Hamilton’s Supercrawl has a big economic impact in the city

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It’s quickly becoming the biggest annual event in Hamilton, not only in terms of size, but in terms of economic impact. Supercrawl has grown from three-thousand spectators, seven years ago, to more that 100-thousand, last year. So what does the annual extravaganza bring to Hamilton other than music? Scot Urquhart has some answers for us, as Supercrawl organizers unveiled this year’s line up earlier today.

The festival generates 14 million dollars a year, that goes back into the local economy. Hamilton’s Supercrawl, is now a major annual festival in Ontario with enough momentum to convince the province to commit $150,000 to support it this year.

Festival organizers unveiled this year’s line-up of musicians, which includes acts like Elliott Brood, blues virtuoso Steve Strongman, and a local band that’s making it big, world-wide: Monster Truck.
The fact that Monster Truck can headline the festival in its own home town is a testament to the current power of the Hamilton music scene, but the festival is doing much more than providing great music.

Kerry Wade owns and operates Blackbird Studios, a James Street fashion boutique. She both designs, and sews most of the creations she stocks. And she says the affects of Supercrawl last long after the last note fades into the night:

“It makes a huge difference to our business. Not just the weekend, which is crazy because you know there are a hundred-thousand people who are not normally on James Street North. The after-effects of Supercrawl are really great as well, because a lot of these people have never been to James Street or to downtown Hamilton to see the revitalization, and it makes them want to come back and go shopping, which is great for us.”

Supercrawl begins, September 10th.