Breeders’ Cup officials hail Lexington as a success as host
Nov 28, 2015 12:48:29 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Nov 28, 2015 12:48:29 GMT -5
This is such good news. The BC is supposed to be held at different venues. Nothing against CA but it's been at SA far too often. It's much more interesting when it's held at different tracks and more fair!
Breeders’ Cup officials hail Lexington as a success as host city
By Karla Ward
Lexington set a new standard for cities hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, and it appears likely the city will entertain the racing event again, Breeders’ Cup officials said Tuesday.
In a discussion of the Breeders’ Cup’s economic impact on Lexington, Breeders’ Cup president and CEO Craig Fravel told a group of local businesspeople that while board members have the final say on where the event is held, “we’ve yet to talk to one who isn’t ecstatic” with Lexington’s showing this fall.
“All the things we set out to do with the Keeneland Breeders’ Cup, I’m happy to say we accomplished,” he said. “I feel confident we will be back.”
The discussion, held at Red Mile, was the first installment of a speakers series presented by the Bluegrass Sports Commission.
Early figures indicate the Breeders’ Cup brought in $4 million to $4.5 million more this year than it did in 2014, Fravel said.
The Breeders’ Cup was expected to have a $65 million impact on Lexington.
While exact figures are still unavailable, Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLex, said several metrics indicated a financial success.
She said special efforts were made to give people a reason to come into town early, and it appeared to have worked.
Ramer said 1,100 tickets were sold for special horse farm tours in the early part of Breeders’ Cup week.
Attendance at the draw party before the Breeders’ Cup was 1,500, which Elliston said was equal to the attendance of the previous seven years’ draw parties added together.
(He admitted that the presence of University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari might have had “a little” to do with that.)
Lexington’s hotel occupancy was 95 percent during Breeders’ Cup weekend, and 75 percent during the week of Breeders’ Cup, Ramer said.
The average daily rate for hotel stays during Breeders’ Cup weekend was $245, compared to an average daily rate of $110 in October 2014, she said.
Ramer said 450 private jets parked or picked up passengers at Blue Grass Airport over Breeders’ Cup weekend.
Elliston said the Breeders’ Cup appreciated all that the city did to welcome visitors, from the festival featuring live music downtown to new landscaping on major thoroughfares.
“This is the new standard,” he said.
Breeders’ Cup officials hail Lexington as a success as host city
By Karla Ward
Lexington set a new standard for cities hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, and it appears likely the city will entertain the racing event again, Breeders’ Cup officials said Tuesday.
In a discussion of the Breeders’ Cup’s economic impact on Lexington, Breeders’ Cup president and CEO Craig Fravel told a group of local businesspeople that while board members have the final say on where the event is held, “we’ve yet to talk to one who isn’t ecstatic” with Lexington’s showing this fall.
“All the things we set out to do with the Keeneland Breeders’ Cup, I’m happy to say we accomplished,” he said. “I feel confident we will be back.”
The discussion, held at Red Mile, was the first installment of a speakers series presented by the Bluegrass Sports Commission.
Early figures indicate the Breeders’ Cup brought in $4 million to $4.5 million more this year than it did in 2014, Fravel said.
The Breeders’ Cup was expected to have a $65 million impact on Lexington.
While exact figures are still unavailable, Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLex, said several metrics indicated a financial success.
She said special efforts were made to give people a reason to come into town early, and it appeared to have worked.
Ramer said 1,100 tickets were sold for special horse farm tours in the early part of Breeders’ Cup week.
Attendance at the draw party before the Breeders’ Cup was 1,500, which Elliston said was equal to the attendance of the previous seven years’ draw parties added together.
(He admitted that the presence of University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari might have had “a little” to do with that.)
Lexington’s hotel occupancy was 95 percent during Breeders’ Cup weekend, and 75 percent during the week of Breeders’ Cup, Ramer said.
The average daily rate for hotel stays during Breeders’ Cup weekend was $245, compared to an average daily rate of $110 in October 2014, she said.
Ramer said 450 private jets parked or picked up passengers at Blue Grass Airport over Breeders’ Cup weekend.
Elliston said the Breeders’ Cup appreciated all that the city did to welcome visitors, from the festival featuring live music downtown to new landscaping on major thoroughfares.
“This is the new standard,” he said.