BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – The 18th Anniversary Celebration^Th The Birmingham Bowl is already in full swing.

Candy Rock, a local cover band, took the Fan Fest stage before Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt pep rallies at 1 p.m.

A day before the kick-off scheduled for Friday at 2:30 p.m., many excited football fans gathered outside to celebrate.

Annette Johnson arrived on Tuesday. Her son, Jamal Haynes, plays running back for Georgia Tech.

When asked who will win the Birmingham Bowl this year, she didn’t hesitate: “Georgia Tech, go Jackets!”

Rachel Monnin and her family traveled from Ohio. Her son Adam Monnin plays trumpet for the Yellow Jacket Marching Band.

“We’re here for two nights,” she explained. “Came before the game and then we’ll celebrate a bit after the game.”

This is great news for the Westin and Sheraton hotels, whose locations allow fans to walk to Protective Stadium. The Georgia Tech football team also lives here.

“We’re definitely seeing fans come and stay,” said Kristin Williams, marketing and sales manager for the Westin and Sheraton. “I also think it’s because of all the events going on at the Birmingham Bowl, like tonight is Fan Fest and tomorrow is Tail Gate. That drives fans to want to stay longer.”

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Georgia Tech graduate Atif Khan drove to the Birmingham Bowl with his family from Gainesville, Florida.

It’s my first time going to a bowl game and I wanted the family to be a part of it too,” Khan said.

Khan says they’ll be eating out a lot of meals while staying in an Airbnb, which is good news for local restaurants like Mugshots Grill and Bar, which reportedly had enough staff to handle the expected crowds.

According to the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Birmingham Bowl has generated more than $181 million in economic impact for the Birmingham region since its launch in 2006.

While some people might just go there for a day, other fans make it a two or three day trip.

Paul Dangel, sales manager at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – the Winfrey Hotel, where the Vanderbilt football team is staying, says they were completely sold out Thursday night.

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