The City of Richmond today released the results of a study conducted by the Center for Sport Leadership at VCU and Richmond Region Tourism regarding the economic impact of the 2013 Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Camp (Training Camp).
The City also released an analysis of tax data related to the same.
In all, Training Camp had a total estimated economic impact of $10.5 million on the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Training camp was held over three weeks in July and August 2013 and attracted a total of 165,571 visits to the facility with attendees from all 50 states over the course of the three weeks.
"The tax data that we've collected along with this survey information shows that the Training Camp's impact on the city of Richmond and the surrounding area surpassed our early estimates," said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "Coupled with the tremendous earned media exposure for the city's brand – valued in the tens of millions – we had a tremendous first year that we believe can only continue to get better."
The predictions that the City measured tax performance against were generated in an August, 2012 analysis by Chmura Economics.
The training camp was predicted to attract attendees from a geographic footprint covering several hundred miles and pre-camp estimates of 100,000 visitors were anticipated.
"We are proud to call the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center our official training camp home," Washington Redskins Executive Vice President/General Manager Bruce Allen said. "We look forward to continuing our efforts in Richmond in the future, both on and off the practice field."
Prior to the opening of the training camp, general contractors, construction companies and developers, as well as subcontractors, local and regional vendors all benefitted from the construction of the training facility and the marketing related events leading up to the opening of the facility - including producing marketing materials to signage and video production, advertising and web design, merchandising and catering.
The 2012 Chmura study estimated City Tax Revenue from the football training camp to total $194,981.
Preliminary tax analysis of revenue received by the city for likely related expenditures in the vicinity and in categories related to the football experience has already risen to $230,979.29, representing a net positive tax impact for the city.
"These are very positive numbers, especially considering that there are several amounts still outstanding that will count for this same period," said Sharon Judkins, the City's Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Finance. "Several businesses that we know were directly impacted by the Training Camp still have to report their meals taxes and it is our expectation that the total performance will keep trending upward as the data continues to be reported."
The Center for Sport Leadership and Richmond Region Tourism report went beyond the tax data available to the city to measure impact by surveying training camp attendees about their direct expenditures while in the Richmond area.
Information was collected for lodging, restaurants, groceries, entertainment, training camp merchandise, shopping, gasoline and other anticipated expenditures.
The study also sought to isolate expenditures from non-local attendees in order to calculate only new dollars being added to the local economy.
"Fans attending the 2013 Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Camp provided a tremendous boost to the local economy.
"Overnight visitors attending the Training Camp were responsible for significant economic impact, with average total spending of $887.89 during their stay.
"Washington Redskins fans came from all 50 states, as far away as Alaska and Hawaii, and they became Richmond Region fans who shopped at our stores, dined in our restaurants and stayed in our hotels.
"We look forward to welcoming Redskins fans back to Richmond this summer."
"We are extremely pleased with the overwhelming response to relocating the summer training facility to Richmond and we look forward to welcoming the fans and the team back this July to prepare for a new season," said Jones.
.
.
.
