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(Super Bowl Sunday cont.)
350 million – Net economic impact in dollars the Super Bowl will have on Houston.
84,000 – Number of hotel rooms in the Houston area, up from around 44,000 in 2004 the last time Houston hosted the game.
The point: All of this people movement adds up to an extra 140 thousand out of town visitors, a total of a million superbowl tourists, and 10 thousand volunteers all across at least 84 thousand hotel rooms. The increased transient population, anonymity, hotel environment, and increased alcohol and drug use, and increased cash flow all provide the necessary ingredients to sustain the economy of sex trafficking.
Silver Linings: This year there are reports of 6 minors and 86 adults rescued as part of police operations in Houston which were timed in coordination with the event. As many as 750 people were arrested in sex-trafficking sting operations.
Remaining Controversy: Opinions remain divided regarding how accurate estimates surrounding Superbowl associated sex trafficking really are. Sports Illustrated goes as far as to call it "The Super Bowl Sex-Trafficking Myth", relating the story of an innocent game-goer subjected to investigation. A 2011 GAATW study found no link between the two, while a 2016 Carnegie Mellon Univ. found that the event did draw sex workers to host cities. Police and FBI continue to organize targeted stings with high arrest and rescue yield surrounding the event.
What do you think? Comments?
Email Noona.Leavell@gmail.com
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