2026 CFP Postseason Delivers Record $418.7M Economic Boost to South Florida

Historic Dual-Host Slate Draws Over 120,000 Visitors and

Generates $467.4M in Media value, pushing Regional CFP-Era Impact Past $1B

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. – The 2025–26 College Football Playoff (CFP) postseason generated a record $418.7 million in economic output and an additional $467.4 million in broadcast media value for South Florida, according to an independent study by Rockport Analytics.

Hosted back-to-back at Hard Rock Stadium, the CFP Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl and the 2026 CFP National Championship Game drew 121,461 out-of-town visitors, booked 155,166 hotel room nights, and supported nearly 3,000 local jobs paying $144 million in wages. The dual-host slate delivered unprecedented tourism revenue, employment growth, and international exposure to the region.

“Hosting both a CFP Quarterfinal and the National Championship in a single postseason put Miami and South Florida at the absolute center of the sports universe,” said Michael E. Moran, President & Chair of the Orange Bowl Committee. “Our core mission has always been to drive tourism, empower local businesses, and enrich our community. The extraordinary economic influx demonstrates the unmatched strength of our region as a global destination for premier sporting events.”

Historic Impact Over the College Football Playoff Era

Since the inception of the College Football Playoff system in the 2014–15 season, South Florida has consistently delivered world-class bowl games and championship matchups. Across seven major CFP postseasons hosted in the region, including multiple Semifinals, the 2026 Quarterfinal, and National Championship Games in 2021 and 2026—the Orange Bowl Committee and local host committees have delivered a cumulative $1.17 billion in total economic impact and $843 million in media exposure value.

CFP Economic & Visitor Trends in South Florida

(Note: Data excludes the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic-impacted season. Source: Rockport Analytics).

Individual 2025–26 Event Highlights

• 2026 CFP National Championship Game (January 19, 2026): Generated $565.4 million in total impact/media value, including $210.1 million in economic output and $355.3 million in broadcast media exposure. An estimated 73% of attendees came from outside South Florida, representing 56,882 non-local visitors. These visitors set a record spending average of $408 per day, accounting for 73,777 hotel room nights.
• 2026 CFP Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl (January 1, 2026): Generated $320.7 million in total impact/media value. Driven by Texas Tech and Oregon fanbases, the event drew 64,579 non-local visitors (78% of attendees), producing 81,389 hotel room nights and $208.6 million in regional output.

Beyond direct economic activity, tax receipts generated by both events directly support local infrastructure, public safety, and public education across South Florida. Revenue from the Orange Bowl and CFP events also powers Orange Bowl Cares, funding community engagement, youth sports, educational scholarships, and legacy park projects throughout the region.

“Executing events of this magnitude requires seamless collaboration with our community partners, local municipalities, and host venues,” said Eric Poms, Chief Executive Officer of the Orange Bowl Committee. “Ultimately, the true success of hosting these games is measured by the lasting benefits felt across our neighborhoods—from driving business to local vendors and creating jobs, to funding youth sports and education initiatives, to revitalizing local parks through Orange Bowl Cares. We look forward to building on this momentum for years to come.”

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About the Orange Bowl

The Orange Bowl Committee is a 410-member, primarily volunteer non-profit sports organization founded in 1935. Its mission is to drive tourism and economic impact for South Florida through premier college football and year-round athletic events, while making a lasting community impact through its Orange Bowl Cares initiatives.