Post by Sir Black Fox on Aug 8, 2006 21:40:32 GMT -5
According to the Capitol (Annapolis' paper)
"When the 300,000 anticipated visitors turn out for the 30th annual Maryland Renaissance Festival later this month, the event will draw die-hard fans from as far as merry old England and pump about $19 million into the local economy.
A 2005 study done for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau found that the eight-week event ranks second in terms of economic impact among tourism blockbusters.
Only the U.S. Sailboat and Power Boat shows in October surpass the Crownsville festival, with a combined $51 million impact on the economy.
"We are becoming an international destination," said Connie Del Signore, president and chief executive officer for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau. "The Renaissance Festival is key to our selling ourselves as an international destination. It appeals to a global audience."
Total expenditures among the 280,000 visitors who attend the festival is $12 million.
Ms. Del Signore said that number is based on visitors who went to the festival and spent the night at county hotels, not the event's day trippers, who could account for another $1 million in expenditures.
About $7 million is generated from festival expenditures used to produce and market the show, the individuals who work at the festival, and revenue generated from private housing rentals.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary starting Aug. 26, festival organizers said say they spent 10 percent more - or $750,000 - on entertainment to bring back favorite acts from years past, including the Jolly Jester, Daniel Duke of Danger and the "Mediaeval Baebes" singing group.
"We think it's important to do as good a show as we can and build upon it as we have in the past," said Jules Smith, festival general manager.
The show's operating budget totals $6 million each year. Besides entertainment, other costs include maintenance, marketing operations and administration costs.
The festival will feature jousting matches, wandering street characters and other perennial favorites. There will be 11 stages, each featuring four acts that perform four or five shows per day, along with crafts, games and food such as "steak on a stake" and the traditional one-pound turkey legs.
Festival organizers work to attract as many people as they can to the event so they don't have to raise ticket prices, Mr. Smith said. Prices have remained the same for the past three years: $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $8 for children.
Bringing to mind the nobility, royalty and pageantry of the renaissance era, the festival's story line this year will focus around Henry VIII and his 30th year as King of England, appropriate for the festival's 30th anniversary.
"The year is 1539, and it's really the only period where the king is actually a bachelor," said festival artistic director Carolyn Spedden. "He's sort of in between wives."
The show's owner, International Renaissance Festivals Ltd. sold its smaller Toronto show last year in order to concentrate on the Crownsville festival.
"This is our original and older show, and our favorite," Mr. Smith said. "This crowd is much more sophisticated and appreciative than other crowds in the country."
Read it for yerself at: www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/08_08-41/BUS
The only comment I can make is that if this income-driving event is the third biggest draw to the community. . . then why can't the city/county/state develop the road structure to support such a large draw? If the powers that be (i.e. the tax drawers) want to increase such taxable income, they should give a bit more to that sort of development.
My opinion of course.
"When the 300,000 anticipated visitors turn out for the 30th annual Maryland Renaissance Festival later this month, the event will draw die-hard fans from as far as merry old England and pump about $19 million into the local economy.
A 2005 study done for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau found that the eight-week event ranks second in terms of economic impact among tourism blockbusters.
Only the U.S. Sailboat and Power Boat shows in October surpass the Crownsville festival, with a combined $51 million impact on the economy.
"We are becoming an international destination," said Connie Del Signore, president and chief executive officer for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau. "The Renaissance Festival is key to our selling ourselves as an international destination. It appeals to a global audience."
Total expenditures among the 280,000 visitors who attend the festival is $12 million.
Ms. Del Signore said that number is based on visitors who went to the festival and spent the night at county hotels, not the event's day trippers, who could account for another $1 million in expenditures.
About $7 million is generated from festival expenditures used to produce and market the show, the individuals who work at the festival, and revenue generated from private housing rentals.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary starting Aug. 26, festival organizers said say they spent 10 percent more - or $750,000 - on entertainment to bring back favorite acts from years past, including the Jolly Jester, Daniel Duke of Danger and the "Mediaeval Baebes" singing group.
"We think it's important to do as good a show as we can and build upon it as we have in the past," said Jules Smith, festival general manager.
The show's operating budget totals $6 million each year. Besides entertainment, other costs include maintenance, marketing operations and administration costs.
The festival will feature jousting matches, wandering street characters and other perennial favorites. There will be 11 stages, each featuring four acts that perform four or five shows per day, along with crafts, games and food such as "steak on a stake" and the traditional one-pound turkey legs.
Festival organizers work to attract as many people as they can to the event so they don't have to raise ticket prices, Mr. Smith said. Prices have remained the same for the past three years: $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $8 for children.
Bringing to mind the nobility, royalty and pageantry of the renaissance era, the festival's story line this year will focus around Henry VIII and his 30th year as King of England, appropriate for the festival's 30th anniversary.
"The year is 1539, and it's really the only period where the king is actually a bachelor," said festival artistic director Carolyn Spedden. "He's sort of in between wives."
The show's owner, International Renaissance Festivals Ltd. sold its smaller Toronto show last year in order to concentrate on the Crownsville festival.
"This is our original and older show, and our favorite," Mr. Smith said. "This crowd is much more sophisticated and appreciative than other crowds in the country."
Read it for yerself at: www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/08_08-41/BUS
The only comment I can make is that if this income-driving event is the third biggest draw to the community. . . then why can't the city/county/state develop the road structure to support such a large draw? If the powers that be (i.e. the tax drawers) want to increase such taxable income, they should give a bit more to that sort of development.
My opinion of course.