Too Soon to Estimate IndyCar’s Sales Tax Impact for Watkins Glen

IndyCar at Watkins Glen in 2010

Adriano Manocchia/ AR1.com

As IndyCar is set to make its way back to Watkins Glen International this coming Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 1-4), Schuyler County Officials are eager to see the event's sales tax revenue impact.

For Schuyler County Administrator Tim O'Hearn, the event is a great pickup for the area, especially since WGI announced there wouldn't be a concert series this year, such as the Phish Magnaball event held last summer.

The absence of the concert event could mean a sales tax revenue drop totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars for the county. And while the IndyCar series on Labor Day Weekend won't bring quite as much money in as NASCAR weekend or the Magnaball festival, it will certainly make a positive impact on the county's revenue.

"It certainly won't be to the degree of a NASCAR race or even a music concert, but it's significant in its own respect, and it will contribute positively to the economy. It's certainly helps fill the gap that is left by not having a music concert this year," said O'Hearn.

But it's still too early to estimate the sales tax impact the IndyCar Series will have for the county this year. It's the first back to the track since 2010, and attendance varied over the years.

But O'Hearn is confident the repavement project as well as the track's marketing of the event will bring in plenty of people to the area.

"As Indy went on over the six years it was here, attendance did dwindle. It wasn't a huge impact on the economy, but it certainly is measurable. I I wouldn't even venture a guess as to what it would be this time around," said O'Hearn. 18 News