@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4602. Follow @wademillward on Twitter.
