What is the economic impact of the NFL game in Mexico City?
Bringing the NFL to Mexico has brought a massive economic impact to the country, in addition to other advantages.
Since 2016, Mexican fans have enjoyed one of the biggest sports phenomenons in the world from their very own stadiums. But what might seem like mere sporting interest for many, is a great business opportunity for the public and private sectors in Mexico.
Mexico is undergoing a unique socioeconomic transformation in which sports are at the center of efforts to massively diversify its economic activities. Not only does it want to be the lithium champion in the coming years, it also wants to lead the importation of North American sports events.
According to findings published by Latino-metrics, thanks to its growing popularity, the marketing and exhibition games of the American football league that are played in Mexico have hugely influenced the Google search trends for the NFL in the country during the month of January.
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The most valuable sports league in the world pays dividends wherever it goes, and while it is already a million-dollar business in the United States, host countries also see the potential it can be in their respective countries. From casual international fans, to serious fans, it looks like this trend won’t be stopping anytime soon.
The NFL has been building excitement in Mexico for a few years now, especially after it began exporting at least one game a season to Mexico City.
How does the Mexican economy benefit from hosting the NFL?
This sporting event basically has two impacts on the Mexican economy: the economic and the touristic impact. The arrival of American Football in Mexico will play a significant economic role for the development of the country, while helping to promote the Mexican tourism industry.
Fan ticket spending, stadium investment, and associated operating costs create a significant contribution to the local and national economy. In total, the gaming impact on the Mexico City economy is estimated at around $44.8 million.
It has been estimated that this influence has generated around 2,840 jobs in 2017 alone, in addition to tax revenues that amounted to $3.3 million for the National Government.
Said income generates an additional economic benefit thanks to the fact that the matches become a platform to significantly boost the tourism industry in Mexico. It is also an opportunity for both local and international fans to extend their trips over time and explore other parts of the country.
It is claimed that since 2017 international visitors generally spend an average of 5 days in Mexico as a whole, with 21% staying seven or more days. Thanks to these efforts, Mexico has jumped to the forefront and has become a new meeting point for a flourishing ecosystem of sporting events, hosting some of the largest and most recognized events worldwide.