LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Hotels and restaurants across Lubbock are preparing for an influx of George Strait fans as the country music star performs two sold-out concerts at the Jones this weekend.
The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance estimates more than $3.7 million will pour into the hotel and short-term rental industry for the weekend. John Osborne, President and CEO of LEDA, said the economic impact will exceed last fall’s College Game Day event.
“We are very much sold out,” Osborne said. “Yet the total revenue is coming in, projected to come in at a higher amount than that particular weekend.”
Osborne said the two-day event will generate an estimated $3.7 million in just the hotel and short-term rental industry.
“To kind of put that in perspective, July of 2011, I think we were at about $7 million for the entire month,” Osborne said. “And here’s two days where we’re getting half that amount of money coming in. So it’s really huge.”
The last time the ‘King of Country’ performed in Lubbock, an estimated 15,000 people attended. With the size of Jones AT&T Stadium, concert attendance is expected to quadruple for both of George Strait’s performances.
The Pioneer Pocket Hotel was fully booked within an hour of the concert announcement. Tiffany Walker, vice president of McDougal Companies, said the sold-out conditions extend beyond Lubbock.
“I believe Levelland was sold out. I believe Plainview was sold out. I know for sure Seminole was sold out,” Walker said.
She says while they do have experience with large crowds with Texas Tech football. The high turnover rate will make this weekend difficult for hotels.
“So, most of your hotel guests that are checking on Friday are turning around checking out Saturday and vice versa,” Walker said. “The ones coming in on Saturday, they want to get in as fast as they can to get ready, but you’ve still got those guests on Friday to be respectful to check out on time.”
Hotels have been preparing since the concerts were announced. Walker said staffing, linens and food supplies have all been increased.
“I think everybody’s expecting an increase of food, beverage, all those things,” Walker said. “So everybody’s kind of on a little bit of a higher end delivery this week.”
Walker and Osborne said Lubbock residents will benefit from the economic boost.
“It helps with the parks that we’re building downtown. It helps with the civics. It helps with all these new ideas that we have coming down the pipeline,” Walker said. “It shows that the city can hold, you know, and handle this amount of people coming in and who knows, you know, sky’s the limit on bringing different concerts in if this one goes as well, which I think it will.”
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