ARDA releases economic impact assessments on three Antigonish events

ARDA has completed and released economic impact assessments on three events that were held in Antigonish last year – the 2009 Allie MacDonald Specialized Skills Summer Hockey School, the 2009 NSGA Men’s Senior Open, and the Riverside International Speedway Komatsu 300.

“The purpose of these assessments is to get a better understanding of the positive economic impacts events have on our community,” says Shannon MacIntyre, development officer at ARDA. “It’s actually very exciting; the community now has the proof of what these events are doing for our community as a whole.”

The economic impact assessments are based on the Sport Tourism Economic Assessment Model (STEAM); software provided by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA). As a member of CSTA, ARDA has access to STEAM to conduct these assessments. Spectators and participants were surveyed to gather information and determine the economic activity for the province and Antigonish.

The Allie MacDonald Specialized Skills Summer Hockey School took place August 2nd to 13th, 2009. The school brings youth representing various ages, skill levels, and regions to Antigonish. More than 950 spectators and participants attended the hockey school and surveys were completed by 175 participants and 297 spectators. As a result of their attendance, the economic activity within the community of Antigonish was increased by $285,276. Operational expenditures and revenues of Allie MacDonald Specialized Skills Inc. brought the economic activity increase from $285,276 to $415,998. This increase resulted in a net increase of economic activity of $432,157 throughout the province, $293,432 of which occurred in Antigonish. The total industry output (gross economic activity) upheld by the event was $848,503, which supported $249,580 in wages and salaries throughout Nova Scotia (N.S.) and $168,373 in Antigonish.

The NSGA Men’s Senior Golf Championship was held at the Antigonish Golf and Country Club from August 4th to 7th, 2009. A total of 168 golfers participated in the tournament, 61 of which were surveyed to determine that the economic activity in Antigonish was increased by $24,119. The operational revenues of the golf course brought the economic activity from $24,119 to $50,219. This increase resulted in a net increase in economic activity of $50,036 throughout the province, $40,588 of which occurred in Antigonish. The total industry output upheld by the event was $78,589 ($61,188 within Antigonish), which supported $15,281 in wages and salaries throughout N.S. and $9,710 in Antigonish.

The Riverside International Speedway held the Komatsu 300 from September 18th to 20th, 2009. This racing event brought together a wide array of spectators and participants who represented a wide spectrum of demographic profiles. More than 4,500 spectators and participants attended the weekend event and 1,165 spectators and 169 participants were surveyed to determine that the economic activity within the community of Antigonish was increased by $591,727. Operational expenditures and revenues of the Speedway brought the economic activity increase from $591,727 to $706,727. The increase resulted in a net increase in economic activity of $760,335 throughout N.S. of which $497,849 occurred in Antigonish. The total industry output upheld by the event was $1,554,592 which supported $514,701 in wages and salaries throughout the province and $360,452 in Antigonish.

“These economic impact assessments signify the importance events have on our local economy,” says Phil Hughes, president of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce. “Events such as these are great for local businesses which are the lifeline to our community.”

These three economic impact assessments can be found on ARDA’s website: http://www.antigonishrda.ns.ca/resources/publications/