Economic Impact of the
EXPANSION
T
he Classic Center’s economic impact for Athens‐Clarke
County has recently increased by 32% with its expansion,
rising from $50 million in 2011‐2012 to $65 million in 2012‐
2013. This impact represents the effects of spending by
event a endees on hotel rooms, local transporta on, shopping and
dining.
In 2013, The Classic Center Authority booked 42,155 room nights;
the Authority is on track to actualize 58,000 in 2014. Future booked
room nights have also seen a drama c increase, rising 125% from
2011 to 2013.
With the addi on of the new Classic Center Arena, The Classic Center
now has the ability to host large sports tournaments. The venue
In 2012‐2013, the Center hosted 1,275 event days, bringing in over features a 17,000‐square‐foot removable ice rink and telescopic
360,000 total a endees. In the same year, The Classic Center helped sea ng for up to 2,000 fans. The Arena is the new home of the UGA
create 806 new jobs in Athens. The Center’s impact was recently Ice Dogs, as well as the Classic City Rollergirls.
recognized by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business,
which named The Classic Center a top four economic driver for The removable ice rink also will allow The Classic Center to host ice
entertainment shows and to offer public ska ng for the holiday
Athens‐Clarke County.
season.
The Classic Center has already booked 47 new groups as a direct
result of the expansion; these groups will bring over $36 million in The Classic Center looks forward to diversifying the entertainment
op ons available to our community and strengthening the appeal of
economic impact over a five year period.
downtown Athens as a tourist a rac on.
“The Classic Center is a large piece of the Athens‐Clarke County economic development pie. Its large number of events help keep the hotels,
downtown shops and restaurants full all year long. This des na on and a rac on adds to the cultural diversity and density that make
Athens unique. With their recent expansion, The Classic Center will con nue to pay dividends to the ci zens of Athens‐Clarke County for a
long me to come.”
– Ryan Moore, Director of the Athens‐Clarke County Economic Development Department
The new 17,000 sq. . removable ice rink which is the home to the UGA Ice Dogs and the Classic City Rollergirls
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233