Major Events at Notre Dame Boost South Bend Economy
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSell-out events like the Garth Brooks concert and NHL Winter Classic have drawn record crowds in and around the Notre Dame Stadium recently, boosting business for local hotels and increasing economic activity. Visit South Bend Mishawaka reports hotel occupancy in the county was up more than 300 percent year-over-year.
The University of Notre Dame recently completed a renovation of Notre Dame Stadium to accommodate student activity as well as large-scale concerts and other special events.
The first-ever concert in the new venue was October 20, when Garth Brooks performed to a sold-out crowd. Another sellout crowd watched the NHL Winter Classic there on January 1, in a nationally televised game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. Both events attracted crowds that spiked hotel, restaurant and retail venues.
“The Garth Brooks concert and NHL Winter Classic are perfect examples of how Notre Dame’s commitment to new stadium events will significantly impact visitation and related spending to the area,” said Rob DeCleene, executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka said in a news release. “The hotel numbers for both events speak volumes about the ability to drive new tourism spending to St. Joseph County.”