MIAMI, Fla. (April 15, 2015) - The Memphis Tigers football team may still be celebrating its dramatic 55-48 overtime win over BYU on December 22 at Marlins Park, but there's no doubt that the real long-time winner of the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl is Miami-Dade County according to the economic impact report produced by Washington Economics Group the media exposure value calculated by Joyce Julius and Associates.

The inaugural Miami Beach Bowl generated quantifiable economic impacts to the Miami-Dade County economy.  According to the Washington Economics Group the newest annual event on Miami's sports and tourism calendar generated a total economic impact of $20 million.  Additionally, in total, 205 jobs were estimated to be created either directly or indirectly throughout Miami-Dade County by the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl. The report also stated that initial impacts are expected to grow as the new bowl becomes established.

"The 2014 Miami Beach Bowl is integral to the growth of Miami's sports, entertainment and tourism cluster," said Dr. J. Antonio Villamil, founder and principal for the Washington Economics Group.  "Professional sporting events like the Miami Beach Bowl attract overnight visitors that spend their tourist dollars on hotels, meals, and other entertainment and positively impact employment, household income and overall economic activity throughout the County. This media attention also elevates the awareness of the professional sports events in Miami and contributes to the County's branding as a professional sports leader in the United States."

Major national sports events have an exponential sphere of influence through traditional and social media and the Joyce Julius and Associates reported significant exposure for Miami and its beaches from the Miami Beach Bowl.  The detailed executive summary report tallied an exposure value of $20,400,686.17 as a result from national television (ESPN), on-site impact, advertising promotions, television media, print media and internet news.  A total of 466,182,319 impressions were reported.  Cision Inc., which reviews news programming appearing in all 210 U.S. markets, calculated an exposure value of $950,071 from 392 programs during the month of December.

"The inaugural 2014 Miami Beach Bowl proved to be a great success overall on and off the field.  The goal now is that it continues developing into a major attraction for tourist and residents alike, who come to our fabulous City to enjoy all that Miami Beach has to offer year-round," said Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine.    

"The 2014 Miami Beach Bowl was an outstanding addition to Greater Miami's sports portfolio. The combined $40 million economic and exposure impact, for our community is a testament to how a partnership should work," said Jose Sotolongo, Executive Director of the Miami Sports Commission. "The fact that we were able to dovetail the Bowl with Miami Beach's 100th birthday was the crowning touch of what we hope will be a long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship."
"We are proud to have developed a new sports event in Miami-Dade that contributes such a positive impact from a financial and promotional level," said Carlos Padilla II, Executive Director of the Miami Beach Bowl.  "College football is now discussed year-long and with Miami Beach being a desired December destination for dozens of college football teams we feel strongly that the direct and indirect value we bring to the community will grow each year." 

About the Miami Beach Bowl 

The Miami Beach Bowl is a college football postseason game that is owned and operated by the American Athletic Conference. The Miami Beach Bowl will match an American Athletic Conference team against an opponent from Conference USA, the Sun Belt Conference or the Mid-American Conference. Institutions from other conferences across the country as well as Independent schools will also have the ability to participate. The game is played at Marlins Park, a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2012 and serves as the home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins. The stadium features a retractable roof, climate controlled temperatures and a pristine natural grass playing surface. For more information on the bowl game, visit www.MiamiBeachBowl.com.