West Hollywood, California (June 2, 2008) - Christopher Street West Inc. (CSW), which produces the annual Los Angeles Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) Pride Festival and Parade in West Hollywood, conducted a first-time study on the celebration’s economic impact on the City of West Hollywood in 2007. 
Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
The report, accomplished this winter and shared in an exclusive with WeHoNews, shows a dramatic influx of cash following in the wake of the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the annual festivities, now in their 38th year.
The 38th annual parade and festival, which happens along Santa Monica Boulevard Sunday and in West Hollywood Park Friday night through Sunday, celebrates the culmination of its three-year theme, "Our Agenda: Love. Equality. PRIDE."
LA Pride's 2008 message is about taking pride in who you are, in your family, your community, and the in world around you.
Overall, people attending the three days worth of events spent $16.3 million inside WeHo and another $6.3 million in nearby LA – a $22.6 shot in the cities' arms.
Better than half of those funds came in from outside the immediate area – 58 percent of the total, or $12 million – came from non-LA/WeHo residents.
Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
Rodney Scott, executive director of CSW, told WeHoNews that the report carried no surprises, although it did confirm several assertions the festival has been making for years.
“No, nothing in the report surprised me,” he said, “but what it did do was confirm the fact that the festival has a strong economic footprint.
“That shows the financial impact that Pride has on the city,” he said, symbolizing how important it is to the city’s retailers and food and beverage industries.
Indeed, the lions’ share of the revenue went directly to food and drink – where the average daily per person expenditure was $52, better than half of all those dollars went to food and beverages.
That total includes expenditures inside the festival grounds, as well as in restaurants and bars.
Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
Retail trade accounted for $4 million, transportation (and parking) $2.5 million and the hotels took in another $3 million.
Because of the hotel tax (Transient Occupancy Tax) and business taxes on retails goods, the City’s coffers gained over $225,000, while LA took in over $90,000 in taxes.
CSW hired a firm experienced in the venue, CIC Research, Inc., which has done similar studies of Arizona and Long Beach Pride, as well as experience with the City itself, having done an impact study for the City’s Marketing and Visitors Bureau.
Respondents were recruited by professional interviewers to participate when passing by one of two tables each set up with ten hand-held computers on San Vicente Boulevard.
One interviewer asked passers-by to participate and the other at the table explained using the computer to input their responses.
Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
Interviewers asked Parade spectators on Santa Monica Boulevard to complete the same survey as those at the Festival.
The data input by the participants formed the basis for the attendee profile. The sample size was 423 interview subjects; each of those people were asked a wide panoply of questions that drilled down to specifics.
“If they said they spent money at a restaurant, they asked which restaurant,” Rodney said. “That way there was a check on their estimates. If they said $50 but the interviewers found out they ate as McDonald’s, they could get more accurate answers.”
On attendance numbers, the firm used estimates to assess the parade’s attendance, but had better gate and ticket data to arrive at festival attendee totals.
Overall, they said, over 400,000 people attend the parade/festival; fewer than 35,000 people set foot inside the festival grounds; the remainder attends the parade only.
Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
The parade route estimate is a triangulation between CSW’s, the Sheriff’s and CIC Research’s estimates.
The three-day festival celebrates diversity and culture with booths, food, exhibits, and performances.
Visit www.lapride.org for more information.
Street and Facilities Closures:
- Friday, June 6, Vendor Load-in 1PM - 10PM, Melrose Ave., San Vicente Blvd. to Robertson (parking lane)
- West Hollywood Park - 8:00AM, Tues., June 3th to 5PM, Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
- San Vicente Blvd. between Santa Monica Blvd. and Melrose - Thursday, 7:00PM, June 5th to Monday 7:00AM, June 9, 2008.
- Santa Monica Blvd. from Fairfax to Doheny- 6:00AM - 5:00PM, Sunday June 8, 2008. (varies by area)
- Streets one block north and south of SMB (Fairfax to LaPeer) 6:00AM - 5:00PM, Sunday June 8, 2008. (varies by area)
- Crescent Heights - Romaine Street to Fountain Ave. 6:00AM - 5:00PM (varies by area), Sunday June 8, 2008.
Printer-friendly
E-mail to friend
