Country’s oldest classic set to bring eight figure boost to the local economy
The St Leger Festival is returning to Doncaster this week and according to Doncaster Chamber it will bring with it an eight figure boost to the economy.
The festival, which last year was originally planned to be one of the trial locations for the return of fans to live sporting events before being cancelled at the eleventh hour taking place behind closed doors, due to rising infection numbers in the town, is expected to generate £15m over its four days.
Dan Fell, CEO of Doncaster Chamber, said: “The St Leger is incredibly important to Doncaster’s economy. Firstly, it is an iconic sporting event, which attracts thousands of visitors to the area each September.
“The festival also generates a significant amount of income for the Borough and provides employment opportunities within the hospitality and leisure sector.
“In addition, it is known for being a setting where many important business connections are made and strengthened, through the wealth of opportunities it creates for networking and corporate hospitality.
“Indeed, as a Chamber we are delighted to be hosting over 170 representatives of Doncaster’s business community on Thursday for Ladies Day after not being able to go ahead last year due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid pandemic. It was devastating for the Borough’s economy, particularly hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors who were forced to close down completely.”
A spokesperson for Doncaster Council said: “We’re excited for the St Leger Festival to be returning to Doncaster this year and looking forward for locals and visitors having a great time enjoying the racing and the rest of what the town has to offer with the extended hospitality available.
“The St Leger Festival is one of the biggest events in Doncaster’s calendar and it always brings an extension to the summer holidays and creates vibrancy in the town.”
Research revealed last year that the pandemic cost the horse racing sector over £114.8m and that in 2019 the industry, which is responsible for more than 3,600 full time equivalent jobs, contributed to over £300.2m to the Yorkshire economy through a mix of both racing and non-raceway events.
