www.TomRothenberg.com

2015 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman generates direct economic impact of nearly $17 million

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The 2015 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, benefiting the USO, directly generated nearly $17 million for the Annapolis/Washington region, according to a report prepared by Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County (VAAAC). In the three years that the Bowl has been held in Annapolis, it has generated more than $47 million in direct economic impact.

“We are thrilled that the game continues to contribute so much to the regional economy,” Military Bowl President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. “Even with Navy participating in the game and a significant number of local attendees, our 2015 impact nearly matches the $17 million result from last year. This can be attributed in large measure to the outstanding job Pitt did in mobilizing its fan base. Also, we spend considerable time and energy planning events in Annapolis and Washington that will appeal to fans and we know the support we receive from the local community is crucial. We thank all individuals and organizations that work with us to make the Bowl such a success.”

Using Destination Marketing Association International’s Event Impact Calculator, VAAAC determined that Military Bowl attendees accounted for $4.1 million in lodging revenues. Military Bowl fans also spent $3.3 million on retail, $3.3 million on recreation, $3.1 million on food and beverages and $2.6 million on transportation from Dec. 26-28. (The DMAI Event Impact Calculator is the official industry standard for measuring the

economic value of an event and calculating its return on investment to local taxes.) The event directly supported nearly 8,000 jobs and benefited the entire region.

“I was most pleased to see that flights from Pittsburgh to BWI Thurgood Marshall were sold out the day before the Bowl,” said Connie Del Signore, VAAAC President & CEO. “Many of the BWI hotels were impacted by the Annapolis-held game, resulting in a truly county-wide event that benefited every resident in Anne Arundel County.”

Navy defeated Pitt 44-28 in front of a sell-out crowd of 36,352 in the 2015 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman on Dec. 28. This marked the largest attendance for a Military Bowl held in Annapolis, and second-largest overall in the bowl’s eight-year history. The Bowl has been held at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium since 2013, with the previous five games played at RFK Stadium. The teams continue to spend Bowl Week in Washington.

“Having Bowl Week in the nation’s capital is one of the major highlights for players and fans alike,” Events DC Senior Vice President and Managing Director Erik A. Moses said. “Providing tours of Washington, D.C., and giving back in various ways to support local veterans has been a staple of the Military Bowl since it began at RFK Stadium in 2008.”

For the latest Military Bowl updates, please visit militarybowl.org, follow on Twitter @MilitaryBowl or like the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman on Facebook.

###

About the Military BowlTM presented by Northrop Grumman

The Military BowlTM presented by Northrop Grumman kicks off for the ninth time in 2016, featuring a matchup between the Atlantic Coast Conference and American Athletic Conference at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Organized by the DC Bowl Committee, the Military Bowl serves as a premier regional event benefiting the USO and other organizations supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its inception in 2008, the Bowl has donated more than $600,000 to the USO and provided more than 25,000 complimentary tickets for troops and their families. For more information, please visit militarybowl.org.

*Photo by Tom Rothenberg, www.TomRothenberg.com