Last year's "Daddy of 'em All" had a huge economic impact on Cheyenne and Laramie County.

According to an economic impact study released Thursday, Cheyenne Frontier Days visitors spent $28 million in 2015, up from $25 million in 2012.

"That's a huge increase," said CEO Tom Hirsig. "I don't know that our expectations were that we were increasing a million dollars a year in economic impact to the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County, but we're excited about it."

Hirsig added, "It means that we're meeting our mission statement by bringing people to town and they must like the event enough that they're spending money."

A total of 606,194 people attended the 2015 celebration and a total of 266,575 tickets were sold.

"That keeps a lot of restaurants in business and brings more hotels to town," said Hirsig. "It's like a second Christmas for a lot of businesses in Cheyenne."

Hirsig says CFD also had a positive economic impact on the rest of the state, as a majority of CFD attendees also traveled to Yellowstone National Park and other destinations in Wyoming.

Joy Greenwald, Townsquare Media
Joy Greenwald, Townsquare Media
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2015 Profile of Cheyenne Frontier Days Attendees

  • The majority of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees participated in a Frontier Nights/Concert (81%) and/or the Rodeo (63%).
  • A large portion (71%) attended Cheyenne Frontier Days during a previous year.
  • Attending Cheyenne Frontier Days was the primary purpose for travel to Laramie County for the vast majority of overnight (78.5%) and day (97.0%) visitors.
  • More than half (59%) of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees stayed overnight while traveling.
  • Among overnight visitors, over half (60%) stayed in a hotel, motel, lodge, or B&B; most of the reminder stayed in private homes with friends and relatives, or in campgrounds.
  • Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees traveled to or through a number of Wyoming communities and places including: Laramie, Casper, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Snowy Range, and Cody.

 

2015 Economic impacts of visitors who reside outside of Laramie County

  • Visitors to Cheyenne Frontier Days spent $28 million in Laramie County.
  • These visitors spent approximately $5.3 million food and beverages in restaurants and bars, $3.7 million on overnight accommodations, $7.6 million on entertainment and recreation, including ticket sales, and $10.8 million on retail purchases, including motor fuel and groceries.
  • Other direct economic impacts include approximately 300 full- and part-time jobs, $4.6 million in earnings (wage and salary disbursements), $549,000 in local tax revenue, and $649,000 in state tax revenue.
  • Total economic impacts resulting from direct visitor spending which include secondary impacts, also known as "multiplier effects", resulted in approximately $36.2 million of business activity generated for Laramie County.

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