Two sold-out nights of Banana Ball at Bank of America Stadium in June generated $38.6 million in total economic impact, based on a report by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority released Wednesday.
Those numbers compare favorably to last year’s ACC football championship game between Clemson and SMU or the Duke Mayo’s Classic between NC State and Tennessee last September to start the college football season, which each generated about $26.1 million in economic impact, according to the Charlotte Sports Authority. Those events take place over a single night.
The Savannah Bananas, owned by Belmont residents Jesse and Emily Cole, drew about 148,000 attendees over two nights, including more than 54,000 out-of-town visitors. The CRVA conducted a ZIP code analysis to determine that nearly half of all the fans attending the theatrical baseball game traveled at least 50 miles to attend.
The two nights at an NFL stadium made it the “biggest weekend in Banana Ball history,” says team president Jared Orton, in a statement released by the Charlotte Sports Foundation.
“The mission of the Charlotte Sports Foundation is to elevate the city of Charlotte and positively impact the economy by bringing unparalleled sports events and experiences to town,” said Will Pitts, who has led the sports promotion group as CEO since April 1.
Community leaders push the idea of Charlotte being a sports town with six professional franchises in the region. Sports generated $90.6 million in economic growth last year, $2.7 million in taxes paid and led to more than 80,000 hotel rooms being booked, according to Charlotte Sports Foundation.
Events like the Savannah Bananas are about more than money, says Steve Bagwell, CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
“While the numbers are impressive, the real story is in the memories made,” says Bagwell in a release. “Nearly half the fans traveled 50 miles or more to be here, filling our hotels, dining in local restaurants, and experiencing our city.
“For many families, it was their first Savannah Bananas game, and they’ll always remember that it happened in Charlotte,” he added.
Here’s a breakdown of how the dollars were spent:
- Lodging 19%
- Food & Beverage 20%
- Transportation 19%
- Retail 22%
- Recreation/Entertainment 22%