City To No Longer Give Money To Texas Vs. Nation Game

The City of El Paso wants proof that it’s getting a return on its six figure annual investment in the Texas vs. The Nation college football All-Star game.

Facing a $10 million budget deficit, city reps say without the proof, there will be no more support to the tune of $200,000 spent every year backing a football game whose numbers some are now questioning.

“How many people actually showed up at the gate and bought a ticket?” City Representative Beto O’Rourke asked Rave Marketing’s Gina Roe-Davis.

But the question went unanswered. Texas vs. The Nation reps offered few specifics, but plenty of pride for their event.

“The Texas vs. The Nation game is still in its infancy, going on its fifth year,” said Roe-Davis, “however, we are very, very proud of our child.”

Some council members bought into the hype.

“This is one of the premiere games in the country,” City Representative Carl Robinson said.

Others, didn’t buy the hype at all.

“I don’t know that I have from the professionals in this community the confidence that this game is producing the impact that you and Mr. Hansmire say it is.”

As in Kenny Hansmire, the game’s founder. He’s the guy who after attendance fell from 42,000 to 27,000 last year said, “El Paso wants to be an NFL town? Good luck.”

Hansmire later apologized for the comments. But the city still changed the way the game will be funded. Up to $200,000 — just like last year — will come from Hotel Motel tax funds.

But only with proof!

So here’s what it comes down to for Texas vs. The Nation. It will no longer be so much about butts in seats, it’s about heads in beds. How much the game gets from the city will be based mostly on overnight stays.

“I believe the city will continue to support this if we prove our case,” said Hector Gutierrez, a member of the Texas vs. The Nation board.

According to a study by Texas vs. The Nation, the 2010 game produced $1.4 million in hotel revenues, $4.4 million in food and beverages, $3.5 million in shopping and entertainment, and $1.5 million in other areas, for a total economic of $10.8 million dollars.

“Do you stand by those numbers?” O’Rourke asked Roe-Davis.

“I believe it was based on an estimate,” she replied.

Roe-Davis later said she can prove the game has generated between 1,400 and 1,700 hotel room nights per year. Clearly, she now realizes, estimates will no longer cut it with the city.

Next month, the county, facing a $14 million dollar deficit, will vote on whether to support the game again. Last year it gave Texas vs. The Nation $350,000.