2013 Worlds generate $42.6 million in economic activity (per Skate Canada)

[ice coverage]

2013 Worlds generate $42.6 million in economic activity (per Skate Canada)

2013 Worlds generate $42.6 million in economic activity (per Skate Canada)

OTTAWA, ON: It has been nearly four months since Skate Canada hosted the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships® from March 11-17, 2013 at the Budweiser Gardens and Western Fair Sport Centre in London, Ontario. The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) conducted an economic impact analysis on the event and released its findings today.
With a number of sold-out sessions, the championships had a total attendance of 62,395, with 74% of the seats being occupied by out of town visitors. Through the use of an on-site survey, it was found that visitors had an average stay of six nights, with international visitors spent over $1,000/person and Canadian visitors spent just over $785. In total, the direct spending of visitors in London was in excess of $5 million during the week. The spending of spectators was combined with expenditures made by other visitors (participants, dignitaries, media members) as well as the spending made by Skate Canada to stage the event and capital spending on improvements to city infrastructure.
In total, $20.7 million was spent in London as a result of hosting the event which generated $42.6 million in economic activity throughout Ontario, of which $32.1 million was in London. The event supported 213 jobs in London paying $9.6 million in wages and salaries, with an additional 48 jobs and $3.0 million in wages being supported in the rest of the province. The net economic activity (GDP) supported by the event was $23.2 million, of which $17.2 million occurred in London. ....

More at:

http://www.skatecanada.ca/AboutUs/NewsDetails/tabid/2157/sni[2797]/2745/language/en-US/Default.aspx​

 

[bebevia]

With a number of sold-out sessions, the championships had a total attendance of 62,395, with 74% of the seats being occupied by out of town visitors.

So, a quarter of the total attendees was Londoners, which means about 4~5%=one in every 20~25 of the city's population attended. Take the babies out, assume majority were teens to seniors, went in average of two per attendant family, that makes... what, one household in every 10 households? That sounds like a pretty supportive local. (Of course, it's a product of my lazy stats due to headache; no credentials; anyone can correct me.)

 

[Mathman]

Glowing reports from tourism-boosting organizations have to be taken with a grain of salt. The main objective of the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance is to "market Canada internationally as a preferred sport tourism destination."

 

[ice coverage]

So, a quarter of the total attendees was Londoners, which means about 4~5%=one in every 20~25 of the city's population attended. Take the babies out, assume majority were teens to seniors, went in average of two per attendant family, that makes... what, one household in every 10 households? That sounds like a pretty supportive local. (Of course, it's a product of my lazy stats due to headache; no credentials; anyone can correct me.)

Thx, bebevia. If the total attendance of 62,395 refers to unique attendees, then your calculation looks valid to me, based on 306,785 as the total population of London (age 15 years and over), per the 2011 Census.

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/mobile/2011/cp-pr/table-eng.cfm?SGC=3539036​

But I have a feeling that repeat attendees who had tix to more than one session are counted more than once in the 62K?? hwell:

ETA:

BTW, "private dwellings occupied by usual residents" = 153,630.​

​

Glowing reports from tourism-boosting organizations have to be taken with a grain of salt. The main objective of the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance is to "market Canada internationally as a preferred sport tourism destination."

Yes, of course. :yes:

 

[Dragonlady]

London is hugely into skating, and Virtue and Moir are from London which would add to the appeal. We usually joke that the Moir family alone could fill half the rink.

 

[Olympia]

Man, I want to live in London!

 

[tommyk75]

It's sad that so little of the money went to the most important people of the event: the skaters.

 

[Mathman]

By the way, this same organization reports that Canada has risen to number two on the "2013 Global Sports Nation Index."

http://canadiansporttourism.com/news/canada-surges-2nd-overall-host-nation.html

Number one is China. China, however, is not as far ahead of the pack as in previous years because of their new policy of promoting "Sports for All" instead of emphasis on hosting international championships.

