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Friday, April 27, 2007
An Economic Engine -
Study says Portland International Raceway generates $45 million
Portland Business Journal - by Andy Giegerich, Business Journal staff writer
Portland International Raceway track manager Mark Wigginton says people underestimate PIR’
s economic impact. Even though it hosts an undeniably loud pastime, Portland International
Raceway is a quiet economic giant.
The track generates about $45 million annually in Multnomah County spending. Some $2.7
million of that goes to small businesses.
Without the city-owned track, 690 full- and part-time workers wouldn't have jobs, according to
a study by Portland-based economic impact researcher EcoNorthwest.
"The track has a huge economic impact because there's so much more stuff going on there
than you could ever really imagine," said John Draneas, a Portland attorney and president of
the Friends of PIR group. "There are a million little things that add up to a $45 million impact."
This is a critical time for PIR. The track faces uncertainty regarding the future of the Champ
Car Grand Prix of Portland race, its largest spectator event, and might need to tweak its layout
after two noise-related studies appear later this year.
Along with auto races, the track holds many motorcycle meets. It also holds bicycle races and
welcomes car clubs that gather to exhibit their newly detailed vintage autos. Police use it for
training purposes.
The result is a steady stream of swinging gates that augments PIR's spectator events. The
Champ Car race, scheduled for June 8-10, draws more than 100,000 people annually.
The Rose Cup amateur races, the West Coast's largest such competition, attract more than
400 racers and thousands of fans.
All told, more than 400,000 people either visit PIR or participate in the track's events each
year.
"Since PIR is one of the few facilities like it that's public, I'm always amazed by how many
events are really citizen-oriented, or run by everyday Joe Schmoes instead of promoters," said
Paul Van Orden, the city's noise control officer.
Such variety explains why PIR delivers the bucks to surrounding businesses. The track hosts
about 650 events per year, with multiple activities taking place nearly every day from March
through October.
An Economic Engine -
Study says Portland International Raceway generates $45 million
Portland Business Journal - by Andy Giegerich, Business Journal staff writer
Portland International Raceway track manager Mark Wigginton says people underestimate PIR’
s economic impact. Even though it hosts an undeniably loud pastime, Portland International
Raceway is a quiet economic giant.
The track generates about $45 million annually in Multnomah County spending. Some $2.7
million of that goes to small businesses.
Without the city-owned track, 690 full- and part-time workers wouldn't have jobs, according to
a study by Portland-based economic impact researcher EcoNorthwest.
"The track has a huge economic impact because there's so much more stuff going on there
than you could ever really imagine," said John Draneas, a Portland attorney and president of
the Friends of PIR group. "There are a million little things that add up to a $45 million impact."
This is a critical time for PIR. The track faces uncertainty regarding the future of the Champ
Car Grand Prix of Portland race, its largest spectator event, and might need to tweak its layout
after two noise-related studies appear later this year.
Along with auto races, the track holds many motorcycle meets. It also holds bicycle races and
welcomes car clubs that gather to exhibit their newly detailed vintage autos. Police use it for
training purposes.
The result is a steady stream of swinging gates that augments PIR's spectator events. The
Champ Car race, scheduled for June 8-10, draws more than 100,000 people annually.
The Rose Cup amateur races, the West Coast's largest such competition, attract more than
400 racers and thousands of fans.
All told, more than 400,000 people either visit PIR or participate in the track's events each
year.
"Since PIR is one of the few facilities like it that's public, I'm always amazed by how many
events are really citizen-oriented, or run by everyday Joe Schmoes instead of promoters," said
Paul Van Orden, the city's noise control officer.
Such variety explains why PIR delivers the bucks to surrounding businesses. The track hosts
about 650 events per year, with multiple activities taking place nearly every day from March
through October.