Thunder by the Bay brings in $8 million impact

The 17th annual Thunder by the Bay motorcycle festival, which benefits for Suncoast Charities for Children, had an 8.8% increase in its economic impact in comparison to last year.

The four-day festival, which ran Thursday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 11, included events around Sarasota County. According to the impact report, around 90,000 people attended the events. Forty-three percent of attendees lived in the county and 57% were nonresidents, the majority of whom were from other areas of Florida.

Overnight visitors, about 12% of festival attendees, accounted for 6,000 room nights in lodgings in the area. Attendees spent $4.1 million in direct expenditures – and 93% said they plan to attend next year. The total economic impact to the area was $8 million.

Also, two thirds of the participants in the festival owned Harley Davidsons, and 86% of nonresidents traveled to the festival using their motorcycles.

Next year's festival dates have already been set for Jan. 7 throught Jan. 10.