Tucson Event Profiles

UMC El Tour de Tucson Presented by Diamond Ventures
University Medical Center El Tour de Tucson presented by Diamond Ventures is Tucson and Southern Arizona's largest perimeter cycling event. El Tour is organized every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving by Tucson's Perimeter Bicycling Association of America. This ride attracts more than 9,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and beyond. Participants may cycle 109, 79, 66 or 40 miles, plus the 6, 3 & 1/4- mile Diamond Children's Fun Ride, open to all abilities. Main routes expose participants to scenic areas of Tucson, with beautiful vistas of its local mountain ranges. Indoor El Tour is a stationary cycling event; ride for minutes instead of miles while supporting Perimeter Bicycling charities, and receive a special medallion.

Date: November 17, 2012
Contacts: Richard DeBernardis or Melanie Rineer, Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, (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

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 various 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, located at Tucson Convention Center, and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society's (TGMS) open-to-the-public show (the one that started it all in 1955), located at Tucson Convention Center Arena. Gem Show ‘season' attracts an estimated 55,000 out-of-town visitors. 

Date: January 28 - February 12, 2012
Date: February 2 - 17, 2013
Contact - AGTA: Doug Hucker, (214) 742-4367 or (800) 972-1162
Contact - TGMS: (520) 322-5773.
Contact - General media: Jessica Stephens, MTCVB PR, (520) 770-2143
Online list of gem shows: www.visitTucson.org/gemshow
Economic impact: $100 million
Read the 2007 Economic Impact Report >>

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Tucson Rodeo) & Parade
The annual Tucson Rodeo, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Festival of the Cowboys), began in 1925. This signature Tucson event includes five PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) events, which take place at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds at South 6th Ave. and Irvington Rd. The event also features the world's longest horse-drawn, non-motorized parade. The week's activities attract about 55,000 fans. An estimated 200,000 spectators come out for the parade.

Date: The 86th La Fiesta de los Vaqueros: February 18 - 26, 2012
Date: Tucson Rodeo Parade: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012
Tickets go on sale November 1, 2011.
Media contact: Joan Liess, Joan Liess Marketing Services, (520) 881-8256
Contact: Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85714-3004, (520) 741-2233
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 like Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, and Geoff Ogilvy go head-to-head in an internationally televised, match-play event that has produced unpredictable finishes and intense drama since it began in 1999. Proceeds from this championship benefit regional and local charities, such as The First Tee program. 

Date: February 20 - 26, 2012
General media contact: Jessica Stephens, MTCVB PR, (520) 770-2143
Economic impact:

Tucson Festival of Books  
The Tucson Festival of Books is sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star with the University of Arizona and presented by University Medical Center. The festival, which takes place on the University of Arizona campus, was started in 2009 and is now the fourth-largest book festival in the USA. In 2011 the Tucson Festival of Books attracted 450 authors and presenters, 80,000 attendees, close to 1,200 festival volunteers, and more than 180 exhibitors. Internationally renowned authors such as J.A. Jance, Billy Collins, Diana Gabaldon, and Elmore Leonard have participated in this unprecedented Tucson literary event. The program includes staged activities and events for book lovers of all ages, including lectures, readings, writer's workshops and book signings, and food from local vendors. Net proceeds promote literacy in Southern Arizona through the Tucson Festival of Books Foundation.

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, (520) 891-9681,
naomi@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org
Participants: 450 authors, panelists and performers and more than 180 exhibitors
Estimated attendance: Close to 80,000
Economic impact:

Tucson International Mariachi Conference
The award-winning La Frontera 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 public events that are open to the public featuring the world's best and brightest mariachi musicians and talented folklorico dancers: the Participant Showcase, Serenata y Cena, Espectacular Concert, Mariachi Mass, Concerts in the Plaza, and Fiesta de Garibaldi. The conference's workshops give students the opportunity to study the music and dance of Mexico.

Date: April 23-29, 2012
Media contact: Lupita Castellanos, La Frontera, gcastellanos@lafrontera.org, (520) 838-3913  

USTA National Junior Winter Championships  
This annual invitational championship for junior tennis champs attracts the very best players, ages 12-14, from around the United States. Catch it for an early glimpse of tomorrow's tennis stars. A number of the junior players who have won Tucson events are now on international circuits. This event is open to the public and is free to spectators. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Junior Winter Championships is presented by Tucson Parks and Recreation at Reffkin Tennis Center, with tournament sites at Tucson Raquet Club, University of Arizona, Rincon High School, and Ft. Lowell Tennis Center.

USTA Junior Winter Championships: December 2012
Media Contacts: Jim Reffkin, Reffkin Tennis Center, (520) 791-4896
Location: Reffkin Tennis Center
Number of participants:
Economic impact:

Tucson Association of Realtors Soccer Shootout
The Tucson Association of Realtors Soccer Shootout is Tucson's annual winter soccer tournament. Sub-events include Accuracy Shooting, Juggling, Dribbling Relay, and the Team Shootout event. 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! 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 2013
Media contact: Hapie Denfeld, Ft. Lowell Soccer Shootout, (520) 396-0162
Number of teams: 321 (174 of these are out-of-town teams)
Number of players per team: 15
Number of spectators: 14,000
Economic impact: $3.1 million