Big Bear Lake, CA, July 28, 2010, 3:30pm – Members of the Amgen Tour of California local organizing committee reported to the Big Bear Lake City Council on July 12th, with a presentation of the Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake. Rick Bates of the Events Resource Office and Rick Shoup of the Resort Association reported to the Council that an estimated crowd of 10,000 was present at the Snow Summit finish. While the crowds were expected to be larger, the drop of Lance Armstrong from the race the day before may have kept up to 20% of spectators away. A survey done by the Events Resource Office reported that 36.5% of the spectators were first time visitors, and that 45.3% stayed at least one night in Big Bear, and that 76.3% of visitors shopped during their stay. The survey also reported that the event had an estimated economic impact of $1,518,800 estimating that each person who attended spent a median amount of $200 each. Race day coverage on the Versus network was seen in over 200 countries, with over 2 million spectators watching. “The coverage on the Versus network will have a long term impact,” said Shoup, “ A lot of people saw Big Bear, and had no idea there was a place like that an hour and a half from Los Angeles.” Television coverage of the Big Bear Climb was also seen on major Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs news programs. Bates has received the request for proposal for the 2011 Tour of California, and expressed that he hopes to see the Amgen Tour of California return many years for another Big Bear Climb.
