Final Report Shows IIHF Women’s World Championship’s Huge Economic Impact on Oneida County

County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that the final report on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championship held in Utica had a huge economic impact, bringing in 70,000 more visitors to Oneida County and generating at least $3.4 million in consumer spending.

"Hosting the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Utica was an incredible success for Oneida County," Picente said. "With the tournament helping to attract 70,000 more visitors to our region and an economic impact far exceeding the County’s investment, this event not only showcased our community on the international stage, but also strengthened our local businesses and reinforced our reputation as a premier destination for world-class events. We are proud of the teamwork and hospitality that made this achievement possible."

The 12-day hockey tournament featured 10 women’s national hockey teams from around the globe competing in 29 total games at the Adirondack Bank Center and Utica University Nexus Center April 3-14, 2024.

The economic impact report, which was prepared by the Adirondack Sports Council (ADKSC) — the firm Oneida County utilized to help organize, execute and promote the event — determined the following:

Attendance

• Total attendance across the 29 games was 68,840.
• Average attendance per game was 2,373.
• Attendance at the Subaru World Championship Village—the first-ever fan zone at a Women’s Worlds—was 11,352.
• The 2024 Women’s Worlds was the highest-ever attended in the U.S.
• The Adirondack Bank Center broke its modern-day attendance record twice during the tournament.

Visitors

• 70,000 more people visited Oneida County from March 1 to April 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
  • March 1 to April 30, 2024
    • Total visitors-1,000,000
  • March 1 to April 30, 2023
    • Total visitors-930,000
• The Adirondack Bank and Nexus centers welcomed 21,600 more visitors from March 1 to April 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
• Hotel occupancy rates in Oneida County were higher in April 2024 compared to April 2023
  • 6% increase in demand
  • 9% increase in occupancy
  • 16% increase in daily rate
  • 22% increase in revenue

Revenue

• Based on an average per person spend of $50 per game, $3,442,000 was generated across the duration of the tournament.
• Bed tax revenue during the quarter which the Women’s Worlds took place was up 6.7% from the same quarter the year before.
  • Second quarter bed tax revenue 2024-$701,372
  • Second quarter bed tax revenue 2023-$657,571
• Sales tax revenue during the reporting period the Women’s Worlds took place was up 4.3% from the same reporting period the year before.
  • May 7, 2024 sales tax revenue report-$12,488,148
  • May 7, 2023 sales tax revenue report-$11,969,900
• As of December 2024, the second quarter (during which the Women’s Worlds took place), was the highest performing quarter for sales tax and increased by 3.9% over the year before.
  • Second quarter sales tax revenue 2024-$50,538,142
  • Second quarter sales tax revenue 2023-$48,647,760

Visitor data is attributed to Placer.ai and does not include international visitors. Hotel occupancy data is according to Oneida County Tourism.

The IIHF Women’s World Championship was a partnership between Oneida County, IIHF, USA Hockey, Mohawk Valley Garden, Turning Stone Enterprises and ADKSC.

Full report available here:IIHF-Final-Report.pdf