By Ben Baugh
An international horse park in Aiken? It's feasible ... but probably won't take shape without a major investment and lots of private-sector money. Those were among the findings of a feasibility study conducted by the University of South Carolina's SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development at the behest of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce.
The study was unveiled Thursday morning at the Aiken Chamber's downtown offices.
Should the project move forward it would require the support of both the community and private investors, and the facility itself would have to be multi-functional, one that would not just rely on events and revenue associated with equestrian sports and the equine industry.
The study team looked at the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed venture including opportunities, threats, resources required and ultimately the prospects for success. Community support for the project was favorable, but growth management for the area is a factor that can't be overlooked, and planning will be essential, said Dr. Simon Hudson, SmartState Center director and the study team leader.
The study's focus and emphasis just wasn't on the economic impact to the community, but also looked at the possible social and environmental impacts. The team conducted an industry analysis, visited several horse parks in the United States and one in the United Kingdom, interviewed industry professionals, conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews with members of the community. Surveys were also sent out to area residents and potential visitors - both potential event participants and spectators, to collect data that was applied to the study findings. Despite a mostly positive reception, the study also highlighted concerns from some members in the local equine industry. These surfaced during focus groups and interviews about the prospect of an international horse park in Aiken, Hudson said. Some in the horse business feared a massive horse park might threaten their existing and well-established efforts.
"Based on that, we conducted an economic impact study, and looked at the cost of such a facility," Hudson said.
The characteristics that define successful horse parks are local culture to provide industry-ready support, accessibility and proximity to populations and having land and facilities adequate to host varied and multiple shows and events. A possible international horse park could play host to upper level events for a number of disciplines including eventing, combined driving, dressage, hunter/jumpers, polo, barrel racing, cutting and reining.
Horse parks can have a significant impact on the local economy, the study found.
The facility's cost would be substantial with the study results showing the total amount of the project being somewhere in the range of $98 million to $136.4 million. The study suggested that part of those total costs would be the purchase of between 750 to 1,200 acres north of the I-20 corridor. The property component of the expense alone could total between $12 million to $14.4 million. The proposed park would also include a number of amenities to accommodate not only equine activities and equestrian sport, but also other forms of recreation and entertainment. A covered arena with up to 10,000 seats would cost between $45 million and $60 million; an outdoor pavilion with 4,500 seats would cost between $8 million and $15 million; permanent horse barns would cost between $8 million and $10 million; and indoor/outdoor and warm-up ring between $8 million and $10 million; a cross country course, $3 million to $5 million; a campground $750,000 to $1.5 million; education and visitor center, $2 million to $3 million; support buildings, $300,000 to $500,000 and restaurant and concessions $3 million to $5 million.
Among the disadvantages that may be associated with the building of an international horse park include the possible dilution of the character of Aiken, cannibalization of existing businesses, a saturated market with few available dates, perception that all horse parks operate at a loss and opposition to the use of public funding to build and maintain the venue, the study states.
"Extending and expanding the equine events calendar is essential to sustaining a facility," said Hudson. "Securing dates is going to be an issue."
Despite those concerns, the study found general support from people within the community for a horse park. Aiken's horse culture is renowned with people employed in the equine industry, spectators and enthusiasts of equestrian sport, and the actual horsemen that participate, said Hudson. There are benefits associated with having a horse park including the increase in land value and prices and the direct and indirect impact on local businesses. The horseman will come if the prize money is available at an event, said Hudson. The non-equine events would have to be compatible with equine events at the park, if the events were to run concurrently at the multi-use facility, should the project come to fruition.
"It's surprising how many people have already been here and have property here," said Hudson. "Everyone knows Aiken."
Feasibility Study Aiken International Horse Park![]()
An international horse park in Aiken? It's feasible ... but probably won't take shape without a major investment and lots of private-sector money. Those were among the findings of a feasibility study conducted by the University of South Carolina's SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development at the behest of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce.
The study was unveiled Thursday morning at the Aiken Chamber's downtown offices.
Should the project move forward it would require the support of both the community and private investors, and the facility itself would have to be multi-functional, one that would not just rely on events and revenue associated with equestrian sports and the equine industry.
The study team looked at the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed venture including opportunities, threats, resources required and ultimately the prospects for success. Community support for the project was favorable, but growth management for the area is a factor that can't be overlooked, and planning will be essential, said Dr. Simon Hudson, SmartState Center director and the study team leader.
The study's focus and emphasis just wasn't on the economic impact to the community, but also looked at the possible social and environmental impacts. The team conducted an industry analysis, visited several horse parks in the United States and one in the United Kingdom, interviewed industry professionals, conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews with members of the community. Surveys were also sent out to area residents and potential visitors - both potential event participants and spectators, to collect data that was applied to the study findings. Despite a mostly positive reception, the study also highlighted concerns from some members in the local equine industry. These surfaced during focus groups and interviews about the prospect of an international horse park in Aiken, Hudson said. Some in the horse business feared a massive horse park might threaten their existing and well-established efforts.
"Based on that, we conducted an economic impact study, and looked at the cost of such a facility," Hudson said.
The characteristics that define successful horse parks are local culture to provide industry-ready support, accessibility and proximity to populations and having land and facilities adequate to host varied and multiple shows and events. A possible international horse park could play host to upper level events for a number of disciplines including eventing, combined driving, dressage, hunter/jumpers, polo, barrel racing, cutting and reining.
Horse parks can have a significant impact on the local economy, the study found.
The facility's cost would be substantial with the study results showing the total amount of the project being somewhere in the range of $98 million to $136.4 million. The study suggested that part of those total costs would be the purchase of between 750 to 1,200 acres north of the I-20 corridor. The property component of the expense alone could total between $12 million to $14.4 million. The proposed park would also include a number of amenities to accommodate not only equine activities and equestrian sport, but also other forms of recreation and entertainment. A covered arena with up to 10,000 seats would cost between $45 million and $60 million; an outdoor pavilion with 4,500 seats would cost between $8 million and $15 million; permanent horse barns would cost between $8 million and $10 million; and indoor/outdoor and warm-up ring between $8 million and $10 million; a cross country course, $3 million to $5 million; a campground $750,000 to $1.5 million; education and visitor center, $2 million to $3 million; support buildings, $300,000 to $500,000 and restaurant and concessions $3 million to $5 million.
Among the disadvantages that may be associated with the building of an international horse park include the possible dilution of the character of Aiken, cannibalization of existing businesses, a saturated market with few available dates, perception that all horse parks operate at a loss and opposition to the use of public funding to build and maintain the venue, the study states.
"Extending and expanding the equine events calendar is essential to sustaining a facility," said Hudson. "Securing dates is going to be an issue."
Despite those concerns, the study found general support from people within the community for a horse park. Aiken's horse culture is renowned with people employed in the equine industry, spectators and enthusiasts of equestrian sport, and the actual horsemen that participate, said Hudson. There are benefits associated with having a horse park including the increase in land value and prices and the direct and indirect impact on local businesses. The horseman will come if the prize money is available at an event, said Hudson. The non-equine events would have to be compatible with equine events at the park, if the events were to run concurrently at the multi-use facility, should the project come to fruition.
"It's surprising how many people have already been here and have property here," said Hudson. "Everyone knows Aiken."
Feasibility Study Aiken International Horse Park