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Date: 12/4/2015
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE – An economic impact study conducted on the 2015 Great New England Airshow (GNEAS) showed the event not only brought hundreds of thousands of people to the region but also contributed $11.6 million to the regional economy.
Base officials joined Budd Schuback, president of the Galaxy Communications Council and Mayor Richard Kos on Dec. 1 to announce the results of the study prepare by Professor Rod Warwick of the Hospitality and Tourism Management department of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Lt. Col James Bishop, Chief of Public Affairs at Westover Air Reserve Base, “This is a great announcement for us.”
The report noted the GNEAS attracted “an estimated 375,475 attendees over a two-day period of May 16 and 17, 2015” as compared to the estimated 345,000 at the show in 2008, the last time an economic impact study was conducted.
The air show attracted people from an average of 71.7 miles away from the base, which was compared by the report to the 45 miles of visitors in 2008.
MSgt Andrew Biscoe of Public Affairs said the air show had been “blessed” by having three major acts, including the Blue Angels. He added the air show was part of the observation of the 75th anniversary of the base.
“Approximately 70 percent of the attendees came from outside the local area in 2015. This compares to about 61percent of the attendees who came from outside the local area in 2008,” the report noted.
On average, visitors spent $30.06 per person, up from $26 in 2008.
The report explained, “The overall economic significance or all spending in the local community of Chicopee directly tied to the GNEAS was estimated to be $11.6 million ($11,589,515 actual estimate). This compares to an overall economic significance to the local Chicopee economy was an estimated $8.2 million in 2008.
“When ‘locals’ were excluded from the estimates, the economic expenditures to the community were estimated to be $9.3 million in direct new money coming into the region from outside the area; and, when the sales multiplier (Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism sales multiplier, 2013) of 1.59 was applied, the direct, indirect and induced economic impact was estimated to be $14.9 million.”
Schuback said, "It’s hard to find a two-day event with that impact on a community.”
He added the report noted there were areas of improvements that included better traffic control, parking and improved signage. He added there should be additional support for first time visitors and ways to encourage over-night guests to visit other regional attractions.
Schuback also said the pricing of food offered by vendors at the show is another concern that will be addressed.
Kos said with a smile the airshow is “a victim of its own success,” and noted the issues brought by a high number of attendees will be addressed. The mayor paraphrased baseball legend Yogi Berra and said, “How is that restaurant going to survive? The Lines are too long.”
The report also noted a majority of the visitors enjoyed the experiences offered by the air show. “Overall satisfaction with the GNEAS improved from 2008 to 2015. In 2015, the event satisfaction measure found 84 percent were either satisfied or very satisfied with the show. This compares to an overall satisfaction with the event in 2008 of 77 percent who were satisfied or very satisfied; however, parking, access and traffic congestion were major concerns for the attendees along with other secondary issues such as high price of concessions and lack of available bathrooms,” it noted.
The report, added, “Of those indicating a desire to return, 86 percent indicated a high level of certainty that they would return in two years to the GNEAS and 66 percent indicated that they would definitely return. This compares to 85 percent who indicated with a high level of certainty that they would return in the next two years in 2008 and 57 percent who indicated that they would likely return.”
Bishop said the next air show is still being planned but may be in 2017 or 2018.