Study reveals 2025 event attracted 206,500 visitors, with nearly half traveling from outside the region.
The 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show generated $31.5 million in economic impact for Escambia County, according to an economic analysis released by the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA). The study, conducted by Downs & St. Germain Research and commissioned by Visit Pensacola, demonstrates what many already know – the Blue Angels are good for Pensacola.
Details
The four-day event, held July 9-12 and headlined by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, attracted 206,500 total visitors. Of these, 124,000 were classified as unique attendees, indicating substantial multi-day participation. The study found that 49% of attendees traveled from outside Escambia County, representing 61,000 out-of-county visitors who contributed $20.6 million in direct local spending.
- The economic analysis revealed distinct spending patterns among non-local attendees. Out-of-county visitors traveled in groups averaging 3.1 people and demonstrated strong commitment to extended stays, with 63% utilizing paid accommodations for an average of 3.7 nights. This resulted in 31,900 room nights across the region’s hospitality sector.
The average out-of-town travel party spent $1,050 during their visit, supporting businesses across multiple sectors, including hospitality, retail, dining, and transportation. Significantly, 59% of non-local attendees identified the air show as their primary motivation for visiting the Pensacola area, underscoring the event’s role as a tourism driver.
- “This report reinforces what we already know—the Pensacola Beach Air Show is not just a beloved tradition, it’s a powerful economic driver for our community,” said Mike Burns, Executive Director of the Santa Rosa Island Authority. “Visitors come for the Blue Angels, but they stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants, and shop in our stores. It’s a huge win for our entire region.”
Economic Methodology
The $31.5 million total economic impact encompasses both direct visitor spending and secondary economic effects throughout the region. The study employed IMPLAN economic modeling software with a local multiplier of 1.53 to calculate indirect and induced economic activity, including increased business-to-business transactions and household spending generated by the initial visitor expenditures.
- This methodology captures the full economic cycle, accounting for how initial tourism dollars circulate through the local economy via supply chain purchases, employee wages, and subsequent consumer spending.
Regional Tourism Strategy
The economic impact study supports broader tourism development strategies for Pensacola Beach and Escambia County. Burns noted the importance of data-driven analysis in understanding the event’s contribution to the regional economy.
- “As we continue working to enhance tourism on Pensacola Beach, having this kind of data helps us see just how impactful events like the Pensacola Beach Air Show are for our community,” Burns stated. “We’re proud to highlight our hometown heroes, the Blue Angels, with this iconic experience year after year.”
Author: Rick Outzen
Rick Outzen is the publisher/owner of Pensacola Inweekly. He has been profiled in The New York Times and featured in several True Crime documentaries. Rick also is the author of the award-winning Walker Holmes thrillers. His latest nonfiction book is “Right Idea, Right Time: The Fight for Pensacola’s Maritime Park.”
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