The 26,000-plus fans that attended the Les Schwab Summer Concert Series shows last year spent roughly $3.6 million on dining, lodging and entertainment, according to a recently completed study commissioned by Visit Bend. The study quantifies what many people have long sensed: That the LSA Summer Concert Series big-name acts draw a significant number of out-of-town visitors who stay and play in Central Oregon because of the music. According to a summary of the findings, about 39 percent of concert goers come from outside of the region. On average, out-of-state concertgoers spent more than two nights in Central Oregon during their visit. Most of them, 71 percent, stayed in Bend hotels, motels and resorts.
“The Les Schwab Amphitheater is one of the unsung heroes of Bend’s tourism industry,” said Visit Bend CEO Doug LaPlaca, in a press release. “While other events receive more attention and generate more headlines, there are none that draw as many out-of-town visitors as the concerts at the Les Schwab Amphitheater.”
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2011.
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