Tucson Major Event Profiles
Tucson Association of Realtors Soccer Shootout
The Tucson Association of Realtors Soccer Shootout annual youth soccer tournament matches up youth teams from throughout Arizona and the Southwest region. The event begins Friday with an evening of family fun with food and entertainment at the Fort Lowell Picnic in the Park, followed by Opening Ceremonies and Soccer Olympics. When the Olympics start, teams size up their competition - show off skills - and, maybe, take home a gold or silver medal. Skill competitions include Accuracy Shooting, Juggling, Dribbling Relay, and the Team Shootout. Games are played on Saturday and Sunday at roughly 13 different fields throughout Tucson, with the bulk of play at Fort Lowell Park.
Date: January 18-20, 2013
Location: Fort Lowell Park, 2900 North Craycroft Road Tucson, AZ 85712
Media contact: Eileen Majeski at (520) 529-1493 or flso@fortlowellshootout.com
Number of teams: 321 (174 of these are out-of-town teams)
Number of players per team: 15
Number of spectators: 14,000
Estimated economic impact: $3.1 million
Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase
The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase attracts tens of thousands of buyers, collectors, dealers, curators and guests for the premier event of its kind in the world. Dozens of shows at varied locations and venues throughout metropolitan Tucson make up Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase. Centerpieces of the showcase include the American Gem Trade Association's (AGTA) wholesale-only AGTA GemFair Tucson, at Tucson Convention Center, and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society's (TGMS) open-to-the-public show (the show that started it all in 1955), also at Tucson Convention Center. Other shows take place in hotels, conference centers, and temporary tents, from one end of town to another.
Date: February 2-17, 2013
Date: February 1-16, 2014
Date: January 31-February 15, 2015
Contact - American Gem Trade Association: (214) 742-4367 or (800) 972-1162
Contact - Tucson Gem & Mineral Society: (520) 322-5773
Contact - General media assistance: Jessica Stephens, MTCVB PR, at (520) 770-2143 or jstephens@visitTucson.org
Online list of gem shows: www.visitTucson.org/gemshow
Estimated attendance: 55,000
Estimated economic impact: $100 million
Read the 2007 Economic Impact Report >>
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros -Tucson Rodeo & Parade
The Tucson Rodeo, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Festival of the Cowboys), began in 1925 with three days of competition; today, this signature Tucson event spans more than a week of activities centered on the Tucson Rodeo, one of the top 25 professional rodeos in North America. The Tucson Rodeo includes six PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) events, hosted at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, and features the Tucson Rodeo Parade, the world's longest horse-drawn non-motorized parade, which also started in 1925. Daily barn dances and kid's events round out the fun. Tucson schools close for two days during "Rodeo Week" so students can attend.
Date: The 88th La Fiesta de los Vaqueros: February 16-24, 2013
Date: Tucson Rodeo Parade: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013
Media contact: Joan Liess, Joan Liess Marketing Services, at (520) 881-8256 or media@tucsonrodeo.com
Location: Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85714-3004
Estimated rodeo attendance: 55,000
Estimated parade attendance: 200,000
Estimated economic impact: $16 million
World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship
Metropolitan Tucson hosts the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in the town of Marana, northwest of Tucson. The world's best 64 golfers compete for an $8 million purse at this exciting championship that has been played here among stands of majestic saguaros since 2009. Pros golfers go head-to-head in an internationally televised PGA (Professional Golfers Association of America) match-play event that has produced unpredictable finishes and intense drama. Proceeds from this championship benefit regional and local charities, such as The First Tee program.Date: February 18-24, 2013
Location: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, 15000 N Secret Springs Drive Marana, AZ 85658
General media contact: Jessica Stephens, MTCVB PR, at (520) 770-2143 or jstephens@visitTucson.org
Attendance:
Estimated economic impact:
Tucson Festival of Books
The Tucson Festival of Books, sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star with the University of Arizona and presented by University Medical Center, takes place on the University of Arizona campus. The festival was organized in 2009; in 2012 it is the fourth-largest book festival in the USA. In 2011 the Tucson Festival of Books attracted 450 authors and presenters, 80,000 attendees, 2,000 festival volunteers, and more than 180 exhibitors. Programming includes talks by such renowned authors as J.A. Jance, Billy Collins, Diana Gabaldon, and Elmore Leonard; and lectures, readings, writer's workshops, and book signings, with many delicious local food vendors. Net proceeds promote literacy in Southern Arizona.Date: March 10-11, 2012
Location: University of Arizona campus, 1209 E. University Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85721
Festival contact: Naomi McCoy, TFOB Director of Communications & Development, at (520) 891-9681 or naomi@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org
Participants: 450 authors, panelists and performers and more than 180 exhibitors
Estimated attendance: More than 80,000
Number of volunteers: 2,000
Estimated economic impact:
Tucson International Mariachi Conference
The award-winning La Frontera Arizona Tucson International Mariachi Conference is Tucson's a model for other mariachi conferences and festivals nationwide. It includes a week of student workshops, followed by concerts that feature many of the world's best and brightest mariachi musicians and talented folklorico dancers: the Participant Showcase, Espectacular Concert, and Fiesta de Garibaldi. Workshops at the conference give students the opportunity to study traditional music and dance of Mexico with masters of the mariachi band and folklorico dance genres. In 2012, the conference moved from downtown Tucson to the Casino del Sol Resort & Conference Center.
