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The National Fieldays at Mystery Creek may not be as glamorous as the America's Cup, the V8 Supercars, or the Rugby World Cup, but its economic power is greater than any of those events, says a University of Waikato academic.
And because of this, he says, the event deserves more political support than it receives.
Economics and finance professor Frank Scrimgeour will this morning reveal a study showing the financial spinoff from the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere.
Now in its 39th year, the Fieldays contributes $630 million to the gross domestic product each year, he says.
The 2003 America's Cup generated $529 million, the 2011 Rugby World Cup is predicted to generate $507 million, and the V8 Supercar event is expected to raise $156 million over seven years.
Mr Scrimgeour's figures showed that direct Fieldays sales last year totalled $336 million, of which $111 million was spent with Waikato businesses. Money spent on flights, accommodation, meals and entertainment outside the main event generated a further $8.4 million.
Added to this was "indirect" and flow-on activity, which had a $286 million benefit.
