The full grandstands and fields packed with hundreds of athletes from across the state meant a nice boost of almost $3 million to the area economy when Cheney and Eastern Washington University hosted the WIAA 1B/2B/1A state track meet at Roos Field Memorial Day weekend.
As some of the fastest athletes in the state sped in and out of Cheney over Memorial Day weekend, they likely left something behind - cash.
When Eastern Washington University hosted the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 1B/2B/1A state track meet, it provided West Plains' businesses with quite a boost, according to figures released from the Spokane Sports Commission.
An estimated 6,000 spectators and athletes descended on the community for three days, May 25 – 27, and they bought approximately 3,000 hotel room nights. The term "room night" is a measure of occupancy.
Based on an industry multiplier, those 6,000 people were figured to spend $150 per night over their 2.5-day stay for an estimated financial impact of $2.9 million.
"The 1.3 (factor) is a economic impact multiplier, how a dollar circulates in the community," Sports Commission spokesperson Dana Haynes wrote in an email. "1.3 is is very conservative. Dr. Patrick Jones from Eastern Washington University says we should be using 1.7."
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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