Pigeon Forge reaps benefit of additional attendee spending as the multi-purpose event facility marks 10 years of operation in the Great Smoky Mountains vacation destination.
PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Dec. 12, 2023) –The LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge observed its 10thanniversary on Oct. 9 while also marking $417 million in additional attendee spending in Pigeon Forge over the past decade.
Since the $45 million multi-purpose facility opened in 2013, the LeConte Center has hosted 339 events, each with more than 1,500 attendees. Per an ordinance set forth by the city of Pigeon Forge, the LeConte Center cannot host groups with attendance less than 1,500. This measure ensures that the LeConte Center does not compete with privately owned meeting facilities in Pigeon Forge.
Events in the facility range from faith-based conferences and trade shows to competitive sporting events and dance competitions. Approximately 2.9 million attendees account for 1.9 million room nights in Pigeon Forge. Attendees also dined at local restaurants, visited attractions and shopped in retail establishments.
For the past eight years, the city’s gross revenue has exceeded one billion dollars annually. Pigeon Forge is home to approximately 6,000 residents but welcomes approximately 10 million visitors annually.
“As we mark 10 years of operation at the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, the facility’s mission remains our guiding light,” said Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster. “That mission is to serve as a catalyst for development in our city, stimulate investment, create jobs, and create economic vitality and impact through scheduled functions that attract large numbers of out-of-town visitors.”
The versatility of the 232,599-square-foot LeConte Center enables it to host many types of activities, including athletic competitions (cheerleading, gymnastics, volleyball and basketball), faith-based assemblies (youth, women, senior adults and marriage), trade shows (gift/souvenir, hardware and food), automotive expositions, and musical concerts.
“The success of the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge is demonstrated in the city-wide growth Pigeon Forge has experienced by way of new businesses,” said Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear. “In particular, our lodging sector continues to see tremendous growth with Dollywood’s HeartSong Resort & Lodge and the Wayback Hotel having just opened this fall and at least two new hotels coming online in 2024.”
In 2020, Pigeon Forge invested an additional $25 million to build the 600-foot pedestrian bridge at the intersection of Jake Thomas Road and Teaster Lane. The bridge connects the LeConte Center to a municipal parking lot with 2,148 spaces. The venue is strategically located adjacent to the city’s greenway, the Pigeon Forge Riverwalk, and another city-owned parking facility with 1,600 spaces, motorcoach access and Pigeon Forge Mass Transit service. The LeConte Center also is near restaurants, shops and lodging.
The LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge features:
- A clear-span (no columns) exhibit hall of 100,500 square feet;
- A multi-purpose hall of 12,000 square feet that can be divided into three separate spaces or linked to the exhibit hall, expanding the exhibit hall to 112,500 square feet;
- Eight multi-purpose rooms that can be configured into 15 spaces ranging from 750 to 2,000 square feet;
- Six loading bays.
Additional information about the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge is available here. To learn more about Pigeon Forge, visit MyPigeonForge.com.
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About Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is located in East Tennessee, approximately 35 miles from Knoxville and McGhee-Tyson Airport. Two-thirds of the nation’s population east of the Mississippi River lives within a day’s drive, making it an easily accessible family vacation destination. The city’s neighbor is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited national park in the U.S. It also is home to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park, Tennessee’s most visited ticketed attraction. More information about all aspects of Pigeon Forge is available at MyPigeonForge.com or toll-free at 1-800-251-9100.
Media Contact:
Trish McGee