When the dust settles from the Triple Crown, Aiken County expects to be at least $3 million richer, and that's a conservative calculation, county officials say.
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Patrons filled the walkway at Ford Conger Field for last year's 38th renewal of the Aiken Spring Steeplechase. The events bring in money for local organizations and charities.
Annette M. Drowlette/Augusta Chronicle
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Although there is no study to clarify the economic impact the event has on the county, the business community, local charities and civic organizations all stand to gain thousands of dollars in revenue, either from tourism dollars or from the tax monies collected.
The $3 million that county officials are projecting comes from lodging, meals, admission, parking fees, souvenirs, gasoline and miscellaneous expenses for 8,000 out-of-town guests, said Robbie Doying, Aiken County's tourism program coordinator.
That estimate, however, also includes what local residents, who account for 60 percent of the spectators, might spend on admission, parking fees, meals and souvenirs, she said.
Monthly revenue results for Aiken's accommodations tax from fiscal year 2004-05 show a $6,000 increase for the period that includes the Triple Crown, going from about $21,000 to about $27,000, said Aiken City Manager Roger LeDuc.
For the first time, the city is investing some of the tax revenue to promote the event by spending $3,500 for billboards and card racks in tourism centers throughout the state, said Barbara Gassman, the city's tourism supervisor.
The business community always stakes a claim in the Triple Crown by contributing $90,000 for the three events in exchange for free advertising.
This year's six sponsors include Regions Bank, Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Harvard's Wine and Beverage, AB Beverage Co. Inc. and The Augusta Chronicle.
Civic organizations and charities look forward to the equestrian events that serve as major fund-raisers for the groups, which receive a portion of the money brought in from ticket sales.
The Aiken Trials, held at the Aiken Training Track are the only annual fund-raising event for the Aiken Jaycees and have generated about $10,000 for the group in the past.
The Aiken Steeplechase raises money for the Aiken County Rescue Squad, the Hitchcock Foundation, the Sertoma Club and Helping Hands Inc., said Paul Sauerborn, the president of the Aiken Steeplechase Association.
"The bottom line is, it's not just covering the expenses of the race and putting money in the pockets of our organization, per se," he said. "We try to redirect it into charities in our community."
Last year, the Aiken County Rescue Squad and Hitchcock Foundation, a protection agency for Aiken's 2,000-acre urban forest, both received $5,000 from event proceeds.
Helping Hands, an emergency shelter for children, received $10,000 to fund their operations. The group also gave the Aiken Sertoma Club $20,000 to distribute among charities it supports.
This year the Steeplechase Association chose Children's Place Inc. to sponsor its gala that draws more than 500 attendees.
"Each spring we try to afford a local entity (the opportunity) to raise money for themselves," Mr. Sauerborn said. "They should be able to walk away with $20,000."
For the second year, the third leg of the Triple Crown will feature a polo tournament. University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics Director Randy Warrick said the event raised $22,000 last year for the USC Aiken Pacer Club, the booster organization of the university's athletics department. Funds help with scholarships for student-athletes, athletic awards banquets and general operating and recruiting expenses.
"We had some first-year costs last year that we won't have this year, so we expect to make more," Mr. Warrick said.
Reach Krista Zilizi at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106, or krista.zilizi@augustachronicle.com.
BY THE NUMBERS
Anticipated revenue from the Triple Crown, based on spending by 8,000 spectators from out-of-town:
$900,000: Hotel rooms
$680,000: Meals
$225,000: Admission fees
$137,500: Souvenirs, fuel, miscellaneous
$105,000: Parking fees
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