CLEVELAND — We’re learning more about the economic impact here in Northeast Ohio connected to the April 8 solar eclipse as Destination Cleveland revealed new details Wednesday morning that shows 12 events generated $24.6 million across Cuyahoga, Lorain and Lake counties.
“Direct spending accounts for $15.1 million of the $24.6 million economic impact,” according to Destination Cleveland. “Indirect and induced spending related to the events and visitation accounts for the remaining $9.5 million.”
Tourism Economics, which is a division of Oxford Economics, determined the financial impact “by evaluating visitor spending, including money spent on hotels, meals, retail purchases and transportation,” as well as data provided for the following watch parties:
- Total Eclipse Fest (Great Lakes Science Center/NASA Glenn Research Center)
- Lights Out in The Land (Lake Erie Crushers)
- Solar Eclipse Viewing Party (Lorain County Metro Parks)
- Eclipse Day (Cleveland Metroparks)
- Rooftop Eclipse Party (Music Box Supper Club)
- Avon Lake Eclipse Watch Party (City of Avon Lake)
- Solarfest Weekend (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
- Total on the Oval (Wade Oval)
- Eclipse & Sips Viewing Party (Fahrenheit restaurant)
- Solar Eclipse Party on the Runways (The Aviator)
- Total Eclipse at Children’s Museum Cleveland (Children’s Museum of Cleveland)
- Total Eclipse of the Park (Crocker Park)
“These figures from Tourism Economics show that the eclipse -- and the organized events related to it -- drove visitation and visitor spending as anticipated,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland. “Additionally, being in the path of totality put Cleveland in the national spotlight with many national news outlets choosing to broadcast or report from our area. That, combined with the excitement and impact of hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship just the day prior, has a direct and lasting impact on how people perceive Cleveland.”
The Tourism Economics report, however, does not include spending by visitors who stayed with family and friends or spending related to smaller formal events and informal viewing parties as attendance and spending figures aren’t available.
The report also shows notable increases in hotel occupancy within Cuyahoga, Lake and Lorain counties.
“Hotel occupancy in Cuyahoga County averaged 83% over the nights of April 7 and 8, 2024, representing an 84% increase compared to the same days of the week in April 2023 (April 9 and 10),” according to the report. “Similar gains were seen in Lake County (78% increase in occupancy over the same days of the week in 2023) and Lorain County (82% increase over the same days of the week in 2023).”
WHEN IS THE NEXT ECLIPSE IN OHIO?
Prior to the April 8 event, the last time Ohio found itself in the path of totality was way back in 1806.
We'll have to wait until Sept. 14, 2099, before the next solar eclipse cuts through Ohio -- but Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Medina and other areas in Northeast Ohio will narrowly miss out on totality as the center line slices through communities just north of Columbus.
To experience the next total solar eclipse in Cleveland, Akron and other parts of Northeast Ohio, you'll have to wait more than 400 years until it arrives in 2444, according to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
You can relive the moment Cleveland experienced totality on April 8 by watching the video below...