From Punta Gorda / Englewood Beach VCB – MAY 15, 2019
PUNTA GORDA/ENGLEWOOD BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2019) – The Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau has released results of the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training Visitor and Economic Impact studyOpens a New Window.. The study states out-of-county visitors generated an estimated $13,885,000 in economic impact in Charlotte County. This figure includes direct and indirect spending by day-trippers and overnight visitors. Spending by Charlotte County residents and seasonal visitors, the Charlotte Sports Park, the Tampa Bay Rays organization, visiting teams, or media, are not included.
The estimated figure is based on research the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners commissioned Research Data Services, Inc., of Tampa, to conduct during the 2019 spring training season. Sixteen Tampa Bay Rays spring training home games were played at the Charlotte Sports Park Feb. 22 – March 22 and attracted 67,001 fans.
Other findings include:
After the Tampa Bay Rays signed a 20-year lease with Charlotte County in 2006, the Charlotte Sports Parks underwent a $27.9 million-dollar renovation and the Rays played their first spring training game on February 25, 2009.