FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — It's long been called The Great Minnesota Get-Together, but a new economic impact study suggests that calling the Minnesota State Fair the Great Cash Generator would also be accurate.
The study, conducted by Markin Consulting of Maple Grove, says the year-around operations of the Minnesota State Fair generated $268 million in economic impact across the greater Twin Cities in 2018. Data also suggests the fair supports more than 12,000 full time, seasonal and part time jobs with $76.9 million in direct earnings for local residents.
The 2018 State Fair attracted a record 2 million visitors during its 12-day run, plus the fairgrounds hosted a busy schedule of 150 non-fair events throughout the calendar year.
“By far, the State Fair’s most important impact is social,” said Jerry Hammer, general manager of the State Fair. “It’s where everyone feels welcome and where we celebrate the very best of each other. But every now and then, it’s also a good idea to take a look at the State Fair's economic impact.
“It’s important to remember that this study focuses only on the Twin Cities,” Hammer continued. “There’s additional unmeasured impact throughout Minnesota and in neighboring states. And every Minnesotan can be proud that our fair receives no government funding.”
Here is a bit wider look at some of the numbers.
$268 million in economic benefit
The Minnesota State Agricultural Society (governing body of the MN State Fair) generates economic impact from three distinct sources:
- Operating revenues and resulting local expenditures of the 12-day Minnesota State Fair = $127 million
- Activities and expenditures of concessionaires, ride & game operators, commercial exhibitors and livestock and horse show exhibitors at the annual Minnesota State Fair = $105 million
- Activities and expenditures of promoters, participants and exhibitors of non-fair events held at the State Fairgrounds throughout the year = $36 million
$76.9 million in wages and 12,390 jobs
Of the $268 million in total economic benefit to the Twin Cities area, $76.9 million represents wage earnings paid to Twin Cities employees directly, as well as through local businesses and their employees in support of State Fair activities and its users. This supported 12,390 full-time, seasonal and part-time jobs.
$9.9 million in tax revenue
Operations of the State Fair and the fairgrounds, as well as events held at the fairgrounds, generated state and local sales taxes and fuel and lodging taxes of $9.9 million.
You can read more on the economic impact study by logging on to the Minnesota State Fair website.
