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Impacting the Local Economy

A significant part of The Classic Center’s mission is to GENERATE MAXIMUM ECONOMIC IMPACT

We accomplish this by attracting visitor dollars spent by convention attendees.

• The hospitality industry is one of the top three economic engines in our community
• For every night spent in Athens, each of our guests spends an average of $200 here* in hotels, restaurants and shops.
• Tourist expenditures in Athens reached $220 million in 2010, up 4.7 percent from the previous year.**
• Our community greatly benefits from the $602,821 in visitor spending that pours into our local economy every day.

That revenue saves Athens residents almost $30 million in taxes each year.***

Unlike most public assembly facilities, The Classic Center does not receive a general fund subsidy.

The facility does receive a portion of the hotel/motel tax, which is generated by overnight hotel stays.

*Information provided by State of Georgia and Selig Center at University of Georgia Terry College of Business

**Information provided by State of Georgia

***Information provided by Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau and Athens-Clarke County ($346 per household with 92,116 households in Athens)