FIESTA BOWL BY THE NUMBERS

posted by Michael Chihak

By DIANA SOKOLOVA, Arizona Week intern

Robert Shelton will get a slight increase in total compensation when he leaves the presidency of the University of Arizona to become executive director of the Fiesta Bowl.

Shelton now earns $470,000 in base salary, a $50,000 housing bonus and another $94,600 in benefits, according to the Arizona Republic. At the Fiesta Bowl, he will be paid $455,000 in base salary, plus benefits that will bring his total compensation to $620,000, the Fiesta Bowl says.

Fired Fiesta Bowl executive director John Junker made $673,88 in fiscal 2010. He was fired after being accused of excessive spending and questionable spending for political influence.

The bowl’s economic impact in Arizona is more than $230 million a year, according to a report in the Arizona Republic. During the bowl’s 41-year history, the Fiesta Bowl and its surrounding events have generated more than $3 billion in economic impact in the state, the Fiesta Bowl estimated.

The Fiesta Bowl organization oversees two annual college football bowl games, the Fiesta Bowl and the Insight Bowl, and 40 other events. It also is part of the collegiate Bowl Championship Series network, hosting the national collegiate football championship every four years.

The Fiesta Bowl reports that in its 41-year history, more than 3 million out-of-state visitors have traveled to Arizona for it and surrounding events. The Fiesta Bowl has hosted a record seven national championship games.

The BCS national championship game drew 78,603 to University of Phoenix Stadium in January, the biggest crowd in the stadium's history, the Fiesta Bowl reported.