Visit Wichita: Garth Brooks shows worth $6.4 million in new economic activity

The series of Garth Brooks concerts earlier this month generated $6.4 million worth of new economic activity in the area, according to a report Friday from Visit Wichita.

A news release on the report said the four days of concerts at Intrust Bank Arena from Dec. 3 through Dec. 6 brought in $6.4 million from out-of-town visitors, defined as those traveling 100 miles or more for a show, while local concert-goers spent about $4.4 million, including ticket purchases.

The report, compiled by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University, estimates that $7.3 million in economic activity was retained in the Wichita area as a result of the concerts. Pattie Bradley of the center said local concert-goers spent about $3.5 million on tickets for the shows and another estimated $900,000 on dining and shopping.

About 75,000 tickets were sold for the series of six concerts, with close to one-third of those purchased by out-of-town guests, the report states. More than $1 million in tax revenue was realized at city, county and state levels combined from the series, according to the release.

“Visitors dined, shopped and stayed throughout Wichita,” said Visit Wichita president and CEO Susie Santo in the release. “Our hotels in the downtown area were full but that meant those hotels both east and west saw an increase in visitor stays as well. This concert benefited all areas of Wichita.”

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Visit Wichita: Garth Brooks shows worth $6.4 million in new economic activity."