Economic contribution of attendees of East Grand Forks ice arena youth events

Key findings

• Total economic contribution: Ice arena youth event visitors generated $2.1 million of economic activity in Polk County during the winter of 2021-2022.
  • This included $574,410 of income for county residents.
  • The events supported 40 jobs.
  • Hotels, restaurants and bars benefited most directly from the visitors.
• Visitors: Extension estimated there were 9,379 youth ice event visitors in the 2021-2022 season.
  • This included 3,955 overnight visitors and 5,424 day-trippers.
• Visitor spending: Visitors directly spent nearly $1.7 million in the East Grand Forks area.
  • Overnight visitors spent, on average, $133.30 per person per day.
  • Day trippers spent, on average, $64.50.
  • Major expenses included lodging and dining out.
• Accommodations: 91 percent of ice event attendees stayed in hotels.
  • Of those hotel guests, 70 percent stayed at a property located in Grand Forks.
• Visitor activities: The survey asked attendees what activities they engaged in during their visit.
  • The most common activities included dining, youth skating, youth sports, and downtown shopping.
• Influence on visitor destination: The hockey and figure skating events are definitely drawing people to East Grand Forks.
  • Only 15 percent of respondents would have come to East Grand Forks in absence of the event.
  • Four in ten attendees plan to return within a year, mostly for youth sports.
• Demographics: Most visitors traveled as families with children ages 13 to 17.
  • Household incomes of the visitors are relatively high – with 40 percent at $150,000 or more.
  • Survey respondents came from locations across Minnesota and the Dakotas.