Albuquerque welcomed the New Mexico Bowl back for 2021, a move that significantly boosted the city’s economy this year. 

For 2021, the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) Miners and the Fresno State Bulldogs faced off at University Stadium.

“Representing about $2 billion worth of revenue coming into the city and employing about 44,000 people in the hospitality and tourism industries. So, we’re really excited to have the New Mexico Bowl come back to New Mexico here locally,” Damian Lara, Albuquerque Economic Development Director, told KOAT News.

In past years, the New Mexico Bowl has brought crowds of 25,000 people to the city. This year, the city welcomed a diminished but still sizable crowd as more than 16,000 attendees showed up to watch the game.

 Locals welcomed the tourists by suggesting their favorite restaurants to visit. 

“Helping tourists know where to go. What the favorite local spot is, whether that’s a restaurant or a microbrewery, that makes all the difference to tourists and visitors here in Albuquerque,” Lara said on the importance of welcoming tourists.

Fresno State was heavily favored to win the game, but faced stiff resistance from the UTEP. The Bulldogs managed to come away victorious, beating the Miners 31-24.