Boating industry's 'Super Bowl' brings in billions for Florida economy

For the "Venice of America," its annual boat show – the largest in-water boating event in the world – is like the city’s own Super Bowl.

"This boat show more than doubles the economic impact than the Super Bowl. People think the Super Bowl is this mega-economic attraction, and indeed it is, but the boat show far surpasses that sometimes twice, two-and-a-half times," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis told FOX News Digital. "And it's a fun thing that everybody can participate in."

Over the course of five sunny days each fall, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show attracts more than 100,000 ticket holders and represents the full spectrum of the boating industry, from smaller sporting vessels to mega yachts.

While the inaugural event in 1959 was a more modest affair featuring just 13 boats, today, the city says the event generates over $1.8 billion for the economy, raking in more than $800 million in boat sales.