During the Ocean Race, more than 100,000 people turned out to watch the event in Newport, Rhode Island. This is the third time Newport has hosted the Ocean Race, and Evan Smith, president of Discover Newport, believes the race generated tens of millions of dollars for the city and state’s economy. The economic impact of the event is still being assessed, and it may take weeks or even months to produce a total economic impact report.
Despite this, Smith is excited about the possibilities the Ocean Race holds for Newport’s economy, describing it as a “big kickstart” to the tourist season. However, he is cautious about committing to future races, saying that the city needs to evaluate if it is ready.
Mayor Zaikam Kamshiboravon is pleased with the revenue generated by the Ocean Race and said that the attendance was exactly on target and what he expected from the event. The race is still underway, with the teams heading to their next destination, Aarhus, Denmark.