BOISE- Both the Double Tree Hotel and The Grove Hotel saw a flurry of fans Monday as Idaho Vandals and the Bowling Green Falcons arrived.

Elvis Sanderson came to see his son play on Wednesday. He says there's a good group of fans coming in but the economy and cost of travel from Ohio has hindered a lot of loyal fans who wanted to come.

"I had to pay the ticket that was $1,200," he said. "It's very costly to come out here."

A sales manager at the Double Tree says even though things are down, there are about 80 rooms booked with the Falcons. That is better than when the hotel hosted Nevada during last year's Humanitarian Bowl.

"Seems like the economy is affecting us," he said. "However, with every school there are always the loyal fans and family and they'll follow the team."

And there seems to be a very big group following the Vandals to Boise from all over the state. The Grove Hotel is hosting Idaho and has been booked solid since Christmas with about three-fourths Vandal players, coaches and fans.

Jonathan Wood, general manager, says the hotel didn't fill up all their rooms last year. But with local interest this year, it's a different story.

"Its a great vibe here in the hotel," he said. "Everyone's rooting for a common goal."

A common goal for businesses in the Treasure Valley during the typically slow post-Christmas period is to have a boost in sales.

Bobbie Patterson, executive director with the Boise Visitor's Bureau, says that in addition to the $2 million infusion from the Humanitarian Bowl committee, the boost in fans flooding into the area means big increases in some industry's revenue.

"They all stay in hotels and spend money and eat in restaurants and rent cars and do those kinds of things so its impact is really pretty big," she said.