"Men's Final Four Generates an Estimated $71.9 Million for St. Louis"
According to a survey commissioned by the NCAA and the St. Louis Organizing Committee, the 2005 NCAA Men's Final Four generated an economic income of $71.9 million for the St. Louis metropolitan area.
[R]esearch estimates that the Final Four brought more than 54,000 visitors to the region. According to survey results, those visitors were responsible for:
- $6.4 million in direct spending on local hotels and lodging;
- $6.3 million in direct spending at food and beverage establishments;
- $5.0 million in direct spending at retail and other shopping outlets;
- $1.0 million in parking expenditures;
- $1.3 million in rental car expenditures;
- $3.5 million in tax revenue for the 12-county St. Louis metro area.
"This information confirms what we have learned in the past," said Gregory A. Shaheen, NCAA vice-president for Division I Men’s Basketball and Championship Strategies. "The Final Four is a wonderful event for the host city."
