The Ole Miss-LSU football weekend generated roughly $109 million in the city of Oxford.
A report from Visit Oxford found that between Sept. 17 and Sept. 20, the city welcomed around 229,000 visitors, up 44.2% from the same weekend in 2025 when the Rebels hosted Tulane in football. This year, Ole Miss got revenge on former head coach Lane Kiffin and his Tigers in a 32-24 final.
The report found that many guests traveled through downtown Oxford multiple times over the four‑day period. Oxford recorded approximately 428,000 total visits to local businesses. A Sept. 17 concert by country superstar Ella Langley played a role in the success of the weekend.
“Oxford shines brightest when our community comes together,” Mayor Robyn Tannehill said. “Large‑scale weekends like this rely on coordination across many teams, and I’m grateful for the dedication of our city staff, Ole Miss, and our local businesses. We are committed to maintaining a visitor experience that reflects the hospitality and heart of our community.”
Officials were able to calculate the economic impact the Ole Miss-LSU game had on the city by monitoring lodging, dining, retail, and transportation transactions, along with other visitor spending habits.
“Oxford takes tremendous pride in creating a welcoming environment for all of our visitors,” Visit Oxford Executive Director Kinney Ferris said. “Our partnership with local business, hotels, restaurants, Ole Miss and our city teams ensure that every major event weekend runs smoothly with clear communication and helpful information. It’s this collaboration that makes Oxford such a special place to visit.”
Surrounding communities including Batesville, New Albany, Tupelo, and Memphis, also benefited from the highly sought-after game as visitors to Oxford booked hotel rooms, rental cars and flights, purchased tailgate provisions, and dined before and after venturing to the college town for the game.