SUPER FINANCIAL IMPACT

The Denver Broncos annually pump approximately $120 million into Denver’s economy, according to an estimate by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. "It’s retail, it’s entertainment, it’s tourism, it’s a number of things," says STEVE COFFIN, executive vice president of the Chamber. The figure includes money spent on tickets, concessions, parking, food and drink at restaurants and bars, and Broncos merchandise. The Chamber also estimated that out-of-town visitors, including TV news crews and other press, contribute nearly $50 million of the $120 million when they go to Denver. The Broncos’ impact is also impressive when considering the influence of a Super Bowl championship, says RICH GRANT, a spokesman for the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Image-wise, the impact is tremendous," he says. "People associate Denver with a winner. That’s a great image to have."

WHEN YOU COMIN’ BACK, NFL?

Talk to South Floridians about Super Bowl XXXIII, from the man on the beach to government officials to the media, and one thing seems clear: the Super Bowl is welcome anytime. That was the overriding feeling during and after the NFL’s title game weekend. "You can’t buy the publicity and exposure of Super Bowl," said Miami City Manager DONALD WARSHAW. "A promotional video on South Florida couldn’t have done it better," wrote the Miami Herald. "We saw appreciable business come in," Broward County Commissioner SCOTT COWAN said. "The restaurants were jammed."

AMERICA TUNED IN

What can make 127 million Americans do the same thing on a mid-winter Sunday in January? Only one thing – Super Bowl. That’s what happened last Sunday (1/31) when 127.5 million Americans switched on their televisions to watch Super Bowl XXXIII from Miami, making it the sixth most-watched program in TV history. The first five? All Super Bowls. "The Super Bowl remains the premier event of the entire year," says GILES LUNDBERG, FOX-TV’s senior vice president for research. The game received a 40.2 rating and a 61 share, making it the highest-rated television program since the last Super Bowl (44.5/67 on 1/25/98). Locally, in the cities of the two participating teams, the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos, milestones were reached. Atlanta – site of next year’s title game – posted its highest Super Bowl rating ever – 58.2, highest of any city Sunday. Denver had the second-highest rating of the day – 51.6 – its best Super Bowl rating since 1990 (52.0).