Detroit Jazz Fest Demonstrates Major Economic Impact

Detroit Jazz Fest Demonstrates Major Economic Impact

Cultural Icon is also a Center of Commerce

DETROIT, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the ailing economy, organizers of the Detroit International Jazz Festival (DJF) are pleased to announce its economic impact on the region. Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, accepted the role of Honorary Chair of the DJF Advisory Board because the Jazz Fest not only contributes to the area's quality of life each year, "it provides a tremendous economic impact to our region that we should not take for granted." According to the Detroit Metropolitan Convention and Visitor's Bureau (DMCVB), the average party attending the Jazz Festival spent $266 per day on food, gas, lodging, parking, entertainment, merchandise and other miscellaneous items in 2007. "With the average party equaling two people, the conservative cumulative impact is $90M," he added. Detroit Jazz Fest also creates tourism for the region as twenty-three percent (23%) of the guests come from outside Michigan and 42% of them fly to visit Detroit exclusively for the festival.

The only free festival that presents the likes of Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Dianne Reeves, Hank Jones, Christian McBride, Lalah Hathaway in Detroit for 29 years in addition to showcases for youth and local talent, the Detroit Jazz Fest was resurrected and expanded to a 2M square foot festival with six stages in 2006 through an endowment by Gretchen Valade. The Jazz Festival is now an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a five-year plan towards sustainability through grants, corporate partnerships, individual contributions and memberships. "I endowed the festival in 2006 to encourage others to support the effort in keeping this first class affair free. Our 750,000+ guests have become accustomed to a really great event," said Valade. "By keeping the festival free of admission, we are affording our guests a beautiful, open atmosphere and making it easier for them to spend more money in the City and with our sponsors," said Executive Director Terri Pontremoli.

Sponsors are also encouraging others to join them, including Chase Bank, who sponsors the Chase Main Stage at Cadillac Square / Campus Martius. "We sponsor the Jazz Fest not only because it is important to Detroit's economic development, but also because it is an important and diverse audience for us to be in front of," said Christine Kageff, Vice President of Philanthropy for Chase. William Patrick Young of Absopure sponsors the Absopure Waterfront Stage each year and echoes Kageff's statement. "I have developed more business through the Jazz Fest. The audience really appreciates that we play a leading role in its success." Research performed by both the DMCVB and an independent firm point to the Jazz Fest attendee as more apt to be college educated, more likely to travel internationally and a supporter of the arts.

The Detroit Jazz Fest presents a great American art form that is supported by several great American companies and foundations, which to date, include Chase, Absopure, The Kresge Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Pepsi, MGM Grand Detroit, Carhartt, DTE Energy, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Budweiser, Big Boy, CBS Outdoor, Detroit Media Partnership, WEMU, WDET, WWJ-950AM, Comcast, Northwest World Traveler, Jazz Times and many others.

The DJF Advisory Board includes Robert Ficano, Honorary Chair; Detroit City Council President Kenneth Cockrel, Jr.; George Hill, CEO of Diversified Chemical Technologies, Inc. as Chair; Gretchen Valade, Chair of Mack Avenue Records; Tom Robinson, CEO of Mack Avenue Records; Dr. Stanley Berry, Director of Obstetrics & Gynecology of Beaumont Hospital; Attorney Jeffrey G. Collins, Partner, Phifer & White, P.C.; Christine Kageff, Vice President of Philanthropy, Chase; Karla Hall, Vice President of DTE Energy Foundation; Robert McCabe, Founder, Detroit International Jazz Festival; Retired Judge Claudia House Morcom; Dave Usher, CEO, Marine Pollution Controls; Allen Ross, President, Little Silver Corp.; Mark Valade, CEO, Carhartt, Inc.; Samuel Thomas, President, Star Development Financial Corporation; William Patrick Young, President, Absopure and Sharon Banks, Director of Communications, Wayne County.

For information on business partnerships with the Detroit International Jazz Festival, please contact Peggy K. Goodwin, Director of Corporate Partnerships and Marketing Alliances at 313.715.0199 or 248.414.4533.

Contact: Peggy K. Goodwin, APR
313.715.0199 or 248.376.0390

Matt Lee
248.931.2443

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Detroit Jazz Fest

CONTACT: Peggy K. Goodwin, APR, +1-313-715-0199 or +1-248-376-0390, or
Matt Lee, +1-248-931-2443

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