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Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER — Organizers of the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge said Tuesday that the weeklong bicycle race attracted more than 1 million spectators and brought $83.5 million to Colorado.
Levi Leipheimer won the 518-mile race in August, which included 25 hours of national television coverage and reached an international audience of more than 150 countries and territories.
Photo gallery from the prologue in Colorado Springs
The economic impact study was conducted by IFM, a global sports research firm. Among other findings, the firm reported nearly one-quarter of the spectators came from out of state.
More than $67 million was generated from direct spending by traveling spectators on lodging, food, transportation and entertainment, IFM said. The remainder came from team, staff, sponsor and vendor spending, employment created by the event and resulting tax effects of the race.
The race covered more than 500 miles of Colorado terrain, including Aspen, Avon, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, Denver, Gunnison, Salida and Steamboat Springs.
The study found that the average size of groups watching the race was large, averaging five people, and the average household income of attendees was $113,918. The study found that nearly 85 percent of those visiting from out-of-state said they would return to Colorado because of their experience at the bike race.
Next year’s race will be held Aug. 20-26. |
