Football and aviation bring overlapping economic boost
By: Terry Kovarik
Updated: July 23, 2012
"He decided to show off his Packer allegiance, in Texas, with the golf cart," Robert W. Roach of Kemp, Texas said, while showing a photograph of a green and gold colored golf cart, with a Packers logo, surrounded by him, his son and grandsons.
And with about an hours drive from the stadium district, or short flight to E-A-A AirVenture, the Greater Green Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau says more people are taking it all in.
"AirVenture, as they move in, that typically pushes up into our area. And we fill a number of hotel rooms as a result of that, more people eating in restaurants," said President/CEO Brad Toll.
In fact, area hotels say since Independence Day, they've had fewer rooms to spare. And that trend will likely continue for the foreseeable future.
"We've been running, since that week (Fourth of July week) about 90-percent occupancy. And it's going to be that way all the way into August," said Craig Bleier, General Manager of Cambria Suites in Green Bay.
The overlapping of EAA AirVenture, training camp and the Packers stockholders meeting comes at just the right time. Early July tends to be slow for tourism. So having all the events at the same time is a much welcomed boost.
"In a typical year, we see, in the neighborhood of 35-thousand visitors that actually attend practices through the month. That pumps about five-million into the economy," Toll said.
That's just for training camp alone. Packers Family Night and the two pre-season football games each generate about $8-million for the local economy.
Local 5's Terry Kovarik has the story.








