“We’re a entertainment dollar more than anything else, and we’re talking about 10 days a year,” Allison said. “We have 48 other weekend events that bring 200,000 to 250,000 people into the facility, and about 95% are from out of county. We send them to George’s and places like this all over the place. year round. We know everyone has money for entertainment. When you spend it with us, you support our ability to provide scholarships, to support charitable causes all year round.

“This is definitely our biggest fundraiser, a very important week.”

The money generated by HOT Fair & Rodeo is also used for day-to-day operations. The new base will contribute to this cause when fully booked, Allison said. Feasibility studies prepared before the bond issue showed that its economic impact would increase by $ 25 million per year.

He expects the base to meet that goal by year three, Allison said.

COVID-19 has threatened to fund the withdrawal of BASE, travel and tourism-related bonds. The visitors stayed away in droves. The levies linked to hotel stays have collapsed. Last year has been bad and 2021 has started worse. But the numbers are improving. August hotel tax revenue for debt repayment totaled $ 188,378, up from $ 77,600 last year; July, $ 193,079, compared to $ 70,924; June, $ 196,313, compared to $ 52,552; and May, $ 200,131, compared to $ 45,987.

Carla Pendergraft, who markets the Waco Convention Center and tourist attractions, said the HOT Fair & Rodeo was more than doing its weight.