The result of the first ever Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta are in. The official economic impact report says it was the success organizers hoped for.
It was an event unlike anything Manatee County has ever had before, the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta. And no one knew how it would turn out.
Nearly a month later, organizers like Dave Gustafson Director of the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority say it was a huge success and they have an official report to prove it.
“Its an amazing report. It kind of justifies all the time and energy we put into this, Gustafson said.
The Bradenton Area Convection Center and Visitors Bureau hired an outside agency to conduct an official economic impact report. It says that 80,000 people attended the inaugural event. With an $8 million economic impact to the area that Gustafson says businesses are feeling.
“Our restaurants and our community have already stated that they are getting phone calls from people in Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota and outside the area that want to hear more about Bradenton and want to come to Bradenton and want to come to Palmetto and Manatee County.”
The agency interviewed 186 people at the regatta. While the vast majority loved they event some had suggestions for next year such as more restroom facilities, shuttles from parking areas, boat viewing areas, more food vendors, a beer garden. and bleacher seating. Bradenton resident Patrick Thomas was there and agrees with this.
“I know if you weren’t right on the bridge side that it was kind of hard to see the boats come below. But yeah bleacher seating would be good," Thomas said.
Gustafson said the report along with community input is only going to make the event better next year.
“All we want to do is make this event bigger, better, better quality and bring in more partners," Gustafson said.