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How much money the 2009 Silver State International Rodeo will bring into Fallon and Churchill County this year is not known yet, but it should be definitely in the seven-figure range.
Marcia de Braga, executive secretary of SSIR, said about 500 contestants and several thousands more family members, friends and spectators will attend the festivities that could result in at least $1 million funneling into the community.
She said attendees and their families must purchase fuel, lodging, food and stables for their horses.
De Braga said for every dollar spent in Fallon, it rolls over six times. She also said the motels are filling up and the campground at the fairgrounds is more than full. She said the expectation is for 20,000 people to visit the community at some time during the four-day event.
“These people are traveling a lot of miles to get here, and when they get here, they need everything,” she said, mentioning participants need the same items they have at home.
According to the Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority evaluation form, the anticipated visitors for the event is 15,000 to 20,000 people. The SSIR also estimates several millions dollars could be spent by visitors.
The report also states that each family spends more than $1,500 on necessities and most take home souvenirs, and all visitors must purchase fuel for their return trip. Many also buy expensive items while in Fallon.
Last year attendance decreased, but de Braga said the price of diesel and gasoline and a scheduling conflict with another rodeo in 2008 were reasons have been rectified this year. She said the community appreciates the rush and increase of business the rodeo brings.
Tourism Director Rick Gray said he has not done an impact study on the SSIR for several years, but the last one completed revealed the rodeo infused more than $1 million into the community. He also said the SSIR is the event with the largest economic impact for the area.
Gray said rooms exist for people not wanting to camp out during the rodeo. There are more than 500 motel rooms, which is almost double of what Fallon had during the earlier years of SSIR.
“A good majority do stay in hotels,” he said. “They spend an awful lot of money in grocery stores.”
Pranav Morar, manager of the Comfort Inn, said the Fourth of July weekend and the week of the SSIR bring in “a lot of money.”
“This is one of our bigger events of the year,” Morar said. “It brings in more continuous revenue to the city than any other event.”
He said Comfort Inn is nearly sold out.
Cathy Petersen, manager at Holiday Inn Express, said the SSIR event significantly increases business.
“We are sold out Tuesday night,” she said. “It definitely has an impact.”
Other motel representatives from Motel 6, Econo Lodge, Fallon Lodge and Suites and Budget Inn said business is good for this weekend and the SSIR.
D. Scott Tate, general manager of Nugget Casinos including the Fallon Nugget and the Bonanza Casino, said the rodeo has always provided a huge economic impact for their hotels.
“It's another very good event that (we have),” he said, adding most visitors make reservations at the last minute.
He said their restaurants do well during the event as well.
“I know it increases business substantially during the middle of the week,” Tate said.
The Sage Valley RV Park, as of Wednesday afternoon, had received five reservations from people who will attend the rodeo. Steve Lewis, assistant manager of the Fallon RV Park County Store, said the campground is filling up quickly, and he expects it to be at capacity sometime today.
“It's about average for this time of year,” Lewis said.
Tracy Heans, general manager of Heidi's Restaurant, said the SSIR always increases businesses by 10 to 20 percent.
Marcia de Braga, executive secretary of SSIR, said about 500 contestants and several thousands more family members, friends and spectators will attend the festivities that could result in at least $1 million funneling into the community.
She said attendees and their families must purchase fuel, lodging, food and stables for their horses.
De Braga said for every dollar spent in Fallon, it rolls over six times. She also said the motels are filling up and the campground at the fairgrounds is more than full. She said the expectation is for 20,000 people to visit the community at some time during the four-day event.
“These people are traveling a lot of miles to get here, and when they get here, they need everything,” she said, mentioning participants need the same items they have at home.
According to the Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority evaluation form, the anticipated visitors for the event is 15,000 to 20,000 people. The SSIR also estimates several millions dollars could be spent by visitors.
The report also states that each family spends more than $1,500 on necessities and most take home souvenirs, and all visitors must purchase fuel for their return trip. Many also buy expensive items while in Fallon.
Last year attendance decreased, but de Braga said the price of diesel and gasoline and a scheduling conflict with another rodeo in 2008 were reasons have been rectified this year. She said the community appreciates the rush and increase of business the rodeo brings.
Tourism Director Rick Gray said he has not done an impact study on the SSIR for several years, but the last one completed revealed the rodeo infused more than $1 million into the community. He also said the SSIR is the event with the largest economic impact for the area.
Gray said rooms exist for people not wanting to camp out during the rodeo. There are more than 500 motel rooms, which is almost double of what Fallon had during the earlier years of SSIR.
“A good majority do stay in hotels,” he said. “They spend an awful lot of money in grocery stores.”
Pranav Morar, manager of the Comfort Inn, said the Fourth of July weekend and the week of the SSIR bring in “a lot of money.”
“This is one of our bigger events of the year,” Morar said. “It brings in more continuous revenue to the city than any other event.”
He said Comfort Inn is nearly sold out.
Cathy Petersen, manager at Holiday Inn Express, said the SSIR event significantly increases business.
“We are sold out Tuesday night,” she said. “It definitely has an impact.”
Other motel representatives from Motel 6, Econo Lodge, Fallon Lodge and Suites and Budget Inn said business is good for this weekend and the SSIR.
D. Scott Tate, general manager of Nugget Casinos including the Fallon Nugget and the Bonanza Casino, said the rodeo has always provided a huge economic impact for their hotels.
“It's another very good event that (we have),” he said, adding most visitors make reservations at the last minute.
He said their restaurants do well during the event as well.
“I know it increases business substantially during the middle of the week,” Tate said.
The Sage Valley RV Park, as of Wednesday afternoon, had received five reservations from people who will attend the rodeo. Steve Lewis, assistant manager of the Fallon RV Park County Store, said the campground is filling up quickly, and he expects it to be at capacity sometime today.
“It's about average for this time of year,” Lewis said.
Tracy Heans, general manager of Heidi's Restaurant, said the SSIR always increases businesses by 10 to 20 percent.
