Chicago organizers of the 2006 Gay Games released preliminary attendance estimates regarding the 2006 Gay Games VII Sports & Cultural Festival—and the numbers exceeded expectations.
According to a statement from Kevin Boyer, the Games’ co-vice chair, ‘Attendance at Gay Games Chicago events exceeded 140,000, [which is] 40,000 more than we had projected.’ Of that number, an estimated 107,500 attended the Opening & Closing ceremonies; the expo; and all of the sports and cultural events. The remainder—about 33,000—attended official affiliated events and parties throughout the week of July 15-22.
Breaking the numbers down even further, the Opening Ceremony at Soldier Field had an estimated attendance of 32,000 while approximately 20,000 went to Wrigley Field for the Closing Ceremony. About 13,250 went to the four-day Gay Games Expo while participating athletes and artists made up another 11,500.
‘Ticket sales to sports and cultural events exceeded our estimates by almost 50 percent,’ said Boyer. The largest events included figure skating (1,500 two-day passes) at McFetridge Recreation Center, diving (1,075 two-day passes) at Northwestern University and dancesport (1,075 two-day passes) at the Hilton Chicago.
The Gay Games organization projects a financial surplus for the $9.5 million event. Final financial details are expected to be available before the end of September.