Many visitors have already arrived and the numbers will climb as the 98th Grey Cup game approaches.
An expected 30,000 will converge on Edmonton this weekend, according to Travel Alberta CEO Bruce Okabe.
And game-goers without a place to stay may run out of luck.
Many hotels are full already, with reservations coming in as early as two months ago, according to staff at the downtown Sutton Place Hotel, where there are 313 rooms.
Things aren’t much different in the south of the city, where all 85 rooms at the Days Inn South Edmonton are taken.
The Coast Edmonton East Hotel in Sherwood Park still has a few rooms available, as does the Delta Edmonton Centre in the heart of the city.
The economic benefit from last year’s game in Calgary was $81 million, and Okabe is expecting at least that much — if not more — since Rider nation has rolled into town.
“It’s a microcosm of what’s happening in the city,” said Okabe.
A total of 14 million are expected to tune in on television, taking in Canada’s largest single sporting event.
