Tulane and UF's football teams arrive in Tampa ahead of Gasparilla Bowl

Tulane University and the University of Florida football teams arrived in Tampa on Monday, Dec. 16, ahead of the Gasparilla Bowl, which is being played on Friday, Dec. 20.

The Green Wave flew in from New Orleans Monday morning, and players were greeted by YMKG pirates and beads.

Gasparilla pirates greet college football players as they get off a plane in Tampa ahead of Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.

Gasparilla pirates greet college football players as they get off a plane in Tampa ahead of the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.

Fifteen players on Tulane’s roster are from Florida, including former Plant City High School wide receiver Mario Williams.

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"Most of my people, most of my family, are going to be there," Williams told FOX 13 News. "Excited to get out there in front of my people and showcase my talent."

The UF football team arrived around 5 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the JW Marriott on Water St. in downtown Tampa to a similar Tampa-style welcome with pirates and beads. 

The Green Wave and the Gators will face off at Raymond James Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20. 

This week, both teams will participate in a planned visit to Busch Gardens, an event with Feeding Tampa Bay, and an appearance at MacDill AFB.

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As for the winner of the bowl game itself, we already know that it’s Tampa Bay’s economy

Tulane football players on 'Gasparilla' themed boat leaving Tampa International Airport.

Tulane football players on a ‘Gasparilla’ themed boat leaving Tampa International Airport.

"Well, heads and beds, right? Tourism. We're talking about bringing people to Tampa Bay," Gasparilla Bowl executive director Scott Glaser said. "They're spending their dollars in our hotels. They're renting cars or eating in our restaurants."

Less than two weeks after the Gasparilla Bowl, Raymond James Stadium will host the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve, with Alabama taking on Michigan. 

Those two teams played each other in the College Football Playoff last year, with the Wolverines winning the national championship.

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"Those are two of the biggest brands in college football," USF Sarasota-Manatee associate professor of instruction of economics Dr. Michael Snipes said. "So I would expect both fanbases to really travel for that."

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According to bowl organizers, the ReliaQuest Bowl attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Tampa Bay every year. Throughout the bowl’s history, fans have generated an estimated $1.2 billion economic impact on the region. 

According to local economists, Tampa’s hotels and restaurants will come out on top, thanks to all these fans, regardless of who they’re rooting for. 

"They're going to need a car. They're going to need an Uber. They're going to need all of these different things," Snipes told FOX 13 News. "And in some sense, it kind of creates a little localized kind of temporary economy in its own sense."

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