The power of dance music crowds is in the money that is spent and based on the numbers being reported from the Chicago edition of Electric Daisy Carnival there’s a good chance that the town will invite them back. There were some noise complaints with the event lasting until 4 AM so an earlier ending would be likely but that could be the only roadblock. There’s other events like Ultra, Electric Zoo and HARD that end at midnight so an earlier last dance is something dance music fans could handle.
The report states that the event brought $26.1 million to the region and generated $1.6 million in state and local tax revenue.
From The Herald News:
But City Manager Thomas Thanas said the report “shows a good, strong impact on the economy, which events like this are designed to do.”
Thanas said he just saw the economic impact report Thursday, and the city has not determined how much of the money would have gone to Joliet businesses and taxes.
But he noted that about 25 percent of sales taxes in Joliet go to the city and that the city has a 7 percent hotel tax.
“A fairly good portion of the tax revenue came to the city of Joliet,” Thanas said.
Thanas was waiting for the economic impact report before going to the city council for a decision on whether to bring back Electric Daisy Carnival in 2014. But he said the city still must reach an agreement with Insomniac and Chicagoland Speedway on noise control and the hours for the event if it comes back.
The report also had the following numbers:
- Visitors spent $10.7 million
- Locals spent $4.3 million
- 48% of those attending were from outside the Chicago area
- Insomniac spent $11.1 million
- $5.4 million spent on food and beverages
- $1.4 million on accommodations
- $1.3 million for transportation
- $1.1 million spent in retail
- $1 million for additional entertainment
- 72% of the people said they’d return in 2014
- The festival attracted 65,000 people
The money generated some revenue for the town but there’s no reports on whether or not it was a profitable event for Insomniac. The numbers are positive and powerful enough for a return if Insomniac chooses.
Leave a Reply