The Birmingham City Council approved the city’s annual purchase of 1,200 University of Alabama at Birmingham football tickets during its meeting Tuesday.

Councilor Hunter Williams said the $200,000 expenditure not only promotes the university football program, it supports the tourism industry.

Williams said a recent Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau report showed hotel room rates for the city were up about 12.5%, while other cities are seeing declining rates.

“All these little things do make an impact and reimburse us well beyond what … we’re paying for events like this,” Williams said.

The city’s tickets to Blazers’ games are distributed to be used by employees, youth groups and neighborhood associations.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, councilors approved accepting a $372,482 bid to remove the temporary traffic calming barricades and other measures that have been installed in the East Lake area. Transportation Director James Fowler, under questioning by Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, said more than a dozen permanent barricades would be built and landscaping and trees planted.