Despite the financial woes experienced by the pro sports teams playing at U.S. Cellular Coliseum, area businesses are thrilled with the financial impact from the facility.
The Bloomington, Indiana facility has made an impact by bringing in high-impact groups and concerts to the area. Arena management estimates that these events have added $60 million to the local economy in the last four years. This isn’t money that would be spent in the community anyway; this is new money from outside the area. Like the million-dollar impact provided by a regional convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Or the folks in the region who come in where there’s a major concert in town; hotels and restaurants report an uptick when the likes of Brooks and Dunn are in concert.