Big 12 Conference Changes Impact Lubbock's Economy
By: Rachel Spangenthal
Updated: October 9, 2012
"But Texas Tech is not only the largest economic engine in Lubbock, it's also the largest economic engine in west Texas," Eddie McBride, the President of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.
On Saturday's, it's not just the home team that bring in the fans, but the away team too.
"The Texas and OU game, and maybe this West Virginia game, will be as big if not bigger than all the other weekends as far as those major athletic events," said McBride.
It's no question Red Raider football games help our local economy. But Eddie McBride, the President of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, said changes to the Big 12 Conference have impacted just how much cash flows into the South Plains.
"With West Virginia being so far away, you won't know how many people will actually travel."
That means less people sleeping in our hotels and eating at our restaurants.
"If you look at it as economic development again a tourist is an incredible person to have here," said Rob Meyers, the Owner of the Arbor Inn and Suites.
And McBride said A&M leaving the Big 12 has been the largest economic impact for Lubbock. A loss of 12 million dollars.
"Those were the most that we ever calculated in the past and that was based on several consecutive years of them coming to town...And so that was going to be a huge impact on us if we lost that game, obviously we've lost," said McBride.
Both McBride and Rob Meyers, the owner of the Arbor Inn and Suites, said they are not letting that loss impact their bottom line.
"They come for a short time, they leave a lot of money, and they leave," said McBride.
On Saturday's, it's not just the home team that bring in the fans, but the away team too.
"The Texas and OU game, and maybe this West Virginia game, will be as big if not bigger than all the other weekends as far as those major athletic events," said McBride.
It's no question Red Raider football games help our local economy. But Eddie McBride, the President of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, said changes to the Big 12 Conference have impacted just how much cash flows into the South Plains.
"With West Virginia being so far away, you won't know how many people will actually travel."
That means less people sleeping in our hotels and eating at our restaurants.
"If you look at it as economic development again a tourist is an incredible person to have here," said Rob Meyers, the Owner of the Arbor Inn and Suites.
And McBride said A&M leaving the Big 12 has been the largest economic impact for Lubbock. A loss of 12 million dollars.
"Those were the most that we ever calculated in the past and that was based on several consecutive years of them coming to town...And so that was going to be a huge impact on us if we lost that game, obviously we've lost," said McBride.
Both McBride and Rob Meyers, the owner of the Arbor Inn and Suites, said they are not letting that loss impact their bottom line.
"They come for a short time, they leave a lot of money, and they leave," said McBride.
