Impact of Holiday Bowl Put at Record $14.5 Million

The Dec. 30 Sea World Holiday Bowl attracted 32,700 out-of-county visitors who spent $7.2 million while visiting San Diego for an average of four days, bowl officials told the City Council on Tuesday.

When $4.4 million in additional commerce and $2.9 million in extra wages and salaries generated by the game are added to the visitors’ spending, the football game had a record economic impact of $14.5 million on San Diego County, according to a study conducted by CIC Research Inc. The 1986 game had an $8.9-million impact on the county.

The University of Iowa Hawkeyes and University of Wyoming Cowboys each received record payments for playing in the nationally televised contest, which Iowa won 20-19. The teams, which were guaranteed $750,000 each before the game, actually received $771,624.50 each, said Herb Klein, president of the bowl.

“Our goal as we move ahead is to eventually get to the $1-million category (in payments to each team), which will put us in the top ranks of all the bowls,” he told the council.

Klein also said the Western Athletic Conference has agreed to send its champion to the bowl game through 1992 and will contribute $100,000 to the game.