U.S. Figure Skating, North Carolina 2011 Announce Economic, Media Impacts of 2011 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Professionals value direct economic impacts at more than $27 million, media impacts as additional $24 million

Colorado Springs, Colo. (August 10, 2011) – U.S. Figure Skating and North Carolina 2011, the local organizing committee for the 2011 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, announced today the results of professional valuation analyses of the economic and media impacts of the 2011 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held in Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 22–30, 2011. Direct economic impacts of the event were nearly $27.4 million, while media impacts totaled an additional $24 million. The analyses also show the Championships generated tax revenues of more than $2.2 million for the local economy.

“I’m not surprised by these strong numbers,” said Henri Fourrier, CEO of the Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We had visitors from virtually every state and five foreign countries, and hosted more than 161,500 attendees on site at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The Championships are a big-time destination sports and entertainment event, and these numbers reflect the value of hosting it. Greensboro, the Triad and North Carolina should be pleased with these impressive results.”

The economic impact analysis was conducted by professor Lisa Neirotti of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Neirotti, an authority on sports tourism and economic impacts, is the founder of TEAMS Conference, the sports tourism industry’s largest annual conference and trade show.

“We pride ourselves on producing an event that any community would be proud and excited to host,” said David Raith, executive director, U.S. Figure Skating. “While, of course, our top priority is a first-class event for our athletes, the significant positive economic impacts in the local community reflect the great return for the sponsors, volunteers and host city organizations that invest their time and monies into
supporting the Championships.”

Burrelles Luce, an independent media monitoring and press-clipping service in Livingston, N.J., conducted the media impact analysis, which showed widespread coverage across the United States and parts of Canada.

Including previews and coverage of the eight-day event, more than 1,800 stories appeared in television broadcasts, newspapers, websites, trade magazines and social media sites.

“To me, the bonus is the $24 million in media value generated for the region,” said Hill Carrow, chairman of the 2011 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships. “The extensive national
coverage on NBC Sports, combined with numerous print and online articles in local, regional and national publications, is invaluable positive exposure for our community and our state.”

Renee Felton

U.S. Figure Skating Media Relations

20 First Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

p – 719.228.3417

c – 719.235.3241

f – 719.635.9548

– U.S. Figure Skating –

U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States
Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 680 member clubs, collegiate clubs, and school-affiliated clubs and more than 1,000 registered Basic Skills skating schools representing approximately 180,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States  including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing
the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.