Date: April 25-28, 2012
Location: Casino del Sol Resort & Conference Center, 655 West Valencia Road, Tucson, AZ 85757
Contact: Mary Jo Parker at mparker@lafrontera.org or (520) 838-3913, or timc@lafrontera.org
Participants:
Attendance:
Estimated economic impact:
Tucson Folk Festival
The Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association (TKMA) invites all music lovers to enjoy 20 hours of free, live acoustic music on five stages in downtown Tucson at the annual Tucson Folk Festival, one of the largest free festivals in United States. Started in 1986, the Tucson Folk Festival features hundreds of local, regional, and national musicians performing live music, uplugged and plugged in, for more than 10,000 fans. Portions of the festival are broadcast live on Tucson's community radio station KXCI 91.3 FM.
Date: May 5 - 6, 2012
Contact: Jim Lipson, TKMA President, at jimlipson@yahoo.com or (520) 271-6943
Number of volunteers: 250
Estimated attendance: 10,000
Estimated economic impact:
Tucson Meet Yourself
This celebration of Tucson & Southern Arizona's ethnic and cultural diversity was started by academic and public folklorist Dr. James "Big Jim" Griffith and his wife Loma in 1974. Every year since then the interactive family-friendly festival has grown, now encompassing six blocks and 60 downtown Tucson acres. Tucson Meet Yourself showcases traditional and ethnic music, dance, arts and crafts, and food, with demonstrations and workshops, staged performances, exhibits, and dozens of food vendors. "Big Jim" Griffith in 2011 was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts award, for his "significant contribution to the preservation and awareness of cultural heritage."
Date: October 12-14, 2012
Contact: Mia Hansen, Production Director, at (520) 370-0588 or mia@tucsonmeetyourself.org
Location: Downton Tucson
Number of volunteers:
Estimated attendance: 100,000
Estimated economic impact:
UMC El Tour de Tucson
University Medical Center El Tour de Tucson is organized annually by Perimeter Bicycling Association of America on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. "El Tour" is Tucson & Southern Arizona's largest perimeter cycling event, attracting roughly 9,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and worldwide; and consisting of novice, intermediate, advanced, and professional riders. Participants cycle main event distances of 111, 85, 60 or 42 miles, or choose the Fun Ride 6, 3 or 1/4-miles. Main event routes show off Sonoran Desert scenery. Course profiles range from flat to rolling or moderately hilly, though the 40-mile route is basically flat and a great family affair or a perfect first event for beginners.
Date: November 17, 2012
Contacts: Richard DeBernardis at president@perimeterbicycling, or Melanie Rineer at sponsorship@perimeterbicycling.com or (520) 745-2033
Number of participants: 9,000 cyclists
Number of spectators: 30,000
Economic impact: $20 - $30 million on ride weekend alone
Economic impact: $50 - $70 million year-round
Fourth Avenue Winter/Spring Street Fair
More than 400 arts and crafts booths and 40 food vendors, staged entertainment, kid's activities, and more draw close to 200,000-300,000 shoppers at two Fourth Avenue Street Fairs, one in spring and one in winter. Both fairs take place on Fourth Avenue, between Ninth Street and University Boulevard, between downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona.
Date: March 23-25, 2012
Date: December 7-9, 2012
Contact: Kurt Tallis, Marketing & Events Director, at kurt@fourthavenue.org or (520) 624-5004
Estimated attendance: 200,000-300,000
Estimated economic impact:
USTA National Junior Winter Championships
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) sanctions this annual invitational championship for junior tennis players, ages 12-14, from around the United States. Watch it for an early glimpse of tomorrow's tennis stars. A number of the junior players who have won this Tucson event are now on international circuits. This event is open to the public and is free to spectators. The USTA Junior Winter Championships is presented by Tucson Parks and Recreation at Reffkin Tennis Center, with tournament sites at Tucson Racquet Club, University of Arizona, Rincon High School, and Ft. Lowell Tennis Center.
Date: December 27, 2012 - January 1, 2013
Media Contacts: Jim Reffkin, (520) 791-4896 or jimreffkin@reffkintenniscenter.com
Location: Reffkin Tennis Center, 50 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711
Number of participants:
Estimated economic impact:
