Outside Graceland you can feel a buzz in the air. Fans from every corner of the globe are descending on Memphis for Elvis Week 2011. But, with the U.S. economy still in dire straits and many people still pinching pennies, how will money woes affect this year’s celebration?
Wisconsin resident Tony Wierzba says, "You've got to spend money to keep the economy going." Kevin Kern with Elvis Presley Enterprises says each year more than 600,000 people enter the front door of Graceland, "Elvis is almost recession proof." "We’re very fortunate Memphis is an international destination and that's primarily because of Elvis, there's a reason they call him the king," he went on to say.
Elvis fan Carlo Martini says, "You only life once in this world and I spend money on visiting Elvis and paying a special tribute." And that translates into big and much needed dollars, not just for Graceland, but the whole city. Kern says the anniversaries ending in a 0 or 5 attract the most visitors, "Next year will be beyond belief and huge."
Good news for the city and those who call Memphis their second home.