07.24.18
Posted in 2010 Games, Business Impacts, World Equestrian Games at 9:31 pm by Thomas
I ran across a recent article discussing the ongoing positive impacts of the 2010 World Equestrian Games on Central Kentucky. The article just published this week in the Blue Ridge Now out of Hendersonville, North Carolina was titled, World Equestrian Games: Kentucky still feeling impact from 2010 event.
What was interesting was the fact that just 2 weeks before I had been to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Junior League Horse Show and had remarked on how I felt the Horse Park continued to benefit from WEG. The Junior League Horse Show had previously been held at the Red Mile in downtown Lexington since the early 20th Century and is the longest running outdoor Horse Show in the United States. It was moved to the the Rolex Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park to maintain that record and though there were many concerns raised about it being moved I for one found that it was an improvement in multiple ways having it at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Rolex Arena had been upgraded for WEG and continues to pay dividends in the events it attracts and should do so for years to come. So check out the article in Blue Ridge Now for a good perspective on the impact of the Games now that enough time has past to provide a more objective view on their impact to the Central Kentucky Area.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas P. Demond
KyWEGO®
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06.27.11
Posted in 2010 Games, Announcement, Business Impacts, Government, Governor Beshear, World Equestrian Games at 10:35 pm by Thomas
Report: Visitors to event came from 63 countries, all 50 states
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 27, 2011) – The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games held in 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park had an economic impact of $201.5 million, Governor Steve Beshear announced today.
“The World Equestrian Games were indeed a success and this report illustrates the positive result that our local and state governments, our sponsors, the many volunteers, the business community and the citizens of the Commonwealth working together can have.” Gov. Beshear said. “It also underscores the important role of the Kentucky Horse Park and the legacy the games will have for future years.”
Gov. Beshear, First Lady Jane Beshear, Alltech founder Dr. Pearse Lyons, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow and Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson participated in the announcement today at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“The World Equestrian Games was a unique opportunity to reaffirm our standing as Horse Capital of the World, as well as promote tourism and business in Kentucky,” said Mrs. Beshear. “To witness the event first-hand, from its inception to the closing ceremony of the final day, I am thrilled with its success and want to thank everyone who took part in creating and executing such a tremendous, historic event for our state.”
The Alltech World Equestrian Games were held Sept. 25 through Oct. 10, 2010, the first time the international event had been held outside of Europe. The games are composed of eight events – dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para dressage, reining and vaulting.
According to the report commissioned by the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Alltech World Equestrian Games Foundation reported that it sold or provided complimentary tickets to 419,853 visitors. They came from 63 countries and all 50 states.
The economic impact took into account “direct” spending that accounted for $128.2 million. This includes guest spending at the Horse Park, lodging, restaurants, shopping centers and retail outlets.
It also considered “indirect” spending – $73.3 million – such as money spent for food and lodging suppliers, construction and other services that were needed to support the influx of guests.
The report found that $55.4 million was spent on tickets, food, souvenirs and other items at the event while $39.6 million was spent on lodging. The games also generated nearly $18.4 million in state taxes and nearly $4.6 million in local taxes, the report said.
“While these financial impact numbers are quite impressive and stronger than even anticipated, the impact extends far beyond the monetary evaluation,” said Dr. Lyons. “For years to come, our community will reap the benefits of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, from a new sense of community pride to statewide improvements and infrastructures that continue to drive tourism today.”
The study was conducted for the cabinet by Certec Inc. of Versailles. Information for the study was supplied by the World Games 2010 Foundation Inc., the Kentucky Horse Park, and the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. An online version of the report is available at http://www.kentuckytourism.com/industry/research.aspx.
“The investment Gov. Beshear and the legislature made here at the Horse Park has already made this facility the best in the nation for equine-related events and organizations,” Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said. “The visibility the Games brought to our city and the investments the state made in Lexington to help our city host the Games – road improvements, a much improved gateway into our city and a new runway at the airport – have elevated Lexington’s brand as the Horse Capital of the World. The legacy and the economic impact of the Games have been remarkable.”
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games had a direct impact on passenger travel at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport. In October 2010, passenger enplanements increased by 39 percent from the previous year, according to the airport’s 2010 annual report.
The airport and its partners hosted more than 700 private and corporate airplanes, provided security for international dignitaries, welcomed more than 460 international athletes and facilitated 18 special event charter flights, said Eric Frankl, executive director at Blue Grass Airport
“It was a privilege for the airport to serve as the gateway to central Kentucky for World Equestrian Games visitors,” he said. “The airport experienced one of its busiest months in airport history as a result of the collaborative effort put forth by our airlines, airport partners and staff to successfully handle an event of this magnitude.”
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Follow Governor Beshear on Twitter @Govstevebeshear, read the Governor’s personal notes on his blog at http://blog.governor.ky.gov/ , and view the Governor’s weekly YouTube commentary at http://www.youtube.com/governorbeshear.
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10.19.10
Posted in 2010 Games, Business Impacts, World Equestrian Games at 6:06 pm by Press Release
LEXINGTON, KY—In addition to an incredible host city and state, the world’s best athletes, and the friendliest volunteer workforce in the world, it took a lot to stage the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Here’s a look at the 16 days of September 25 through October 10, by the numbers:
507,022 attendees
16,800 feet of bike barricade
8 miles of linear fencing
396 temporary structures
70 temporary power generators
59 miles of electrical cable
20,000 temporary seats
more than 11,000 signs placed around the park
500 flags
30,000 feet of extension cord
632 athletes
752 horses
58 countries
More than 100,000 servings of Kentucky Ale brand beers poured
1,734 Maker’s Mark bottles dipped in red wax at the station inside the Kentucky Experience
175,220 pounds of recyclable and compostable materials removed from the park
56 percent of waste diverted from landfills through green initiatives
500 temporary toilet facilities
7.6 million page views to the Games web site from September 25 through October 10
193 countries represented in web site visitors
62,707 school children visited the Games thanks to Alltech
79,802 Facebook fans…and still counting!
6,000 AWESOME volunteers
1.1 million meals served to spectators, staff, athletes and volunteers
112,368 cars parked
326,260 trips to and from the Games taken through the main entry transport mall
16,000 caps, 5,000 walking sticks, and 1,000 saddle pads sold in the merchandise store
11 months– youngest credentialed person; the son of press officers John and Heather Strassburger
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