Olympics had big economic impact

Estimated economic impacts of 2002 Olympics on Utah

Official state estimate of economic impact for the period leading up to and through the end of 2002:

$4.8 billion in sales

$1.5 billion in earnings for Utah workers

35,000 job years of employment

Approximately $1.02 - 1.25 billion in direct economic impact to Utah from hosting events (in 2002)

An estimated $210 million value in media exposure from Utah events (in 2002)

Profits

The Olympics yielded about $100 million in profit, which were distributed throughout the local community after the Games:

$72.0 million endowment to maintain facilities

$10.2 million for Olympic Legacy Plazas

$11.5 million charitable donations

$  7.0 million in USOC business credits. 

Tourism

Hotel room rents = 25 percent increase from 2002 to 2009

Rocky Mountain Lodging Report: Statewide occupancy increased from 58.8 percent in 2003 to 59.7 percent in 2010

Utah has seen a 42 percent increase in skier visits since the Games.

Direct expenditures from skiers and snowboarders have increased 67 percent from $704 million in 2002-03 to $1.2 billion in 2010-11.

Sources: Utah Sports Commission, Salt Lake Chamber 

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