GENESEE TOWNSHIP, MI — The Warrior Dash will be an athletic challenge for upwards of 26,000 runners this weekend and an economic boost for area businesses cashing in on its growing popularity.
Back for a third year at the E.A. Cummings Center in Genesee Township, the two-day event July 27-28 is expected to flood the area’s restaurants, campsites, hotels and other businesses with costumers coming to and from the muddy obstacle course. According to the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission, the Warrior Dash has had an economic impact of $4 million in Genesee County in each of the past two years and that number is estimated at over $5 million for this year’s event.
“There’s no question it’s huge for our community,” Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim Herman said. “My understanding is each year there’s been between 24,000 and 26,000 runners and those numbers don’t include all the spectators and family members of participants who come out to watch. As those numbers go up every year — I know the capacity can eventually only be so many — the economic impact goes up in Genesee County.”
According to Parks and Recreation Commission Director Amy McMillian, the Warrior Dash pours “thousands of dollars” directly into the county parks system but also is a low maintenance operation for the parks staff because Warrior Dash officials take over all operational tasks — first aid, parking, security and food vendors.
The relationship has been mutually beneficial and the Warrior Dash has already committed to return to Genesee Township in 2014.
“We typically do not sign multi-year agreements, but because the team at Genesee County Parks has been so great to work with, and our participation levels have consistently risen; we decided to make an exception,” Warrior Dash representative Michael Coco said in a written statement. “We are excited to partner with (Genesee County) through 2014 and we hope that we can continue to call (Genesee County) Parks home of the Warrior Dash Michigan event for years to come.”
The Warrior Dash launched a second Michigan location in Walker, near Grand Rapids, last summer but the Genesee Township location is still its largest in the state.
“My hat goes off to Amy (McMillian) and the parks staff for really catering to the Warrior Dash folks and creating a great partnership,” Herman said. “It puts heads in beds and brings people to our restaurants and that’s what we want. I’m hoping that the Warrior Dash and their founders keep us on their calendar because we think it is a marquee event in our community. We’re going to do everything we can to keep it here.”
The Warrior Dash’s value is compounded by the company not needing to use Genesee Township resources.
“We do nothing,” Genesee Township Police Chief John C. Mullaly said. “(The Warrior Dash staff) prefers to handle everything on their own, they bring their own security, arrange their own ambulance services and everything. Other than just being aware of more traffic in the area on those days, it doesn’t require anything from our officers because everything takes place on park property.”
The Warrior Dash has its own food and beverage vendors at the E.A. Cummings Center — as well live music and entertainment — but that business also spills over to the surrounding bars and restaurants.
The Mountain Inn, located on Dort Highway less than five miles from the Warrior Dash site, is hosting a tent party and cookout in addition to its normal restaurant operations Saturday and Sunday as part of a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint.
“What we’ve found over the past two years is that when the Warrior Dash comes in, that’s one of our busiest weekends of the year,” Mountain Inn owner Steve Grossi said. “We decided to try something new this year to further capitalize on the 25,000 or more people driving past my business.”
The Mountain Inn’s tent party event will be going on all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday with 50-50 raffles and prize giveaways. Part of the proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club.
“I’m expecting 500-750 people to come through here on Saturday alone,” Grossi said. “I never heard of (the Warrior Dash) until it showed up here two years ago, but it’s awesome for us and this whole area. Our little corner of the world out here gets really active. The gas stations are busy, all those little motels on Dort Highway get busy, the McDonald’s is busy. It’s good for everybody.”
“It’s been one heck of a boost for us each year,” said Pat Campbell, a manager at Bray Road Diner located 3.5 miles away from the E.A. Cummings Center. “We’ve got to bring in extra staff and all that, but it does a lot of good for us. Most of our business on those days comes from (the Warrior Dash).”
The Warrior Dash begins with its first wave Saturday at 8 a.m. and concludes with its final wave at 6 p.m. It runs on that same schedule Sunday.
