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Even before the World Games wrapped up in Birmingham last summer, organizers knew the global event was in major debt.In fact, CEO Nick Sellers claims their funding partners were told about a likely deficit a year before the first medal ceremony. “There was a lot of debate, how far do we go to communicating that, you know, to the public, and could that jeopardize people's perception of the event before the event?” Sellers asked.After the event, vendors were still owed nearly $16 million. Sellers blamed inflation-boosted operational costs and lackluster international fan attendance.“I think what exacerbated that late in the game was we were realizing that there wasn't as much international travelers and fans coming to Birmingham as we had expected,” Sellers said.Even after pledges from the city of Birmingham, Jefferson County, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and private corporations, there was still a $5 million gap. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13 Then last week, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a budget guaranteeing that Alabama would pick up the tab. Ultimately, just under half of the overall $66 million event was funded with public money. “Every World Games until the one in Birmingham was funded almost entirely with public dollars through their governments if you look historically from the beginning of the World Games until now,” Sellers said. Games that he believes Birmingham should see as a source of pride.“I hope people remember that and remember fondly meeting people from all over the world and seeing something that they may have never seen before,” Sellers said.Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeHe says the remaining dozen vendors will receive final payment between now and October when Alabama's next budget kicks in. Based on a reported released in December, the World Games had a $165 million economic impact on the Birmingham region, and 80-90 percent of athletes and fans gave the event a thumbs up.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
Even before the World Games wrapped up in Birmingham last summer, organizers knew the global event was in major debt.
In fact, CEO Nick Sellers claims their funding partners were told about a likely deficit a year before the first medal ceremony.
“There was a lot of debate, how far do we go to communicating that, you know, to the public, and could that jeopardize people's perception of the event before the event?” Sellers asked.
After the event, vendors were still owed nearly $16 million.
Sellers blamed inflation-boosted operational costs and lackluster international fan attendance.
“I think what exacerbated that late in the game was we were realizing that there wasn't as much international travelers and fans coming to Birmingham as we had expected,” Sellers said.
Even after pledges from the city of Birmingham, Jefferson County, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and private corporations, there was still a $5 million gap.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13
Then last week, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a budget guaranteeing that Alabama would pick up the tab.
Ultimately, just under half of the overall $66 million event was funded with public money.
“Every World Games until the one in Birmingham was funded almost entirely with public dollars through their governments if you look historically from the beginning of the World Games until now,” Sellers said. Games that he believes Birmingham should see as a source of pride.
“I hope people remember that and remember fondly meeting people from all over the world and seeing something that they may have never seen before,” Sellers said.
Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
He says the remaining dozen vendors will receive final payment between now and October when Alabama's next budget kicks in.
Based on a reported released in December, the World Games had a $165 million economic impact on the Birmingham region, and 80-90 percent of athletes and fans gave the event a thumbs up.
English (US)