ATLANTA - When the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) chose Atlanta as a host market for the 2009 Men’s Basketball tournament, officials knew that meant more passionate fans could watch their beloved teams play.

As a result, the highest-attended conference basketball tournament of the year brought an average of nearly 27,000 fans to the Georgia Dome which netted an economic impact of $22.86 million for the state of Georgia, the Atlanta Sports Council (ASC) announced today. That figure also includes $20.76 million for metro Atlanta, with an additional $1.9 million in direct government revenue through taxes.

An estimated 21,345 out-of-towners traveled to Atlanta, spending time and money, to attend the tournament and its various related activities. A crowd of 158,112 filled the Georgia Dome for the seven sessions, scoring the second-highest attendance total in conference tournament history, only to be bested by the 2001 tournament, also played in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome. In addition to the games, fans also attended ancillary events such as University Day and FanFest, both held at the adjacent Georgia World Congress Center.

Duke defeated Florida State 79-69 in the championship game, giving the Blue Devils their eighth ACC crown in 11 years.

"I think it’s a true testament to the popularity of ACC Basketball that this year’s Tournament was able to become the second-highest attended conference tournament in history," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "Playing in Atlanta provided a great stage for our teams and Atlanta continues to be a great partner for our league."

Sporting events will account for four of the top 10 highest-attended conventions in Atlanta in 2009, including the ACC Tournament, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, SEC Football Championship and Chick-fil-A Bowl.

"Having the opportunity to host a prestigious event like the ACC Tournament is a testament to Atlanta’s status as a top-tier sports city," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Sports Council president. "Fans were treated to terrific basketball and greeted by ACC-omodating hosts, which really made this a first-class, mega sporting event. To then add significant economic boost to the city and state illustrates the benefit of being involved in an event like this."

Over the past decade Atlanta has hosted two NCAA Men’s Final Fours (2002, 2007), one NCAA Women’s Final Four (2003), two NCAA Men’s Regionals (2001, 2006), one NCAA Women’s Regional (2002), two ACC Men’s Basketball Tournaments (2001, 2009), and one NBA All-Star Game (2003). The cumulative impact from these mega basketball events in Atlanta has yielded $436.8M in economic impact and a $13.1M windfall in city and state taxes.

A wide variety of sources were used to generate data for the economic impact model, including direct surveying of attendees and visitors as well as corporations and other entities spending money on related events.

The Atlanta Sports Council Economic Impact Formula was developed in partnership with Atlanta-based McKinsey & Company and Dr. Bruce Seaman, who is the past president of the Association for Cultural Economics, International. The formula provides an accurate approximation of the direct and induced economic impact generated by major sporting events.

Economic impact data represent out-of-towner spending in the local economy and other organizations shifting non-local funds into local hospitality and related sectors. The results are incremental and show net injections that would not otherwise have occurred. Study results included:

21,345 Estimated out-of-town visitors

3 Average length of stay (days)

$56 Average per person, per day hotel spending (based on double occupancy)

$54 Average per person retail spending

$49 Average per person, per day food and beverage spending

$16 Average per person, per day transportation spending

About the Atlanta Sports Council
The Atlanta Sports Council promotes the value of sports growth in Atlanta and Georgia by acting as an authority on the economic impact, visibility and quality of life issues associated with sports. Its mission is to lead, organize and support sports development with the goal of building Atlanta’s reputation as the sports capital of the world. Visit www.AtlantaSportsCouncil.com for more information.

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Contacts:
Eric Oberman
Atlanta Sports Council
(404) 586-8506
eoberman@macoc.com

Amy Yakola
Atlantic Coast Conference
(336) 369-1215
ayakola@theacc.org