A Note on the Effects of Popular Music Concerts on Hospitality Sales: The Case of Waterfront Concerts in Bangor, Maine [Summary]

This piece examines the local tourism-related expenditures made by attendees at large, outdoor popular music concerts held from 2010 to 2012 in Bangor, Maine. A regression analysis of the relationship between monthly taxable retail sales—e.g., restaurant and lodging sales—and the number of concertgoers is used to estimate local spending figures of between $33.81 and $52.31 per attendee on restaurant meals and $18.92 to $23.12 per concertgoer on lodging in the Bangor region. Results suggest that an estimated 29 to 31 percent of attendees spend the night in the local area, which is very similar to the share of concertgoers who travel more than two hours to attend shows.