SARASOTA – They say it takes a team to build a village – well on the Suncoast it take two organizations to recruit the Olympic Trials to Sarasota.
Over the years Sarasota County has been host to major sporting events driving the local economy up. But due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the impact revenue of canceled or postpone events have significantly hurt local businesses across the area.
But the 2020 U.S. Rowing Olympic Trials hosted at Nathan Benderson Park in February – provided an small economic boost after park officials report a loss of $250,000 worth of revenue from events canceled during the 2020 fiscal year.
“This is an event that while it may not have the enormous direct economic impact that other event do,” said Tomas Errera-Mishler. “It has such a beneficial impact on our region because it reminds people of what great destination this is especially in the winter.”
Mishler, President & CEO of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, says the park on average generates $30 million per year.
The non-profit manages Benderson Park, which estimates the parks economic impact on the community was down $19 million for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30th, 2020.
“National and international rowing events have brought millions of dollars to the destination just from all the people who have traveled here for those events in particular,” said Shelby Connett.
Connett, Director of Sports for Visit Sarasota County, says in 2016 the Olympic Rowing Trials generated an estimated $862,000 for the region.
Though this years Olympic Trials didn’t bring the same amount of economic revenue to the park Errera-Mishler says the trials this year were about marketing and exposure.
“This isn’t just a race course this is a laboratory in excellence for rowing and there is nothing like it in the United States,” said Errera-Mishler. “This is completely unique.”
Being the only FISA Class A-certified rowing course in North America, athletes from all over the globe train and compete at Benderson.
But about 90% of the teams that typically use the park around this time a year are canceling their visits. However, Errera-Mishler says no other park can, match what Benderson Park can offer.
“The incredible quality of the rowing condition that we can offer here consistently every single time is unparalleled,” he said.
Park officials say team training typically brings in more than $100,000 per year. They’re hoping the upcoming events this year will help make up some of the difference lost due the COVID pandemic.