San Diego
The 1988 Sea World Holiday Bowl pumped $10.6 million into San Diego’s economy, the second-largest economic infusion in the bowl’s 11-year history, officials told the San Diego City Council on Tuesday.
The Dec. 30 game between the University of Wyoming and Oklahoma State University was seen by a record-setting 7.6-million cable television viewers and paid out a record $907,000 to each team, said Leon Parma, outgoing president of the bowl game.
However, the game netted the city just $34,434, a sharp decline from the $124,228 it earned from the 1987 game and the $176,598 it garnered after the 1986 game. The council’s decision to increase its support for the bowl game from $150,000 in 1987 to $250,000 was primarily responsible for the smaller return.
Oklahoma State defeated Wyoming, 62-14, before a crowd of 60,719 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium as Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders rushed for five touchdowns.
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