Pacquiao/Cotto Fight Could Help Vegas Economy

It's the fight everybody has been waiting for:  Pacquiao/Cotto will pack them in.

Big time boxing arrives back in Las Vegas this weekend and it's just the economic boost this gambling Mecca needs.

Saturday night is "Fight Night" at the MGM Grand Garden with a title bout so significant the mayor has given both fighters a key to the city, reports Steve Crupi of News 3 HD.

Visitors from around the globe are coming to see Manny Pacquiao fight Miguel Cotto on Saturday night.  This is helping to fill rooms in Vegas where the supply outweighs the demand and has helped to push rates way down.

Gambling911.com looked at hotel rates for this weekend and discovered that there are still plenty of bargains to be had.

Most Saturday stays will cost in the neighborhood of $130 to $175 for a 3 star Vegas Strip hotel.  Sunday night stays dip into the $30 to $50 range.

The Excalibur Hotel for example featured rates of $131 on Friday night, $171 on Saturday night and $41 on Sunday night.

The Monte Carlo was going for $186 Saturday night.

The top class hotels were looking to make significant money by charging $399 and up both Friday and Saturday night.  The Venetian and Bellagio were both offering these rates. 

Many of the travelers were expected to come in from Asia, specifically Pacquiao's home country of the Philippines.  But Vegas is also relying on high rollers from the Far East.

Then there are the restaurants.

Pinoy Pinay, a local Filipino restaurant on East Sahara, has welcomed Manny Pacquiao as a customer many times. And right now, their business is buzzing with anticipation.

"There's an economic benefit as well (to) our restaurant," Van Tirona tells News 3 HD.

The Vegas bookmakers also look to see heavy action on the Pacquiao/Cotto fight.

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