By Kalama Hines
@HINESight_2020
More than $500 million.
That is the expected fiscal impact on the local and regional economies by Super Bowl 50, which will be hosted in Santa Clara, Calif. by the San Francisco 49ers. That income will come from more than 100,000 visitors the event is anticipated to bring to the Bay Area.
With a Thursday Night Football contest between the reigning champion New England Patriots and the owner of the game’s most titles Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2015-16 NFL season has officially commenced.
The season will culminate at Levi’s Stadium with the nation’s most watched television show. And though many recognize the Super Bowl as a game it is, in fact, an event – one that takes place over the course of a week and includes countless experiences outside of the game itself.
Sure, there are massive costs to hosting the event – including $50 million, as projected by USA Today, paid directly to the NFL, as well as the necessary increases in police and security.
But, with the more than 100,000 anticipated visitors whose presence sole reason is the event, benefits to local business and tax income should clear the half-billion mark.
So what that money will go primarily to the richest city in the state of California, it is still money that the state is in need of.
And with more than last year’s total of 114 million viewers expected, the Bay Area will be at the center of the professional sports world – as it should be.
Boasting a total of 17 major sports championships between five franchises, this will be the Bay Area’s moment in the supreme spotlight.
Though it is host to two of the league’s most storied franchises, however, the Bay will likely not have a team in the game itself. The fans of those franchises, though, would presumably be appeased with any matchups outside of a rematch of either the past two installments.
And be happy to root on Chico, Calif. native Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers as they overcome Stanford legend Andrew Luck and his Indianapolis Colts under the Levi lights.