Sportsnet.ca — The NHL’s all-star foray into the southern U.S. market has been railroaded by one of the region’s finest delicacies — chicken.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the International Poultry Expo, which wraps up a three-day run at the Georgia World Congress Center on Friday, accounted for the booking of 25,000 hotel room nights, according to the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The NHL All-Star Game and related events pale by comparison: about 8,000 out-of-town visitors and 6,700 hotel room nights.
Billed as the world’s largest trade show for the poultry and egg industry, the International Poultry Expo drew an estimated 20,000 visitors; a number we believe only includes the non-feathered type.
An event’s economic impact is largely driven by the number of out-of-town visitors it draws.
“The good news is that [the NHL All-Star weekend] is a great mega-event for Thrashers season-ticket holders because they get a chance to attend the game. But [the bad news is] that decreases your amount of economic impact because there are a lot fewer people from out of town at the game and spending money in hotels and restaurants,” said Gary Stokan, the Sports Council president.
The all-star weekend gets underway Saturday night with the skills competition before the big game drops the puck on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
(Source: http://www.ajc.com/thrashers/)
