I am of the belief that you shouldn’t talk about politics in groups. The conversations can get heated pretty quickly and it makes people uncomfortable. But while I was watching the news last night I saw a political add for Sam Page.
It was a negative add against Kinder. That in itself didn’t bother me because everyone runs negative ads now instead of actually saying anything about their own policy but thats for another blog. I wasn’t really paying attention to it at all and then I caught a piece about the Tour of Missouri.
I’m really glad I have DVR because I backed it up right away. The add claims that Kinder lost millions of dollars of tax payer money to put on the Tour of Missouri.
Not Telling All The Facts
They don’t say anything about the $26+ million that it brought in last year or the over $29 million that it brought in to the state in tourism dollars this year.
- 434,000 spectators came out to see the races in 2008.
- The average tourist spent $270 per day in Missouri.
- 77% of the out of state spectators said they came to Missouri because of the bike race.
- 72% of the spectators stated in the survey that the Tour of Missouri was the best sporting event they had been to in the last 12 months.
They only spent $1.7 million to put it on
so lets do the math.
$26,200,000.00 brought in by the Tour of Missouri in 2007
- 1,700,000.00 spent promoting the race in 2007
So $24,500,000.00 were brought into the state. Thats hotel rooms, restaurants, rental cars, maps, t-shirts, etc. That is $24.5 million dollars injected into the state economy. That is $24.5 million dollars spread out from St. Joe to Clinton to Branson to Herman. It went all over the state. This years race brought in $29 million dollars. I’m sure that did a lot more for Joe Six Pack, or what ever they are calling the average Missourian these days than the $1.7 million dollars would have done in the hands of some other state committee.
Tourism is almost like free money for a state. It is outside income from local assets and attractions. Missourians should remember that a large part of our economy is from tourism. The Arch, the Lake of the Ozarks, Truman Lake, Lexington Battlefield, Boonslick, Hanibal, Branson, etc. all depend on tourism to survive.
No other event in Missouri brings as much international attention to the state as the Tour of Missouri.
I have to admit that I couldn’t have cared less about the Lt. Governor race until I saw this political ad. Knowing the economic impact that the Tour of Missouri has this just struck me as a complete and utter lie.
Sam Page Is Using The Anti-Bicycle Public To His Advantage
They are trying to play on the anti-bicycle public in the state. There are over 2 million cyclists in Missouri, yet politicians don’t consider cyclists an influential group. I think it is time that we change that.
The Tour of Missouri brings in out of state tourists that spend money. It brings with it a health fair that promotes healthy and active living. Missouri ranks as one of the worst states in the U.S. for weight related health problems. The Tour of Missouri also promotes cycling which is great for the entire state.
I’m not going to tell anyone how to vote as there are several candidates for this political office but as a cyclist you should think long and hard before sending a vote Sam Page’s way.
Save The Tour of Missouri
If he gets in office and does what his political ad says, the tour will not be coming back to Missouri.
You can check the facts for your self bellow. The economic impact surveys were done by IFM Sports. IFM Sports is an international sports marketing and research company that has their U.S. headquarters in Saint Louis.
Kansas City Star Article About the Tour of Missouri
United Health Foundation - 2007 Missouri Report
CalorieLab’s United States of Obesity 2008
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Levi 10.15.08 at 7:01 am
It’s too bad politicians consider bike races, bike paths, and other spending to be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars, without considering the benefits to tourism, health, safety, the environment, etc.
Bradly Fletchall 10.15.08 at 8:45 am
Its is really bad in the central U.S. Our political leaders just don’t get it. They don’t understand bicycling like they do in Portland.
What upset me the most was the blatant attempt to use the anti-bicycling community for political gain when the state gains so much from bicycling.
We have the Katy Trail. Its the largest single Rails-to-Trails project in the U.S.
Adam 10.15.08 at 1:41 pm
I guess we know what to do now. If this Sam Page insists on blatantly lying to over 2,000,000 potential voters, he will eventually be shown to be what he is and lose lots of votes. You think he may have been inconvenienced on his way to a Starbucks or a “massage parlor”? Screw him, and don’t vote for him. Viva la Tour of Missouri!
Adam 10.15.08 at 1:48 pm
Update! The irony is that Sam Page is shown in a picture as a child RIDING A BICYCLE.
Bradly Fletchall 10.15.08 at 8:02 pm
@Adam - I noticed that picture too and thought that it was a bit ironic as well.