Greenville Magazine - August 2008 - (Page 19) As a matter of fact, Clemson had seven of the top 125 games attendance-wise played in all of 2007, including six home games and the USC away game. The Clemson-Furman match-up in September 2007 ranked 123 in the nation, drawing nearly 80,500 people into the Upstate. These are more than just impressive statistics – they represent people not only enjoying the game but also funneling great amounts of money into the Upstate economy. As a Clemson alumnus myself, I can attest to the significant amount of money brought in by tailgating fans. We spent pre- and post-game celebrations at Cemetery Hill, surrounded by families from across South Carolina who came in on Thursday night and stayed the weekend at a local hotel while shopping local retail and specialty stores and dining out at popular area restaurants. With tens of thousands of fans pouring into the Upstate from all over the state and beyond on any given game weekend, the economy can’t help but receive a boost. Aside from purchasing tickets, there are numerous other expenses that go into the makeup of a stellar football weekend. First, many out-of-towners make reservations in local hotels, sometimes staying for two to three nights. Then there are logistical costs of attending a game – gas, parking and any vehicle maintenance needs. Food constitutes another large expenditure as many fans rack up restaurant bills and grocery purchases for tailgating fun. And don’t forget the fans’ need for the latest in team apparel. Before it’s over, the weekend tab ends up reading like a MasterCard commercial: Three night hotel stay: $450 Tailgating food and provisions: $150 Team gear: $75 Celebrating the victory over dinner: $65 Looking forward to doing it all again next weekend: Priceless Still, consumers do more for the economy than just put money into circulation. Their very presence creates jobs – additional help in retail stores, restaurant waiters and stadium staff to name a few. These employees then take their paychecks and put them right back into the local economy, creating a pattern of cause-and-effect. Mr. Knickerbocker, the world’s largest supplier of Clemson sportswear and gifts, has tapped into the wealth of opportunities that accompanies Clemson’s long-celebrated Photos courtesY of furman universitY In South Carolina, college football is not just an entertainment venue – it’s a tradition. And nowhere is this truer than in the Upstate where NCAA Division 1-A Clemson and Division 2-A Furman battle the teams of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southern Conference (So-Con) for bragging rights. The popularity of NCAA football is undeniable, with average attendance for games at around 40,000 fans and some larger schools gathering almost 100,000 at a single game. According to NCAA records, Clemson’s cumulative attendance for 2007 exceeded 569,000 over seven home games, with average game attendance at more than 81,000 people. Clemson boasted a 99.83 percent capacity at Death Valley during 2007 home games. aUGUST 2008 | Greenville MaGazine 19
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