MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 57th AutoZone Liberty Bowl was a huge success, both for the City of Memphis and ESPN.
According to officials with the bowl game, this year’s contest between Arkansas and Kansas State was the most viewed non-New Year’s Six bowl game on ESPN.
The game also made it into the record books as the most watched game in the bowl’s history.
It also brought in a record setting crowd.
WREG reported just days before the game, tickets had already completely sold out.
In all more than 61,000 fans packed the stadium, with more outside tailgating.
“This year’s AutoZone Liberty Bowl will go down as the largest economic impact of any sports event in the history of Memphis,” said Kevin Kane, the President and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. “With the incredible popularity of all the AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s events and activities, many hotels were sold out across the city as thousands of out of town visitors descended on our community from Kansas State and Arkansas.”
Beale Street and the rest of the downtown area also saw a huge spike in business.