 

[vintagefigureskater]

Glowing reports from tourism-boosting organizations have to be taken with a grain of salt. The main objective of the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance is to "market Canada internationally as a preferred sport tourism destination."

Yep. Here's an article that explains how the numbers are arrived at: Visitors to London event spent about $5 million in the city, not $20 million

In its original press release, Skate Canada boasts that, “In total, $20.7 million was spent in London as a result of hosting the event.”

But a closer look reveals that visitors spent about $5 million, including about $2.9 million on accommodation, about $1 million on food and slightly more than $1 million on groceries, entertainment, shopping and transportation.

So how do those figures add up to $20.7 million?

Turns out that number includes Skate Canada’s $12.9 million “expenditure budget,” which was spent on items such as the venue rental, equipment rentals, the construction of temporary facilities, travel expenses and Skate Canada staff wages.

“Not all of that ($12.9 million) would have been spent in London,” says Stell-Buckingham. “But a good chunk of it was.”

 

[ice coverage]

Yep. Here's an article that explains how the numbers are arrived at: Visitors to London event spent about $5 million in the city, not $20 million

2013 Worlds generate $42.6 million in economic activity (per Skate Canada)

OTTAWA, ON: It has been nearly four months since Skate Canada hosted the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships® from March 11-17, 2013 at the Budweiser Gardens and Western Fair Sport Centre in London, Ontario. The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) conducted an economic impact analysis on the event and released its findings today. ....
In total, the direct spending of visitors in London was in excess of $5 million during the week. ....​

For the record, the Skate Canada press release in the OP puts the $5 million amount front and center. It's not as if Skate Canada were trying to hide that figure.

That said, yes, it is only natural that Skate Canada and CSTA would do their best to put a positive spin on their numbers.
Any other host federation would do so as well. :yes:

It's sad that so little of the money went to the most important people of the event: the skaters.

Well, to play devil's advocate:
Each time the Olympic Games are held, many entities make money from them. But no Olympic athletes (in any sport) receive money from the LOC or IOC. (Whether individual countries award money to their own athletes is a separate and non-analogous issue.)

London is hugely into skating, and Virtue and Moir are from London which would add to the appeal. We usually joke that the Moir family alone could fill half the rink.

And multiple Moirs volunteered to take on significant LOC responsibilities for London Worlds. (Based on his past efforts on behalf of Skate Canada, I wouldn't be surprised if Papa Virtue did too.)

 

[FSGMT]

It's sad that so little of the money went to the most important people of the event: the skaters.

 

[GF2445]

As much as I want to see prize money for skaters increase, It's all up to the ISU.

The profits made for 2013 worlds was due to the organising skating federation, skate Canada as well as other Canadian governments and organisations and not the ISU.
Athlete funding is solely the responsibility of the ISU and not the organising committees of the hosting nation.

Maybe reduce the prize money for the WTT and redistribute it amongst other competitions.

 

[bebevia]

As far as the prizes are concerned, hard to say.

In case of the 2013 Worlds, the single skating Gold medalists each got $45,000; around 50% more for each of dance/pair teams. The prizes go all the way down to top 12, which the amounts I'm not sure about. Total WTT prize is $1 million, right? I guess that is a lot compared to other major events. (It's over 40% more than the Worlds.)

So the discussion should be, if any, how much is too much or too little, and consider the net income of an event and ISU/Skate Canada operation fees (which will never be disclosed ), and how much of the prize moneys is sponsored (which would be the largest factor determining the prize money).

...Added...

ISU competitions (all except WTT) prize money guidelines:
http://www.isu.org/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,4844-168553-185771-66590-0-file,00.pdf

 

[Dragonlady]

And multiple Moirs volunteered to take on significant LOC responsibilities for London Worlds. (Based on his past efforts on behalf of Skate Canada, I wouldn't be surprised if Papa Virtue did too.)

Yes the Moirs are one of Canada's great figure skating families. Scott Moir's older brother was also a Canadian Ice-dance Champion, but not at senior level.