Roar Offshore 2019 Delivered $18.5 Million Economic Impact, Reports States

The return of offshore powerboat racing to Fort Myers Beach, Fla., in late October 2019 after a 13-year hiatus proved to be as good for the venue as it was for the sport. According to an economic impact report released today by the event organizers, the Roar Offshore event—the season finale of the 2019 American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship Series—not only attracted a record-setting 68 teams, it generated an estimated economic impact of $18.5 million and a direct total impact of $16.7 million in expenditures.

The final contest of the last year’s APBA Offshore Championship Series, Roar Offshore benefitted the sport and the local Fort Myers Beach community. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Those figures do not “include any hotel room revenue booked by spectators,” the report stated. Based on the estimated occupancy rate of the beach area for race weekend an additional direct spend by spectators on hotel rooms is $4.25 million based on 300 rooms booked for three-night stays, which translates to 18,900 room night with average nightly rate of $225.

CBS Sports and Fox Sports aired an hour-long post-race program covering the Roar Offshore event. According to the report, the TV show reached approximately 65 million homes in the United States and 400 million households in more than 150 countries. The races were also livestreamed with 312,167 viewers tuning in from around the world.

“Roar Offshore is entirely sponsored by businesses and individuals that have a vision for powerboat racing on Fort Myers Beach, and a wish to improve our local area economy by bringing in tourism dollars,” said organizers Tim Hill, his wife, Cyndee and Mike Shepherd in a joint statement including in the report. “In addition to our volunteers, without our Roar Offshore sponsors, sanctioned powerboat racing would not take place in Lee County on Fort Myers Beach.

“Financial and in-kind sponsors at all levels play an important role and specific role in producing our world class racing event,” the continued. “With sponsorship levels designed to accommodate a complete spectrum of opportunities, we continue to ask for support to grow Roar Offshore, improve our community, and to make the Fort Myers Beach Race the largest sanctioned Power-Boat Race event in the United States.”

Roar Offshore organizers plan to make every aspect of their event bigger and better this year.

Roar Offshore 2019 Delivered $18.5 Million Economic Impact, Reports States

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