Studer Community Institute

Pensacon's economic impact triples in second year

March 13, 2015
/ Staff Reports
/ economy

Pensacon, the pop culture convention, returned for a successful second year with more than 22,000 attendees at the Pensacola Bay Center, the Crowne Plaza Grand Hotel, and the Saenger Theatre over the weekend of Feb. 27 through March 1. The data collected by surveyors of convention-goers plants a vivid portrait of the convention's growth — Pensacon generated $3,800,422 in the local economy, a 160 percent increase from last year. The research was conducted by Majority Opinion Research, brought in by Visit Pensacola. “We’re very excited about the growth of Pensacon from year one to year two,” said Mike Ensley, Pensacon chairman. “The only thing limiting our expansion now is the lack of convention facilities in Pensacola. It’s time to start a proactive conversation again about building a convention center here.” Manda Manning, director of marketing, said Pensacola being named the third nerdiest small city just weeks before the convention is proof of the economic power behind nerd culture. We believe the city has potential even beyond what we are already bringing," Manning said. "We're just proving it can be done.” The survey results showed that: — 48 percent of the event attendees from pre-sales were visitors to Pensacola — and 98 percent plan to return to Pensacon next year. “We had visitors from as far as the San Francisco Bay area and Washington state," said Manning. "It's evident our regional reach has expanded as well this year. We're well beyond a local event now." — 84 percent of attendees rated their experience at Pensacon as positive. — Past attendance, social media and family/friend referrals were the top sources of awareness of this year’s Pensacon. — 42 percent of attendees were ages 25-34; their average household income was $56,404. — The official host hotel, the Crowne Plaza Grand Hotel, was booked for Pensacon 2015 months in advance and other area hotels reported being sold out the week prior to the event. — Pensacon out-of-towners spent an average of $500.62 during their stay; and residents who attended spent an average of $326.55, up 85 percent from last year, in the course of attending the event. "All weekend, our attendees and celebrity guests were commenting on how they felt so welcomed and how the city had completely embraced the convention," said Manning. "We are so appreciative of how involved and supportive Pensacola has been of Pensacon." Pensacon CEO Ben Galecki, said he was "impressed and humbled: by the way Pensacola embraced the convention and its guests. “I look forward to planning new ways we can bring even more events to Pensacola with an expansion of our meeting space and hotels.” Pensacon returns in 2016 from Feb. 19-21. Peter Mayhew and David Prowse, who respectively play Chewbacca and Darth Vader in the Star Wars films, have been announced as the first 2016 guests.

Back to Blogs

Pensacon's economic impact triples in second year

Recent Posts