Report Says Cheyenne Frontier Days Visitors Spent $50 Million In 2024

A report released on Tuesday by Cheyenne Frontier Days says visitors to the 2024 ''Daddy of 'em All" spent $50.4 million last year.

The report says that's up from $40.3 million in 2021. The visitors in the report are categorized as being people from outside of Laramie County.

The report says about 550,000 attended various CFD events, with 263,640 tickets being sold.

“The mission of Cheyenne Frontier Days is to attract visitors to our community to provide economic benefit for businesses and community members. We are proud to continue delivering on this mission year after year,” said Chief Executive Officer, Tom Hirsig. “By producing the best possible event that celebrates the heritage of the West, we remain a bucket list event for visitors and a source of family fun for local attendees.”

The report breaks down the spending as follows:

● Visitor Spending:

- $8.8 million on food and beverages in restaurants and bars

- $11 million on overnight accommodations

- $16.4 million on entertainment and recreation, including ticket sales

- $14.3 million on retail purchases, including motor fuel and groceries.

● Other direct economic impacts:

- Approximately 660 full- and part-time jobs

-$17.6 million in earnings (wage and salary disbursements)

- $900,00 in local tax revenue

- $1.7 million in state tax revenue

2024 Profile of Cheyenne Frontier Days Attendees

- The majority of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees participated in a Frontier Nights/Concert (61%) or the Rodeo (75%) and (36%) attended both.

-- Attending Cheyenne Frontier Days was the primary purpose for travel to Laramie County for the vast majority of overnight (71%) and day (93%) visitors.

- Two-thirds (67%) of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees stayed overnight while traveling.

- Among overnight visitors, over half (63%) stayed in a hotel, motel, lodge, or short-term rental. The remainder 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.

Frontier Days "A Second Christmas" For Some Businesses

The economic impact of CFD on the Laramie County economy has long been recognized.

Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dale Steenbergen has often referred to it as "a second Christmas." That is especially true for businesses catering to travelers, including gas stations, restaurants, hotels and bars.