Cactus League fans brought $110 million to the state
Peter Corbett
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 4, 2003 02:33 PM
Fewer out-of-state fans attended Cactus League games this spring compared to five years ago but those who did show up spent $110 million, up 1.5 percent from 1998.
The total economic impact of spring baseball was estimated at $202 million, according to a study released Wednesday by the Cactus League Association.
The association has conducted a fan and economic survey every five years since 1993.
League officials said they were pleased with attendance and the boost it gave to Arizona tourism, given the soft economy, war in Iraq and other factors.
Attendance topped 1.06 million this spring, down 2.8 percent from last year's record crowds, but up 11.7 percent from five years ago.
"The Cactus League continues to be a major tourism generator for the state," said Jerry Geiger, association president.
The 12-team Cactus League, which added Texas and Kansas City this spring, is one of the state's most important sports-related economic engines. It has drawn an average of 1 million fans a year over the past five years, and roughly half of them are out-of-state visitors.
The percentage of out-of-state fans declined from 58 percent in 1998 to 48 percent this spring.
Much of that is due to a huge drop in Tucson, where the number of out-of-state fans dropped to 28 percent, from nearly half.
Visitor spending in Tucson was $9.6 million, off 46 percent from five years ago.
In Maricopa County, where there are nine teams, visitor spending increased 8 percent to $88 million.
Statewide, three out of four fans surveyed at the nine Cactus League stadiums said spring baseball was a primary reason for their Arizona visit.
The Cactus League Association paid Tucson-based FMR Associates $22,000 to conduct the survey, which included interviews of 2,457 fans at each Cactus League stadium.
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0604cactusleague-ON.html
Peter Corbett
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 4, 2003 02:33 PM
Fewer out-of-state fans attended Cactus League games this spring compared to five years ago but those who did show up spent $110 million, up 1.5 percent from 1998.
The total economic impact of spring baseball was estimated at $202 million, according to a study released Wednesday by the Cactus League Association.
The association has conducted a fan and economic survey every five years since 1993.
League officials said they were pleased with attendance and the boost it gave to Arizona tourism, given the soft economy, war in Iraq and other factors.
Attendance topped 1.06 million this spring, down 2.8 percent from last year's record crowds, but up 11.7 percent from five years ago.
"The Cactus League continues to be a major tourism generator for the state," said Jerry Geiger, association president.
The 12-team Cactus League, which added Texas and Kansas City this spring, is one of the state's most important sports-related economic engines. It has drawn an average of 1 million fans a year over the past five years, and roughly half of them are out-of-state visitors.
The percentage of out-of-state fans declined from 58 percent in 1998 to 48 percent this spring.
Much of that is due to a huge drop in Tucson, where the number of out-of-state fans dropped to 28 percent, from nearly half.
Visitor spending in Tucson was $9.6 million, off 46 percent from five years ago.
In Maricopa County, where there are nine teams, visitor spending increased 8 percent to $88 million.
Statewide, three out of four fans surveyed at the nine Cactus League stadiums said spring baseball was a primary reason for their Arizona visit.
The Cactus League Association paid Tucson-based FMR Associates $22,000 to conduct the survey, which included interviews of 2,457 fans at each Cactus League stadium.
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0604cactusleague-ON.html
