Water park saw 50k visitors, $2 million in economic impact

The City of Hopkinsville is reporting that the Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center saw the third-highest year for attendance in 2018 and generated about $2 million in economic impact.

According to a news release, around 50,000 people, with an average of 611 people a day, visited the waterpark between the dates of May 26 and September 3 and 70 percent of those visitors were from out of county. Only 2010 and 2011 recorded more visitors to the attraction.

The park also reportedly generated an economic impact of $1.99 million, with that number derived by estimating the number of out of town guests and multiplying by the estimated daily spending, based on statewide Convention and Visitors Bureau averages. The actual calculation figure used for daily spending was figured conservatively, using only 25 percent of the state CVB’s projected average expenditure for day visitors.

Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tab Brockman says, “Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center continues to be one of our community’s strongest attractions for guests. Water park visitors spend money in other establishments when they come to Hopkinsville, like restaurants, gas stations and retail shops. These visitors help our overall economy to the tune of nearly $2 million, which is significant.”

Opening day for the 2019 Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center season is May 25.