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A new study projects that the economic impact San Antonio could expect from hosting the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four will reach $185 million.

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That’s a $50 million increase over a previous estimate the city will get from direct visitor spending, and it’s $138 million more than when the Alamo City last hosted the event a decade ago.

The new study, conducted by San Antonio economist Steve Nivin and released by the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee, is based on a more recent assessment of current hotel rates and include visitors from Texas, as well as those from other states, who are expected to converge on the Alamo City for the championship event.

The new study is based on an anticipated influx of 93,000 visitors, who are expected to travel to San Antonio for the three-day event, beginning March 31. Nivin said those guests will generate additional revenue for area hotels, restaurants, retail stores and entertainment venues.

The size of the crowds expected at the Alamodome for the actual Final Four games will also be significantly larger than in previous years. The downtown stadium will be set up in its football configuration, with a capacity of 70,000 seats. That’s nearly double the capacity when San Antonio last hosted the Men’s Final Four in 2008.

Local officials said the anticipated increase in economic impact is indicative of the growth of the championship tournament to include more ancillary events attracting more fans. San Antonio’s decision to spend $325 million to expand and improve the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center was a key to the city’s success in securing the 2018 Final Four, as the facility and nearby grounds will accommodate several of those events.

“When people who don’t know talk about the Final Four, they just assume it’s all about the [basketball] venue. That’s a huge part, but we have all these other events — the Fan Fest, the March Madness Music Festival,” said Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball for the NCAA. “So having the new convention center and the green space next to it is fabulous. This allows us an incredible footprint to activate all weekend long."

By W. Scott Bailey – Senior Reporter, San Antonio Business Journal
Feb 16, 2018, 1:38pm CST