Impact of Hosting The 2003 Royal Bank Cup for The City of Charlottetown is in The Millions

RBC.021.03
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May 4, 2003
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Hosting a national championship hockey tournament can result in many benefits for a city.

But for the City of Charlottetown one of those benefits of hosting the 2003 Royal Bank Cup is the economic impact that bring a tournament like this can have on a city.

Although, the estimations of how much this tournament will bring to the city are different, depending on who you ask, it is estimated in the millions.

“I think that with the restaurants and the hotels generally the economic spin off will probably be between $2.5 to $3 million for the province,” said Wayne MacDougall the chair for the host committee for the tournament.

MacDougall said the estimate is between $2.5 to $3 million because of a number of different factors such as the amount of people they expect will come to Charlottetown to see the tournament.

He said with teams like the Lennoxville Cougars and the Wellington Dukes being somewhat close to the area, that family, friends and supporters can drive to Charlottetown to see the tournament.

While Sterling MacFadyen, the Charlottetown City councilor in charge of economic development has slightly different numbers.

“We’re looking at a vicinity of $1.5 to $2 million, when you take everything into consideration,” said MacFadyen. ““You take your hotels and your restaurants and have lots of people in them and it’s great,” said MacFadyen.

In fact, having the tournament in Charlottetown came at a perfect time for the city said MacFayden.

“It is our shoulder season and to have five teams from across Canada with their families and friends and officials it’s just unbelievable for this time of year,” said MacFadyen.

He added, “There are hotels where they were 20 per cent filled and now they are up to 60 to 70 per cent filled and they are all in the City of Charlottetown and everyone of them has got to eat. And some of then come by bus and they have to get around the city, which is good for the taxi cabs. It’s just an impact of every part of the city.”

MacDougall also agreed that the impact will effect the entire city.

“Just form talking to a taxi driver (he predicts an impact). For example, he said thanks very much for bring the tournament here because he said he made a considerable amount of dollars by cab fairs this morning,” said MacDougall.

MacDougall said the majority of the money raised from the tournament will go to two different groups.

“The money that we make in this tournament go back to the Abbies, as well, we are probably going to put some into the development of hockey on P.E.I.,” said MacDougall.

Another kind of impact which maybe felt on the city is one of learning about different areas of the country said MacDougall. “We have asked some of the players from different teams to go to (some schools) and talk to (the students) about were they come from and give them a little history and geography lesson,” said MacDougall.

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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