The spectacular growth of the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) has had an enormous impact on Austin. SXSW is a ten day festival that consists of music, film and interactive media events that got its start back in 1987. It has grown every year bringing in groups, businesses and spectators from around the world. The economic impact to the local economy has grown more than forecasted but there is a worry that this growth will peak and tap out local resources, making Austin confront the festival's future. Consulting firm, Greyhill Advisors has been tracking the economic impact of SXSW for the past decade, stated that the impact of the 2014 festival on the city of Austin’s economy to be a staggering $315 million. This total was almost $100 million more than in 2013 (Solomon, Economic Impact). Part of the growth can be attributed to the costs of admission and the surge in attendance. Back in 1987 a wristband to attend the music events cost $10. This past year a “walk up” platinum badge to gain access to all three conferences ran as high as $1,745 (sxsw.com/attend). Attendance has grown from around a thousand music lovers to over eighty thousand attendees of all events this past year (McGaughy). Festival Interactive director, Hugh Forrest told the Austin Business Journal that the economic figure is roughly 65% of the impact that a city like New Orleans sees from hosting the Super Bowl and it is nearly a third of the net impact that the 2012 Olympics had on London (Economic Impact). Take into account that the Super Bowl changes host cities every year and many of those cities like Dallas and San Francisco have built billion dollar stadiums to even be considered. The cost of hosting the Olympics and building or making improvements to its infrastructure is usually more than the economic impact. Cities tend to hope that by hosting those events that there is a bigger impact enhancing the city’s standing on the world stage. Because Austin hosts SXSW every year, both the cultural prestige and the economic impact that the festival brings to the city are permanent. SXSW has had a huge impact on Austin from an international viewpoint with over five hundred international acts participating this year. Groups gain valuable exposure by coming to SXSW. Mumiy