Freedom Festival and Clipper race gave region a £9m boost
THE Freedom Festival and start of the Clipper race brought more than £9m into the region's economy, it has been revealed.
Together, the launch of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and the free festival – which featured chart-topping music acts and spectacular live entertainment – attracted 150,000 people to Hull city centre in a bumper weekend.
Now, an independent study into the event has found the weekend, staged across September 11-13, generated £9.3m for the local economy, benefiting bars, shops, restaurants and hotels.
Organisers are now already working on emulating the success of the extravaganza with events being staged this year.
Janet Reuben, chief executive of tourism organisation Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, which helps fund the Freedom Festival, said: "The Freedom and Clipper weekend was spectacular and has shown this city the enormous capacity it has to host world-class festivals.
"The unprecedented success of the events, in both attracting visitors to the region and supporting local businesses, has created a strong feel-good factor that will make future festivals even better."
According to the new study, the weekend saw most bed spaces at hotels filled and it was difficult to find seats at restaurants, cafes and bars across the city.
St Stephen's shopping centre had twice as many visitors as usual on the Saturday night with more than 9,000 going through its doors.
The social and economic analysis also discovered that:
The average spend on accommodation was £120
Average spend per person per day on transport, food, drink, attractions and shopping was £41.96
About 99.5 per cent of those surveyed would return to the next Freedom Festival
Some visitors had travelled from Germany, Iraq, Iran and Australia.
The Freedom Festival has now been confirmed as an annual event, taking place in early September, and an additional celebration will be organised for the return of the fleet of Clipper yachts on July 17.
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by Mark, Sutton
Friday, February 05 2010, 8:10AM
“Dave, I am not suggesting everyone goes home at 5pm, and I would love to see more made of the waterfront. I was just pointing out to George that using Torquay as an example wasn't the best choice he could have made.”
by Happy Jack The Sailor, All at sea
Friday, February 05 2010, 3:14AM
“Eyarrrr shipmates this be the best news since I found out where the old man hid the key to the rum & baccy locker. Now where's that cabin boy?”
by Harry off dock, Hull
Thursday, February 04 2010, 7:52PM
“I heard John Robinson on the radio today.The Lib Dems after spending years slagging Hull off and doing nothing to improve the place in 4+ years of being in control,are suddenly now saying it's a fantastic place!!What a hypocritical moronic bunch of toe-rags!!!! I find it amazing that the Libs only get on the media bandwagon when it's a good s when it's bad one they become invisible!!What a difference being in control makes!!!! I agree that the clipper weekend was a huge success even though it was expensive and the weather was okay who can put a price on feeling good?Anyway to all you people that knock the city you need to get a grasp on what the council(which ever party it is )can and can't do.Money is the name of the game both public and private and at the moment it's scarce especially in the private sector.”
by Pete, HULL
Thursday, February 04 2010, 6:48PM
“STEPHAN got to admit/.
Stop lying before your nose grows too big,.
For a start A J knows both Tory Councillors and would always speak because he has dealings with them as Chair of Planning and he other as the chair of Licence committee.
How do you give a dirty look with dark dark dark glasses
You pathetic attempts to attack A J, something you do on a regular basis says more about you than him.
So please stop insulting our intelligence and to put it in your language, grow up for heavens sake.”
by Pete, Hull
Thursday, February 04 2010, 6:43PM
“STEPHAN got to admit/.
Stop lying before your nose grows too big,.
For a start A J knows both Tory Councillors and would always speak because he has dealings with them as Chair of Planning and he other as the chair of Licence committee.
How do you give a dirty look with dark dark dark glasses
You pathetic attempts to attack A J, something you do on a regular basis says more about you than him.
So please stop insulting our intelligence and to put it in your language, grow up for heavens sake.”
by Roger the Cabin Boy, Onboard the Black Pig
Thursday, February 04 2010, 6:25PM
“When we came for the clipper race the crew asked the locals for a pub which would welcome seaman, so we went for the Polar Bear”
by simon, Down Sarrf
Thursday, February 04 2010, 6:04PM
“Unbelievable , something good happens in Hull for once and yet again the doom and gloom merchants are out in force.
Why worry what it cost and just enjoy something for a change , something that put this great city on the map for a change or are you all happy to see it dragged through the dirt again and again?
Come on people get into the real world nothings for free but when you have a weekend that was as good as that was then surely even the bitterest must have had some sort of smile on their face..”
by Billy, Hull
Thursday, February 04 2010, 4:29PM
“So how much did it cost to stage the event?
Was the 9 million profit in addition to other revenue or it is 9 million minues what the event cost?”
by David, Hull
Thursday, February 04 2010, 3:34PM
“It may have been a spectacular even last year but it could be even better if in the other 51 weeks of the year the marina and surrounding areas were improved. Lets face it, with the exception of Humber Quays, the Marina is run down and in need of a much needed facelift. I cant believe that since the Fruit Market traders moved out not one single building down Humber Street is occupied. I also heard that there were supposed to be further improvements to the Fruit Market side of the marina, new paving, street furniture etc.. but theres no money available so it wont get done. I can see it remaining as it is right until a week before the clippers return only for a bit of window dressing to be done covering up the derelict buildings. If next year is to be even bigger and better then i suggest the council/ Hull Forward start now to make improvements and not leave it till a week before.”
by Rottie RIP, Da Kennel
Thursday, February 04 2010, 3:03PM
“Why o why o why can't we have another rottie update. The poor little fella could be suffering at the hands of its evil owner and we the people would be none the wiser.
He was the HDMs cash cow for 3 days solid and then nothing. I guess thats how the world of celebrity goes. Its a RUFF business”