Major Sporting Events Bring Cash to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh raked in more than another AFC Championship berth when the Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. The city will also see a cash benefit as it plays host to its third major sporting event this month.

Combined with the Winter Classic, the Steelers’ two home playoff games are expected to generate about $60 million in direct spending, says VisitPittsburgh Vice President of Sales and Marketing Craig Davis.

Davis says spending on tickets, hotel rooms, food and souvenirs will add up to millions of dollars in city tax revenue.

Westin Convention Center Hotel Manager Tom Martini says the additional high-profile game against the Jets helps a hotel industry that would normally be sluggish in January.

Davis says the three January sporting events also suggest that Pittsburgh is lively at a time when most northeastern cities are slow.