NEWS RELEASE: Cheyenne Frontier Days
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (January 29, 2013) Cheyenne Frontier Days commissioned an economic impact study to quantify the economic benefits generated from visitors outside of Laramie County to the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County. Dean Runyan Associates, of Portland, Oregon conducted the research using data generated from the 2012 event. Dean Runyan Associates has also conducted economic impact research for the Wyoming Office of Tourism.
Chief Executive Officer Dan Cheney said, "This report is very important because it measures how Cheyenne Frontier Days, Inc. is delivering on the number one priority of our mission: bringing visitors to Cheyenne and Laramie County who spend money at our local businesses and within our community."
Cheyenne Frontier Days is a major Rocky Mountain regional event with numerous Western heritage activities and experiences; while some events charge admission, many events are free. Attendance measures include totals that track both paid attendance and total attendance. It is recognized as the consummate Western heritage, cultural, and entertainment experience in the world. Cheyenne is the fourth most visited community in Wyoming behind Yellowstone National Park, Jackson and Grand Teton National Park.
The 2012 edition of the Daddy of ‘em All was successful by all measures. A total of 460,282 people attended all combined events during the ten-day celebration and a total of 236,455 tickets were sold. Data indicated that 146,602 individual and unique attendees came to the event with 114,350 from outside of Laramie County. Economic impacts resulting from direct visitor spending surrounding the event totaled approximately $25,000,000.
Profile of Cheyenne Frontier Days Attendees
- Attending Cheyenne Frontier Days was the primary purpose for travel to Laramie County for the vast majority (81%) of out-of-town visitors surveyed.
- Over three-quarters (78%) of event attendees traveled from outside Laramie County to attend Cheyenne Frontier Days.
- About half (51%) of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees stayed overnight while traveling and stayed an average of 2.9 days
- Among overnight visitors, over half (58%) stayed in a hotel, motel, lodge, or B&B; most of the reminder stayed in private homes with friends and relatives, or in campgrounds.
- Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees traveled to, or through, to a number of Wyoming communities and places including: Laramie, Casper, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Snowy Range, and Cody.
- •The majority of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees participated in a Frontier Nights/Concert (81%) and/or the Rodeo (56%).
- •A large portion (63%) attended Cheyenne Frontier Days during a previous year.
Economic impacts of visitors who reside outside of Laramie County
- Visitors to Cheyenne Frontier Days spent approximately $25,000,000 in Laramie County.
- These visitors spent approximately $4.8 million food and beverages in restaurants and bars, $2.7 million on overnight accommodations, and $6.5 million on entertainment and recreation, and $10.6 on retail purchases (includes merchandise, groceries, and gasoline).
- Cheyenne Frontier Days operations supportsover 300 full- and part-time jobs, $4.5 million in earnings (wage and salary disbursements), $460,000 in local tax revenue, and $566,000 in state tax revenue.
Cheney observed that the CFD mission has not changed in 116 years. "The purpose of our event is to improve the economic climate in Cheyenne. The data shows that we are delivering on our mission and being responsible stewards of our resources to bring money, jobs, and tax revenue to Cheyenne. CFD will continue to rely upon and request support from our community, city, county, and state leadership to continue to deliver the economic impact that improves the lifestyle of all citizens in Cheyenne and Wyoming."
General Chairman Darin Westby cited community cooperation as a contributing factor critical to the economic success each year. "We could not produce this event without the cooperation and support of our dedicated volunteer corps and our civic-minded community leaders. Together we join forces to maximize resources, effort and vision to celebrate the West through culture and heritage in Cheyenne each July," said Westby.
