The first wave happened last week (end of '07) with the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl which invited the Owls of Florida Atlantic University to take on the Tigers of the University of Memphis in the Louisiana Superdome. Experts estimated that the economic impact on the city was somewhere between $15 million to $20 million.
On New Years Day '08 (night actually), the New Orleans Superdome will also host the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Hawaii Warriors. Bulldog fans have historically descended upon the city (don't want to say flooded and it's not still by the way) for past bowl games and this time will be no exception. A large contingent of Warrior fans are here as well.
Only six days later on January 7th, the Louisiana State University will take on the Ohio State University in the BSC National Championship game in the New Orleans Superdome.
In between these two games, the American Economic Association is having their annual meeting in New Orleans. Fred Sawyer, president of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association and General Manager of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside states, "It's the best thing that could happen to start off the year from a hospitality standpoint, and continued, "The gods have smiled on us here; everything is working out well."
The economist meeting is expect to bring about 8,000 visitors to the city, Sugar Bowl crowds are expected to exceed 50,000, and the BCS championship game is expected to bring anywhere between 70,000 to 90,000.
The overall impact of these three events is expected to have an economic impact of $500 million, but why stop there.
Mardi Gras is early this year on February 5, 2008. It always falls on the Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) that is 46 days before Easter and always the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season.
For the most part the celebration of Mardi Gras begins two weeks prior. Officially though, Carnival season begins twelve days after Christmas on what is known as either the "Twelfth Night" or "Kings Day" when the three Wise Men reached Bethlehem.
This puts the official beginning of Carnival Season on January 6, 2008, between the 2 bowl games and during the economist's convention.
Following Mardi Gras, The NBA All-Star game will be played on February 17th at the New Orleans Area, which is preceded by an All-Star practice session at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center and an NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
New Orleans will continue to roll into March with St Patrick's Day parades and later the Irish/Italian parade. These events will lead into spring with the French Quarter Festival, the Jazz and Heritage Festival and countless other local and school festivals.
As they say in New Orleans, "Laissez les bon temps roule!" or
Let the Good Times Roll!
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