Kent State College of Business Administration professors conduct study on economic impact of Cleveland's 2014 Gay Games

Shawn Rohlin and Nadia Greenhalgh-Stanley, both
Kent State University professors of economics, conducted
a study on the economic impact of last year's Gay Games in
Northeast Ohio.

Thousands came and spent millions last August at the 2014 Gay Games presented by the Cleveland Foundation. The global event’s total economic impact was $52.1 million, according to a study.

“The Gay Games provided an important economic impact for the local Northeast Ohio economy, including higher revenues generated for local businesses and new local jobs,” says Shawn Rohlin, who co-authored the study with Nadia Greenhalgh-Stanley. The two are professors of economics at Kent State University.

Participants were asked about their spending in a post-event survey. Among the results:

• 75 percent of the 20,000-plus who participated or attended the games lived outside the Cleveland+Akron metro area.
• Locals and nonlocals spent $38.8 million in the main sectors of the economy, including hotels, restaurants, bars and gas stations.
• An additional $20.6 million was generated in local incomes, roughly the equivalent of 726 full-time jobs.
• 64 percent of local participants said they would have traveled outside Northeast Ohio to participate in the Gay Games, taking their local spending of $8.4 million and “dropping” it into another region.
  

“We are thrilled the Gay Games were such a success for Northeast Ohio’s economy, as well as its global reputation,” says David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “First-time visitors talked about how welcoming and impressive Cleveland was, and some were planning a return trip before they even left town.”

“Akron and Summit County truly benefited from the thousands of new visitors during the week of the Games, and we already are experiencing long-term success,” says Gregg Mervis, president and CEO of Akron/Summit County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The city’s street festival during the Games – Flair Fest – was such a success that it will return next year and the International Gay Rodeo Association is already talking about coming back.”

About the Gay Games

The Gay Games is an international sporting and cultural event held every four years under the founding principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™. Launched in 1982, the Games invite participation from everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political beliefs, athletic or artistic ability, age, physical challenge or health status.

The Games are intended to bring a global community together in friendship, to experience participation, to elevate consciousness and self-esteem, and to achieve a form of cultural and intellectual synergy. The Gay Games is open to anyone 18 years or older. About 10 percent of participants are from outside the LGBT community.

The 2014 Gay Games presented by the Cleveland Foundation took place Aug. 9-16 in venues around Cleveland and Akron. More than 35 sports and culture events were held, with more than 20,000 people from more than 60 countries estimated to have participated or attended.