Syracuse Nationals

Syracuse Nationals Car Show draws visitors days ahead of event.

July 14th, 2009

The Syracuse Nationals Car Show, which draws people and custom cars from all over the U.S. and Canada, rolls into town this weekend. But people have been arriving since last Friday to claim spots at the Fairgrounds, and take the week to take in the sights of Syracuse before the show starts. Bob O’Connor of the Right Coast Association, the company that organizes the Nationals, says there has been an upswing in the number of people coming from within a two to four hundred mile radius of Syracuse. He says they come early and use the show as a week-long vacation, patronizing local attractions and recreation activities, as well as local hotels, bars and restaurants; a sort of closer to home vacation that is easier on the wallet than bigger, more elaborate trips. O’Connor says that yields significant revenue for the City of Syracuse. He says this year the Syracuse Convention and Visitor’s Bureau expects about $13-million in revenue for the area from the weekend-long event. Last year, more than 70 thousand people came to the Nationals and O’Connor predicts similar numbers or better for this year’s show. Tickets cost twelve dollars in advance until the show opens on Friday morning. Then it’s 17 dollars at the gate.