Wrestlemania 25 Barrels into Houston

The event that made "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan and The Rock household names is back in Houston with a weeks worth of events. The Wrestlemania mania kicked off on April 3, 2009, with a meet and greet for the wrestlers and their fans.

Wrestlemania will be broadcast from Houston's Reliant Stadium on Sunday April 5, 2009.

From Far and Wide

Wrestlemaniacs have descended on Houston from such far flung places as Scotland and China to get some face time with their favorite Westlemania stars. For many a trip to Wrestlemania has become and annual ritual. Perhaps they aren't giving a thought to their visits effect on Houston's bottom line, but Houston's leadership is well aware of the events financial impact on the economy of its host city. In an interview on KHOU, Houston's Channel 11, Holly Clanahan reported that currently Houston is trending much like host city, Orlando, did last year. This is very good news, since Wrestlemania 24 resulted in an influx of over 50 million dollars into the Orlando economy.

70,000 fans are expected at the Reliant Stadium on Sunday. Ticket sales have already topped 6.5 million. The influx of visitors, entertainers and wrestling professionals promises to be a benefit to the hospitality and tourism industries here in Houston. Greg Ortale, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau said "It couldn't have come at a better time. The hotel industry has been in freefall."

This isn't the first time Wrestlemania has come to Houston. In 2001 it set an attendance record for the Astrodome and infused 13 million dollars into Houston's economy. At the time there were not nearly as many events associated with Wrestlemania. The Hyatt Regency which is serving as World Wrestling Entertainment host hotel has rented 800 of its 977 rooms to Wrestlemania fans. Many of those in attendance will be staying for the duration of the week long event.

'The Wrestler" in the House

Fresh from his Oscar nod and triumphant return to the silver screen in the movie, "The Wrestler", Mickey Rourle is expected to be sitting ringside. "With Rourke in the house, you never know what will happen," writes Michelle Ponto on khou.com. Providing musical entertainment for the festivities will be Kid Rock and Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls.

Houston's Mayor Bill White signed a proclamation calling this "Wrestlemania Week".

More Good News

In addition to Wrestlemania, several other events are going on in Houston. The annual Shell Houston Open at Redstone golf course has brought in some of golf's best and brightest into the city, including Greg Norman, Vijay Singh and current leader James Nitties.

Steve Timms, President and CEO of the Houston Golf Association, who also serves as Shell Houston Open tournament director said, "The Shell Houston Open has an economic impact of $25 million plus annually." Timms adds that the event is televised and "shows Houston in a positive light."

In addition to the bottom line economic impact, the Shell Houston Open has made an impact Houston organization and charities. Since Shell became the title sponsor in 1992, the tournament has generated $43 million for local agencies and charitable contributions of more than $2.2 million.

The Houston Astros are home for an exhibition series starting on Friday, April 03, 2009 at 7:05 pm. The Astros are hosting the Cleveland Indians for the two game series. There's no breakdown of individual Astros game economic impact, but the games are always well attended.

While Houston has been feeling the pinch of the downturn in the economy, events such as these bode well for the future.

Sources:
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache%3AFp1Hm8KONlsJ%3Awww.orlandosports.org%2FPress_Releases%2FWrestleMania_Eco_Impact_11.10.08.doc+wrestlemania+25%27s+economic+impact+p+Houston&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Wrestling provides economic kick for area - http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/6352920.html?

http://www.khou.com/news/entertainment/stories/khou090402_mp_mickey-rouke-wrestlemania.98b6ec65.html

http://www.pro-wrestling.com/displaynews.php?area=4&sid=25211

http://santaclaraca.gov/pdf/collateral/49ers-20070424-EFI-Houston.pdf?