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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Robinson

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/05/06

HB

SHORT TITLE National and International Sporting Events

SB 438

ANALYST Earnest

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$250.0 Non-recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Tourism Department (TD)

Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)

Response Not Received From

Sports Authority (SA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 438 appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to the NM Sports Authority to

host and promote national and international sporting events in New Mexico.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250 thousand contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the gen-

eral fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007

shall revert to the general fund.

Senate Bill 438 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

This appropriation will be used to help bring at least two international world class rugby compe-

titions to New Mexico, specifically to be played at University Stadium on the campus of the Uni-

versity of New Mexico.

RLD indicates that the USA Sevens is the largest international rugby tournament in North Amer-

ica, and has featured teams from 16 nations. The tournament has a festival atmosphere that car-

ries its enormous spectator appeal. The Sports Authority would pursue this or other rugby tour-

naments with this funding. The skill, intensity and excitement of rugby and the growing fan base

will be a welcome edition to the sporting events available in New Mexico. The Rugby Super

League was developed as a result of the desire for more visibility for the sport of rugby through-

out the United States. New Mexico provides an ideal location and atmosphere to join the grow-

ing trend of rugby fans. Bringing World Class International Rugby Competition to New Mexico

is well within the realm of the statutory structure of the Sports Authority. .

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Given its small staff of 3 FTE and current activities, it is not clear if the Sports Authority can al-

locate staff resources to pursue these events.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

RLD notes that the Sports Authority was created to develop a state-wide strategic plan for re-

cruiting and retaining all forms of professional and amateur sporting events and for identifying

existing infrastructure for sporting activities and partnering opportunities between private and

public entities.

BE/nt