Economic Impact of Carlisle Car Shows

Economic Impact of Carlisle Car Shows

CARLISLE, PA – What effect do the more than 520,000 visitors to the 10 annual Carlisle Events’ 2002 automotive events have on the area? What does the company’s national prominence mean for local businesses and organizations?

In a meeting with the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce Carlisle Events’ CEO John Detrick and Events Director Lisa Leathery explained the history, facility, events and activities held on the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds. They then discussed the economic impact the car shows have on the local community.

Vendors and guests utilize the fairgrounds for a total of 42 days of the year including set up and show days. This brings about 500,000 people to the area throughout the year who spend money not only at the car show, but also at local businesses. Detrick explained that the average expenditure per person per day is about $114, which only includes baseline, or maintenance expenditures. This brings a total of $97,293,694 into the Carlisle area each year.

According to research conducted by Carlisle Events, local convenience stores, restaurants and hotels each have a nearly 35 percent increase in business during car show weekends. Furthermore, the Pennsylvania Turnpike sees 5,000 to 8,000 more tolls during car shows than during regular weekends.

Other direct investments to the community is in the form of part-time employment at the fairgrounds, special police, amusement taxes and real estate taxes. Carlisle Events also supports numerous charities and local organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the United Way, the Carlisle YMCA, the Salvation Army, Carlisle Police’s D.A.R.E. program and the Boy Scouts of America

Detrick cited that four organizations that raise money by parking cars during Carlisle events earn more than $258,000 a year. He also noted many more organizations raise revenue by parking or vending directly outside the fairground gates.

Senator Punt opened his remarks by stating that the chamber “serves as the eyes and ears of the business community, and Carlisle has done an outstanding job for the community.” He said the impact of the Carlisle car shows can be seen in the fact that hotels are booked at least 40 miles around during the larger shows. Punt spoke of the vision of Chip Miller and Bill Miller, founders of Carlisle Events, and how it has grown in the past 30 years. “The impact is not only in Carlisle,” he said.

The economic impact of the events on the community is “a good one,” he said, “a positive one, a clean one.” He went on to describe how important tourism is to the economic development of the state of Pennsylvania and that Carlisle Events adds to regional tourism including Hershey, Gettysburg and Harrisburg.

Fritz Smith added that “events like these (car shows) help us get market share. I wish we had more of these.” He said the impact of tourism in the state is “phenomenal,” and that this region, named the “Hershey-Dutch-Gettysburg” region, is the most heavily visited for leisure and business.

Established in 1974, Carlisle’s famed automotive events and world-famous swap meets are among the largest of their kind in the world. In the past two years, nationally televised shows airing on the History Channel, Home & Garden Television, the Speed Channel, TNN, ESPN and ESPN2 have featured attractions or events from the fairgrounds, bringing national attention to Carlisle.

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