$19.5 million fans from Canada, Carolinas, and WV/KY border

[lambertslunatics]

Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau is estimating that close to $20 million was directly spent thanks to the AFC Divisional Game, and I am sure they are expecting a lot more for the AFCCG next week, great that the city can host it. This is only a few million shy of all the money generated from the NHL Winter Classic (The Superbowl of Hockey) so in perspective hosting playoff games really pays off. The Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Rental Car agencies, sports stores, taxis, and all other consumer driven businesses are getting a huge boost, and even though the numbers don't distinguish between visitors and natives (though the hotel and motel revenue obviously would) lots and lots of stories of fans, family and ex natives coming from 1,000 or more miles away and even bringing in-laws and friends that have never seen the city before, plus all those Ravenheads making the journey up I-70 from Maryland and the expected Turnpike and I-80 to I-79 Jets fandom:

[url]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_718331.html[/url]

[url]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/news/s_718360.html[/url]