The economic impact of the recent 2012 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials on Johnson County exceeded $5 million, according to survey results released June 1 by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

The CVB was assisted in conducting the survey by a team of students selected by lecturer Dan Matheson in the University of Iowa's Recreation and Sports Business Program.

The survey-based study was conducted April 20-22 when the community hosted its first ever U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials. One hundred seventy-nine surveys were completed by randomly selected fans assembled in the lobby of three area hotels, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and during the ASICS Fan Fest in downtown Iowa City. One hundred seventy-one of the surveys were determined to be completed correctly and included in the study.

The data collected produced the following results:

• The projected economic impact of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials on Johnson County was $5.6 million.
• Average visitor expenditures per party were $707; per person was $201.
• The 2012 trials attracted 14,214 fans; 82 percent (11,655) were from outside of Johnson County.

Three percent of respondents who were in Iowa City for the trials did not actually attend the event. They reported being on the UI campus for other event and retail activities.