A recent study has shown that power boat races helped inject large amounts of money into a local economy where they were held. Case in point is Michigan City: The La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that their inaugural 2009 Great Lakes Grand Prix offshore powerboat race injected more than $6 million into their local economy. For this reason, Super Boat International and Brighthouse Networks are bringing some of the fastest and largest offshore power boats in the world to Clearwater from Friday, October 2nd through Sunday, October 4th for Clearwater’s 1st Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival.
Michigan City’s study, commissioned by the La Porte County CVB, showed that the 80,000-plus spectators who attended the 3-day event in early August injected nearly $5 million into the local economy simply through expenditures like dining and shopping. When gaming and lodging revenues were added in the total rose to above $6 million, according to a statement from the bureau. CVB officials also noted that several out-of-town visitors in the area for the boat race had to secure lodging in neighboring counties, thereby spreading the wealth.
The power boats that will race on Clearwater Beach this October are equipped with F-16 jet canopies and extreme speeds of up to 200 mph, and will compete in front of a predicted 40,000-plus spectators and fans coming from all over Florida and other parts of the nation. Power boat racers like Miss Geico, Seminole Hard Rock Casino, AMSOIL and Stihl are some of the reported teams to be competing in the festival.
The Host Hotel for Clearwater’s 1st Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival is the
Hilton Clearwater Beach. The Partner Hotels are the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Sand Pearl Resort and Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites. The jammed-packed festival will be FREE for the entire family with plenty of parking available in downtown Clearwater with rides to and from the beach via the Jolly Trolley. The jammed-packed festival will be FREE for the entire family with plenty of parking available in downtown Clearwater with rides to and from the beach via the Jolly Trolley.
Festivities will include:
· Parties at Coachman Park and Pier 60 all weekend;
· Loads of food and libations;
· Ability to see the boats at dry dock at Coachman Park and meet some of the drivers;
· Ability to watch the boats practice at Clearwater Beach before the big race;
· A free concert and fireworks; and of course
· The Races!
For more information about the races and all the events, visit http://www.clearwatersuperboat.com/
About Clearwater’s 1st Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival:
When Super Boat International (SBI) founder and 30-year veteran, John Carbonell, wanted to produce Clearwater’s 1st Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival two local area businessmen made it happen: Restaurateur Frank Chivas and Former Mayor of Clearwater Brian Aungst Sr.
Carbonell has been producing the World Championship Races in Key West every year for 3 decades as well as the races in Sarasota held every 4th of July. Now Clearwater, the next “new great location” will have something Key West doesn’t have…the absence of cruise ships obstructing the race sight lines. “It’s a great time of year to support the tourism industry,” says Aungst. “[SBI] needed another spot and Clearwater Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in the world.”
Clearwater’s 1st Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival will be produced by Super Boat International, presented by Brighthouse Networks and sponsored by Bud Light Lime and the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The updated list of in-kind sponsors is:
The Community Partners are the:
Volunteer Support and the benefiting charity is:
For more information visit http://www.clearwatersuperboat.com/
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