The NFL draft was a tourism boon for Philadelphia and delivered $94.9 million in economic impact to the city, exceeding expectations, according to a new report.
The three-day event along Benjamin Franklin Parkway in April drew a record-breaking 250,000 football fans, who directly spent $56.1 million in hotels, restaurants, bars, and retail shops, said the study commissioned by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and conducted by Temple University’s Sport Industry Research Center. The study estimated an additional $38.8 million was generated in indirect and induced spending.
The total $94.9 million in economic impact exceeded initial expectations of $80 million, and was one of the most successful drafts in the NFL’s 81-year history.