The Advocare V100 Bowl is a major economic driver for Shreveport and Bossier City every year and this year was no different.

While financial numbers aren't in yet, attendance was comparable to years past and an earlier kickoff means more time to party at area casinos for the New Year's Eve celebrations.

"That gives everyone plenty of time to go to the casinos, the restaurants, have a New Year's Eve party right here in Shreveport and Bossier City and that money stays here," Advocare V100 Bowl's Dale Kaiser told 710 KEEL.

Despite having fairly consistent attendance, Kaiser said it would be nice to get more people in the stands.

"We would love to have a lot more people in the stands and people here in the Ark-La-Tex, whether that would be here, Marshall, Kilgore, Longview," noted Kaiser.

But the national spotlight on Shreveport is always good for our economy with the game broadcast on ESPN.

"It makes a lot of people aware of Shreveport and Bossier City who may not be aware of Shreveprot and Bossier," explained Kaiser.  "Our big chance, a national positive media comes each year with the Independence Bowl."

ESPN is under contract to air the game through 2019.

And despite Shreveport being a smaller city compared to other bowl game hosts, Independence Bowl organizers make sure they focus on what makes the game unique.

"The Independence Bowl folks have prided themselves on hospitality because we don't have all the things a New York or a Florida has and we show the teams and the coaches that come here a great time," said Kaiser.

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