• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Editor's Pick Super Bowl fans are flooding Vegas with cash. Don’t bet on a big windfall for workers.
Editor's Pick

Super Bowl fans are flooding Vegas with cash. Don’t bet on a big windfall for workers.

by February 14, 2024
by February 14, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

Big spenders are set to boost Las Vegas service workers’ earnings during Super Bowl weekend, but maybe not by much.

Sin City expects to host more than 330,000 visitors as the San Francisco 49ers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL’s title game on Sunday.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority expects the matchup to generate $600 million in economic impact for the city, though the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the broader payoff can take time to be fully realized, estimating Arizona’s statewide haul at $1.3 billion after Phoenix hosted last year.

Follow along for live coverage of Super Bowl 58

Much of that will come from attendance at Allegiant Stadium itself, where the least expensive seat was going for $5,700 on StubHub by Friday morning and the priciest neared $19,000. After fans splurged for a place in the stands, some stadium workers fear even the most well-heeled among them may not have much to spare for their tip jars — especially at a time of widespread “tipflation” fatigue.

Gamblers at Caesars Sports Book at Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Feb. 12, 2023 .George Rose / Getty Images file

“Honestly, because of the price of the seats, I’m hoping they’ll have enough to even give us tips,” stadium employee Michael Santa Cruz said with a laugh.

The 63-year-old refreshment stand worker was taking a few days to rest up before clocking in 6:30 a.m. Sunday for the big game, where he’ll work until 9 at night.

Michael Santa Cruz.Courtesy Culinary Workers Union Local 226

“We’re assuming the people that come there have money,” he said, but “we’ve had people by the same token that come in and say, ‘Wow, $18 for a beer!?’ and they’ll walk away and they won’t tip us.”

“It’s understandable,” added Santa Cruz, who has worked at the stadium — the home of the Las Vegas Raiders — since July 2020 earning $13 an hour.

Beyond the arena, visitors will be shelling out on everything from souvenirs to a small galaxy of game-related festivities, such as a “Super Bowl Experience” at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center ($50 tickets) and “Shaq’s Fun House,” a Shaquille O’Neal-fronted poolside nightclub with carnival games and music (tickets start at $149.99). Fans heading to Vegas expressly for the Super Bowl are forecast to drop about $215 million on food, drinks, hotels and football swag alone, the Chamber estimates.

Because of the price of the seats, I’m hoping they’ll have enough to even give us tips.

Michael Santa Cruz, ALLEGIANT STADIUM WORKER

Many will be paying top dollar, which could help juice earnings for the more than 300,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas, industry experts said.

“Historically, we see that when room rates are high in the city, it attracts consumers with higher disposable incomes, which translates into higher tips,” said Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor of hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Average daily rates for Vegas hotels hit $570 for the Friday before the game (the most expensive night), more than twice the $220 average when the city hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix last fall, according to Hotels.com.

But because most local hospitality workers are union members whose pay is dictated by contracts, “it does not necessarily translate to higher salaries for line-level workers,” Belarmino said, though “it will enable some part-time union workers to get more hours.”

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents over 60,000 Las Vegas hospitality employees — from bartenders and guest room attendants to laundry and kitchen staff at resort casinos on and off the Strip — reached tentative contract agreements with major operators days ahead of the Super Bowl. The deals are expected to push the average member’s earnings up from around $28 an hour, including their benefits, to $37 an hour including benefits over five years, said union spokeswoman Bethany Khan.

The Formula 1 race in November was a warmup. No one knows what to expect from the Super Bowl.

Richard Samuels, General Manager of Omni Limousine

Santa Cruz, who works for a food and beverage contractor at the stadium and is involved in efforts to join the culinary union, said he’s hoping to “break at least $350” in tips on Sunday but added, “That’s not a guarantee.” He said he typically pulls in around $200 in gratuities during NFL games.

Allegiant Stadium was early to embrace the digital card readers that have become a growing source of tips for many retail and service workers. But as those systems proliferate, consumers are getting sick of their ubiquitous tipping prompts — and often have no trouble ignoring them, NBC News has reported.

For workers at restaurants that use Square’s payment system, the growth of tips as a share of take-home pay is slower in Sin City than elsewhere, the company said. It rose there just 3 percentage points since 2020 to hit 20%, versus a 5-percentage-point gain topping out at 21% nationwide.

Vegas restaurant workers’ overall compensation also lags the national average, according to Square. Their median base pay of $13 is about $1 shy of the U.S. rate, and the gap widens to $1.50 after tips and overtime, which clock in around $16.17 in the metro area. However, Square said restaurant staffers’ earnings in the city are growing faster than they are nationally.

To help encourage nonunion tip-earners to work Super Bowl weekend, some Las Vegas employers are charging customers extra.

On top of surge pricing, Uber is adding a $10 surcharge for rides to the stadium on Sunday afternoon, rising to $25 in the evening, that it says will go straight to drivers. Lyft said it was “planning increased incentives for drivers the week of the game” but no additional fees for stadium trips.

Many employers in Vegas already require fixed-rate gratuities, potentially making the promise of tips during the Super Bowl no better or worse than on any other day.

Omni Limousine, which has a fleet of 90 vehicles, hasn’t raised rates for this weekend but was fully booked for the big game five months ago, “mostly by our regular corporate and celebrity customers,” said general manager Richard Samuels.

The company charges an automatic 20% chauffeur gratuity on all rides, and drivers can still accept additional cash tips, Samuels said.

“The Formula 1 race in November was a warmup,” he said. “No one knows what to expect from the Super Bowl.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Affirm announces JPMorgan Chase merchants can now offer installment loans at checkout
  • Southwest Airlines is now limiting a service that lets passengers buy a better spot in the boarding line
  • What the Clorox products’ shortage means for you
  • IoT Analytics: 5 IoT sensor technologies to watch
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Secretary Austin released from hospital after treatment for bladder issue
next post
President Biden’s first term foreign policy called a ‘fiasco’ by expert

You may also like

Judge allows lawsuit over Burger King’s Whopper ads to move...

May 7, 2025

There’s been a ‘meaningful shift’ in CEO confidence since Trump’s...

January 15, 2025

McDonald’s $5 value meal is coming in June — and...

May 17, 2024

Feds decline to recall vulnerable Hyundai and Kia vehicles despite...

June 29, 2023

Walgreens announces price cuts on 1,300 items amid ongoing consumer...

May 30, 2024

Jenny Craig tells employees it will shut its doors after...

May 5, 2023

Dow closes more than 570 points higher to post best...

June 1, 2024

U.S. bans imports of certain Apple Watches that may infringe...

December 28, 2023

Tesla reports 336,000 vehicle deliveries in first quarter, 13% drop...

April 2, 2025

McDonald’s reportedly temporarily shuts its U.S. corporate offices ahead of...

April 3, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right Now

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025
    • U.S. foreign tax bill sends jitters across Wall Street

      May 30, 2025
    • Amazon taps Xbox co-founder to lead new team developing ‘breakthrough’ consumer products

      May 30, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,765 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,472 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,451 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,432 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,308 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,581)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right...

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,581)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Joann Fabrics and Crafts files for...

    March 21, 2024

    Rite Aid bankruptcy means pharmacies will...

    October 17, 2023

    Digital health companies pummeled by Wall...

    December 26, 2024
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here