Tucson Event ProfilesUMC El Tour de Tucson Presented by Diamond Ventures
Cyclists from around the world come to Tucson to ride in America's largest perimeter cycling event. Tucson's popular "El Tour" is open to professional racers and amateurs alike. The annual event has taken place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving since 1983, attracting cycling celebrities such as Greg LeMond, Jeannie Longo, Lance Armstrong, and Floyd Landis, all of whom have toured the 109-mile course around the city's perimeter.
Bicycling is big in Tucson. Bicycling Magazine recently named Tucson one of the top three cities for cycling in North America. The ranking was based on two factors: a city's cycling infrastructure and local cycling culture. Cycling teams, such as the United States' Tour de France winning United States Postal Service, have used Tucson as its winter training headquarters.
Date: November 22, 2008
Media Contacts: Richard DeBernardis or Melanie Rineer, Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, (520) 745-2033
Economic Impact: $20 - $30 million on ride weekend alone
Economic Impact: $50 - $70 million year-round
# of participants (riders): 9,500
# of spectators: 30,000 USTA Junior Winter Championships & Copper Bowl Tennis Tournament
Tucson's tennis tournaments attract more than 1,400 young tennis champs from 48 states. These events feature the tennis stars of the future. A number of juniors who have won Tucson events are now on international circuits and ranked among the top 20 in the Women's Tennis Association. Both events are open to the public and free. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Junior Winter Championships, headquartered at Randolph Tennis Center, is one of only four annual championships for the very best 12- and under-14-year-old players in the United States; the matches are hosted by Tucson Parks and Recreation and take place at public courts in midtown Tucson. The Copper Bowl is organized by Dickinson Sports, and is headquartered at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort's 31-court site. USTA Junior Winter Championships - December 27, 2008-January 1, 2009
Media Contacts: Jim Reffkin or Jeff Brack, Randolph Tennis Center, (520) 791-4896
Copper Bowl - January 2-7, 2009
Media Contact: Jason Dickinson, Dickinson Sports, (520) 742-2204
Location: Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort
Combined Economic Impact: $2.5 million
# of participants: 1,000
Coldwell Banker Soccer Shootout
Also known as the Soccer Olympics, the Coldwell Banker Soccer Shootout occurs annually in Tucson. Sub-events include Accuracy Shooting, Juggling, Dribbling Relay and the Team Shootout event. The fun starts on Friday night with the famous Fort Lowell Picnic in the Park, Opening Ceremonies, and Soccer Olympics. It's an evening of family fun with food and entertainment. When the Olympics start, teams size up their competition - show off skills - and, maybe, take home a gold or silver medal! Tournament games are played on Saturday and Sunday.
Tournaments are held at approximately 13 different fields throughout Tucson, with the bulk of the tournament play at Fort Lowell Park.
Date: January 16-18, 2009
Media Contact: Gina Brandt, Fort Lowell Soccer Club, (520) 749-9905
Economic Impact: $4.5 million
# of teams: 321 (174 of these are out-of-town teams)
# of players per team: 15
# of spectators: 14,000
Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase
The annual Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase runs January 31-February 15, 2009. With tens of thousands of buyers, dealers, curators, experts and guests, the showcase is the largest of its kind in the world. Nearly 50 shows in various locations and venues throughout town make up the 2009 Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase. Centerpieces of the show include the American Gem Trade Association's wholesale-only "AGTA GemFair Tucson" and the 55th annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Society show at Tucson Convention Center Arena, February 12-15, 2009. Gem Show ‘season' attracts an estimated 55,000 out-of-town visitors.
January 31 - February 15, 2009
January 30 - February 14, 2010
AGTA Contact: Doug Hucker, (214) 742-4367 or (800) 972-1162
TGMS Contact: Carol Lee, (520) 322-5773.
General Media Contact: Kimberly Schmitz, MTCVB PR, (520) 770-2143
List of Gem Shows: www.visitTucson.org/gemshow
Economic Impact: $100 million
Read the 2007 Economic Impact Report >>
84th Annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo
Tucson's annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Festival of the Cowboys) includes five PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) rodeos. It is held at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds at South 6th Ave. and Irvington Rd.
The event also features the world's longest non-motorized parade. The week's events attract about 55,000 fans. An estimated 200,000 spectators come out for the parade.
Date: Rodeo Competition - February 21-March 1, 2009
Parade - February 26, 2009
Media Contact: Joan Liess, Joan Liess Marketing Services, (520) 881-8256
Economic Impact: $16 million
World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship
Come February the eyes of golf will fall on metropolitan Tucson as it hosts for the third consecutive year the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. In 2009 this exciting competition will move to a new Tucson-area location, the luxurious The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. The world's top 64 golfers will try to etch their names in the history book of this prestigious tournament.
Billed as the cornerstone of the World Golf Championships, the five-day Accenture Match Play Championship takes place in Marana - just northwest of Tucson - February 23 - March 1, 2009 and features an $8 million purse. Regional and local charities such as The First Tee program will benefit.
Headlining this event will be the best golf has to offer. Pros like Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Geoff Ogilvy will go head-to-head at The Gallery at Dove Mountain's South Course with 60 other golfers in a match-play event that has produced a bevy of unpredictable finishes and intense drama since it began in 1999.
Date: February 23 - March 1, 2009
General Media Contact: Kimberly Schmitz, MTCVB PR, (520) 770-2143
Economic Impact: TBD
Major League Baseball Spring Training
Tucson is the only city in the United States that hosts three Major League Baseball Spring Training teams - Arizona's home team, the world champion Arizona Diamondbacks, the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox.
Spring Training is held every March in Tucson. An average of 45 games are played during the month at two stadiums. Ticket prices range from $2-15 per game.
The MTCVB's website - visitTucson.org - lists dozens of hotel and resort Spring Training weekend specials. In 2005, more than 257,000 people attended Tucson Spring Training games and more than 280,000 people are expected to attend in 2007.
Date: Annually in March
Media Contact: Bonnie Faircloth, Spring Training Operations Coordinator, (520) 434-1374
Economic Impact: $30 million
Total expenditure impact : $10 million per team
Tucson International Mariachi Conference
The award-winning Tucson International Mariachi Conference is Tucson's largest cultural event and a model for other mariachi conferences nationwide. It includes a week of student workshops followed by several public concerts featuring the world's best and brightest mariachi musicians and talented folklorico dancers. The public concerts are performed at outdoor and indoor stages in April.
Date: April 21-25, 2009
Media Contact: Loli Gomez, Tucson International Mariachi Conference, (520) 838-3908
Economic Impact: $3.7 million. The weeklong conference/festival brings in an estimated 60,000 participants and attendees. |
