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The 2004 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, which featured the 4th-ranked California Golden Bears and 21st-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, generated a record $38.2 million in economic benefit for the San Diego economy. The previous record was $30.3 million, a figure that was generated in 2003 when the Texas Longhorns faced the Washington State Cougars. According to a study conducted by San Diego State University Center for Hospitality and Tourism Research, direct visitor spending for last year’s game totaled $19.8 million, while the indirect economic impact was $18.4 million. Last year’s festivities marked the seventh consecutive year that the non-profit bowl game generated an economic benefit exceeding $20 million. Since its inception in 1978, the bowl has created an impact of $354 million. “The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl continues to raise the bar year after year,” said 2004 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl president Larry Blumberg. “This success is wholly attributable to the incredible efforts of our board, committee and the hundreds of volunteers that support this great civic endeavor.” The mission of the Holiday Bowl 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 game and festival of events. The study further revealed that 36,315 people from outside the county traveled to San Diego for the game and bowl week festivities. Those visitors stayed in San Diego an average of 2.0 nights, and accounted for 36,400 hotel room nights. The game was played December 30 before 63,711 fans at Qualcomm Stadium. The Red Raiders defeated the Golden Bears, 45-31. |
