EAA brings $117 million to Oshkosh; $257 million to Fox Valley

OSHKOSH, Wis (WISS) – EAA AirVenture starts today at Wittman Airport and the grounds of the EAA Museum in Oshkosh.

The week-long fly-in, which draws aviation enthusiasts from around the world, is expected to draw approximately 600,000 visitors to the area.

According to an independent study compiled by UW-Oshkosh, the convention has a $257 million total economic impact for the Fox Valley. In Oshkosh alone, the event has a $117 million economic impact. The total is based on EAA AirVenture 2024 totals, which included a record total attendance of 686,000. 

“The growth of AirVenture since our last economic impact study in 2017 made it essential that it reflect the current environment,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA’s CEO and Chairman of the Board in a press release. “It was very important to have an independent study that looked at the value of the event for our region, as those benefits ripple across nearly every local business sector during AirVenture week while the world literally comes to Oshkosh and Wisconsin.”

The UW Oshkosh study used the same methodology as the 2017 study to ensure consistency. The study showed direct spending of $171 million in the five-county Fox Valley region (Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Calumet, and Brown), with an additional $86 million of “ripple effect” impact as that spending passed through the community.

In addition, the study showed that $117 million of economic impact, including $95 million of direct spending, took place in the Oshkosh community alone. AirVenture also directly created 2,092 full- and part-time jobs in the region, with 815 of those in Oshkosh.

“While the initial numbers are very impressive as far as economic impact, given the growth of the event and inflation since 2017, digging below the surface provides further indication of the benefits of EAA AirVenture,” said Dr. David Fuller of the UW Oshkosh economics department, who compiled both the 2017 and 2024 studies. “The increased earnings and community value during AirVenture alone mean an additional $328,000 in property tax revenue for the Oshkosh-area economy, which does not include EAA’s annual property tax payments. This also does not include local revenue from areas such as room taxes, sales taxes, where applicable, and other sources.”

More than 70 percent of AirVenture’s visitors come from outside Wisconsin. In 2024, visitors came from 94 countries. As in 2017, lodging and camping accounted for 35 percent of the average daily spending of $300 per day per visitor, as people stayed in hotels, campgrounds, college dormitories, and private housing. Food, entertainment, and clothing/retail also benefit, along with unexpected areas such as event staffing, landscaping, and other associated industries.

“The success of EAA AirVenture helps promote our community in many ways, but most importantly in the visibility that occurs worldwide as fly-in visitors ‘Discover Oshkosh,’” said Amy Albright, executive director of the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Furthermore, the revenue that funds our operations allows us to promote the community and all the other features and activities that make Oshkosh such a great place to live and visit.”

Although the independent study tracked only economic impact for the five-county Fox Valley region and the Oshkosh community itself, cities and counties throughout Wisconsin benefit from the event, as visitors arrive and stay in communities throughout the state.

EAA Air Venture runs through July 27th. Visit EAA Air Venture’s website for information and a schedule of events.