Study to reveal Gwinnett Center’s impact on county economy

By Douglas Sams
doug.sams@gwinnettdailypost.com

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The University of Georgia and The Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau are going to conduct a three-month study of the Gwinnett Center on the county’s economy.

LAWRENCEVILLE — The University of Georgia has won the bid to find out how much Gwinnett Center means to the county’s economy, and apparently a lot of people may be surprised to see the results.
For about the next three months, The Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau and UGA economics professor Jeff Dorfman will work on the study, which will try to gauge how many people visit the center and its venues, including the multimillion dollar arena. A separate assessment will also measure how tourism dollars are spent in the Gwinnett economy. 
The $65 million Arena at Gwinnett Center was part of last year’s $91 million expansion to the center’s campus along Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. In its first year, the venue hosted various big-name acts from Bruce Springsteen to Alan Jackson, along with Georgia Force arena football and Gwinnett Gladiators minor league hockey.
Even so, a recent Bureau survey suggested many in Gwinnett may not realize the center’s true economic impact. Last year, Gwinnett Center hosted 541 events, but the Bureau’s man-on-the-street survey found that county residents thought more like 25 to 50 sounded about right.
“I think a lot of people realize the arena is a great place to see concerts and sports, but many don’t realize the huge number of conventions and international performances that are held at the center,” Bureau spokeswoman Lisa Anders said.
The Bureau will unveil the rest of its findings in a presentation March 18 during the county’s annual economic development forum.
Meanwhile, alternative pop band Dashboard Confessional recently said it will headline American Honda Motor Co.’s Civic Tour, which visits the Gwinnett arena June 19.