Will BYU and Utah fans spend in 'Sin City'?


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PROVO — Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti is no stranger to BYU.

While meeting with BYU media along with BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, Saccenti said, "Coach, it's true — absence makes the heart grow fonder. We had BYU for five consecutive years. I think we were all ready for a little bit of a break at that point, but we've missed you guys."

Saccenti is also familiar with BYU's fan base. Some have question whether Latter-day Saints will spend in "Sin City."

Mendenhall addressed the economic issue of BYU traveling to the Las Vegas Bowl. "LaVell (Edwards) told me BYU fans will travel to the bowl game, they'll bring the Ten Commandments and a $10 bill, and they won't break either of them."

When asked if the economic impact of the game will be lessened by the BYU and Utah fan bases attending, Saccenti shook his head.

"It's part myth," Saccenti said. "Whenever you're bringing 11, 15, maybe 20 thousand fans, with Utah maybe bringing another 8, 9, or 10 thousand, there's no way there's not going to be any sort of economic impact."

BYU and even some of Utah's fan base might not spend their money in the same way as others. Saccenti says the bowl committee doesn't look at those numbers.

"The key number we look at is the non-gaming economic impact," Saccenti said. "I expect the (financial impact) to be relatively close to the last couple of years."

The Las Vegas Bowl certainly knew what it was doing when it chose BYU and Utah to play in the bowl.

BYU has sold out every Las Vegas Bowl it has played in. After announcing the Cougars will be playing the Utes, the bowl sold out within 24 hours.

Historically, BYU and Utah are No. 1 and 2 all time in Las Vegas Bowl appearances. BYU has played in the Las Vegas Bowl five times, while Utah has played in the game four times.

Including this year, all six of BYU's appearances will have been led by Mendenhall. The bowl and Mendenhall have expanded to the next level together.

"(The Vegas Bowl) each year is growing and expanding. It's gaining more attention and significance of the games and teams. It's really fun to watch," Mendenhall said.

"My first year we started in Las Vegas, and my last year we're finishing there. … When you add the team that we're playing, it's almost like it's been scripted," he said.

The Mendenhall-era will come to an end Saturday, when Mendenhall will play for his 100th win as a head coach.


David Boyle is a student at Brigham Young University studying journalism. He is from Monticello, Utah, and is thrilled to be covering BYU football and basketball for fall 2015. Follow him on Twitter @dboyle119

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