Touchdown! College Football Playoff injected nearly $275M into Arizona economy
Apr 13, 2016, 12:36 PM | Updated: 8:02 pm
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Hosting the National College Football Playoff Game and its assorted events scored several touchdowns for the Phoenix area, officials said Wednesday.
At a press conference, it was announced the game funneled about $275 million into Arizona’s economy.
Arizona Organizing Committee Co-Chair Win Holden praised the Phoenix area for uniting to host such a large event, calling it a “tremendous accomplishment.”
Just as it did before hosting Super Bowl XLIX, downtown Phoenix was turned into a large party area complete with a fan center and live music.
The Super Bowl pumped nearly $720 million into Arizona’s coffers.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said the Valley hosting two football championship games in back to back years — along with the NCAA Final Four for men’s basketball next year — is a sign the state is a major player in the sports world.
“Arizona has become a sports mecca,” he said during the press conference.
Oh, and in case you forgot: Alabama topped Clemson 45-40 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. It was arguably one of the most exciting bowl games of the postseason.
KTAR’s Jeremy Foster contributed to this report.