Belk Bowl provides big economic boost for Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Major sporting events are a growing part of Charlotte's economy.

Just a few months ago, the Queen City hosted the college kickoff game at Bank of America Stadium, and now the Belk Bowl will wrap up the season Wednesday afternoon in uptown.

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With over 40,000 tickets sold, the Belk Bowl is bringing big dollars into the city.

“N.C. State playing close to home. We decided to hop on the train and check out Charlotte,” Scott Ajax, from Raleigh, said.

If fans stay after Wednesday's game to celebrate the New Year, or to watch the Panthers final home game, then it’s a triple win for Charlotte.

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Sid Smith, with the Charlotte Area Hotel Association, said sports are a big boost at the end of the year when business travelers are all at home.

“I love having the Belk Bowl in December when it’s usually a light month for hotels,” Smith said.

In 2014 the Belk Bowl had an economic impact of $16.7 million -- $8.7 million in direct visitor spending -- and contributed to $462,000 in Mecklenburg County taxes.

Those numbers are all increases over 2013 and leaders anticipate this year could be higher as well.

“Hotels I talked to will be at 85-90 percent occupancy, which is unheard of this time of year,” Smith said.

Hotels aren’t the only ones benefiting. Ajax said he is planning on "eating some dinners out and heading over to the NASCAR museum” while he’s in town.

City leaders said they expect to end the year with a hotel occupancy rate in the upper 80s, which would be a record high in Charlotte.

WSOC