World-Famous Airshow Brings in $117M for Oshkosh Alone

A recent study from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh revealed that the city’s annual airshow brings in $257 million for the Fox Valley region each year. And, with attendance increasing nearly every year, those numbers probably aren’t going down anytime soon.

The 2024 edition of AirVenture drew a record 686,000 attendees, fueling direct spending of $171 million across Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Calumet, and Brown counties. Another $86 million was attributed to “ripple effects,” or indirect spending that circulated through the local economy. Oshkosh itself accounted for $117 million of the total, with $95 million in direct spending and over 800 jobs supported locally.

The study used the same methodology as a 2017 report to ensure comparability. The economic bump is evident across multiple sectors, from lodging and food service to retail and more niche services like event staffing and landscaping. Visitors spent an average of $300 per day, with about 35% of that going to accommodations such as hotels, campgrounds, dorms, and short-term rentals.

Dr. David Fuller, who assisted in both the 2017 and 2024 reports, noted that AirVenture alone contributed an estimated $328,000 in added property tax revenue to Oshkosh during the event …not including EAA’s own property tax payments or other local revenues like room and sales taxes.

Notably, over 70% of attendees came from outside Wisconsin, with representation from 94 countries. This “new money” not only supports local businesses but also helps fund tourism development and promotion efforts in Oshkosh and surrounding areas.

“The growth of AirVenture since our last economic impact study in 2017 made it essential that it reflect the current environment,” explained Jack Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman of the Board. “It was very important to have an independent study that looked at the value of the event for our region, as those benefits ripple across nearly every local business sector during AirVenture week while the world literally comes to Oshkosh and Wisconsin.”

FMI: www.eaa.org