Study by Sport Tourism Canada conducted in November 2021
Saskatoon’s economy benefited from an injection of over $12.7 million in economic activity as a result of the successful hosting of the 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials. It was held November 20-28, 2021 at the SaskTel Centre. The Economic Impact Study, conducted by Sport Tourism Canada (STC), also indicated just over$14.0 million in economic impact for the province of Saskatchewan.
Les study was commissioned by Tourism Saskatoon with Sport Tourism Canada (STC) staff managing the survey process and onsite date collection. Surveyors were recruited from a University of Saskatchewan Business Club, trained and supervised by an STC Field Supervisor. The survey used was developed by STC specifically for this event. They collected data during the last four days of the nine-day event in a variety of ways:
- Surveyors intercepting spectators onsite for interviews;
- Respondents completing surveys at self-serve kiosks in the venue;
- Respondents completing at their leisure via a provided QR code.
Almost 1,000 valid responses were collected during the event, which drew over 10,000 out-of-town visitors. Data gathered included age, place of residence, and days attended, while out-of-town respondents answered questions about their length of stay, money spent in various categories and the importance of this event in deciding to travel to Saskatoon. The average spectator spent 5.3 days at the event and attended an average of 11.8 draws.
Once the data was collected, STC used the MEETSPRO economic impact assessment model to analyze the visitor data gathered by the survey responses. The combined spending from out-of-town visitors, participants, media, and VIPs was then added to the capital and event operational expenditures to produce an overall determination of the expenditures associated with the event. When all of this data and information was combined, STC produced un rapport détaillé with the economic impact assessment in terms of total output, GDP, jobs, employment and taxes.
“To host the Tim Hortons Curling Trials in Saskatoon was a breath of life into our visitor economy,” said Stephanie Clovechok, CEO, Tourism Saskatoon. “In the continued constraint of the global pandemic, it was obvious that along with the much needed $12.7 million dollars being injected into our economy, the vibrancy of sport enlivened our local community and allowed us to safely welcome visitors back again. The sentiment of over 96% of people saying they would recommend Saskatoon to others, and nearly 90% indicating they would visit Saskatoon again demonstrates the ripple effect that sport event hosting can have in a community.”
Résumé des principales conclusions :
- $10.3 million of initial expenditures
- $14 million overall economic activity in the province
- 10,443 out-of-town visitors
- $8.7 million of visitor spending
- $3.9 million wages and salaries supported locally
- 97 local jobs supported by the event
- $7.1 million boost to provincial GDP
- $3.0 million taxes supported across Canada
This event was the significant factor in people choosing to visit Saskatoon, rating it a 9.1 out of 10 as a rationale.