Baltimore Named A Host City For 2015 Gold Cup
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Golden opportunity: Baltimore gets the chance to once again host soccer's Gold Cup---bringing tens of thousands of people and millions of dollars to the city! It's the latest in a series of high-profile events at M&T Bank Stadium.
Christie Ileto has more on how the game is putting Baltimore in the tourism spotlight.
The 2015 Gold Cup is coming back to Baltimore.
"We didn't have the venues [two decades ago], nor did we have the collaboration of people to go after these efforts," said Terry Hasseltine, Maryland Stadium Authority.
M&T Bank Stadium is quickly becoming a prime venue, as it will be home to one of the knockout rounds in the tournament.
In the last couple of years, the arena has hosted big-name concerts like Beyonce and Jay-Z and a sold-out Army/Navy game just last week.
And this won't be the first time M&T Bank is home to the Gold Cup. Last year, more than 70,000 people flocked there to watch the tournament.
"Games like this are normally at FedEx, so to come here to M&T where the Ravens play is great," said a fan.
Fans from 2013's game packed a sold-out M&T Bank Stadium, pumping more than an estimated $10 million into the local economy.
"It's heads in beds, food in belly, gas in cars, credit card and cash on counters and butts in seats," said Hasseltine.
"We see a big influx of people," said Robert Kennon, a shift manager at Slainte.
Businesses like Slainte see a big boost to their bottom lines.
"When they're coming into the city for games, they look for the soccer bars and destination spots for the matches," said Kennon.
But it's the growing excitement familiar to fans of the other football that's putting Baltimore's purple palace on the map as an ideal entertainment hub.
The Gold Cup takes place every two years. Dates have not been announced for tickets to go on sale.
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