The Economics of Halloween Attractions

The Economics of HALLOWEEN ATTRACTIONS Once a year, haunted attractions around the country open their doors to provide tricks, treats, and spooks to the masses. While these provide a fun activity for every fan of Halloween, few know what goes on behind the scenes. Take a moment to sift through the cobwebs, trael down the dark halway, and open up the affluent coffin that is: VA Advertising & Promotions With 2,500 haunted attractions around the nation, how do owners get the word out? On average, haunted house owners spend $2-$3 in advertising costs per expected attendee. Top 40 Radio is the #1 form of advertising with an expected audience of 20,000 people per advertisement. Average online spend Basic listing in directory: Avg. $50/listing Email Marketing: $100/email blast or $250/3 blasts Banner Advertising: $600 to be included on featured rotating banner ad Website owners use Haunted House Magazine to advertise: with blog banners $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages: $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages forum: $1000 - $2000 hauntworld.com Banner Pricing Feb 2010 - Feb 2011 $750 $650 $575 $525 $450 $375 $300 $225 $175 $100 I halloweenattractions.com I hauntedharides.com I leaderboard I7- 20 banters 5-6 banners I3-4 banners I1-2 banners Non-Traditional Forms of Advertising A major haunted attraction could attract $10,000 to $100,000 in corpo- rate sponsorships which do their own advertising. Suggested Annual Advertising Peak $175,000 $100,000 $50,000 Patrons 10,000 20,000 30,000 A Haunt Facts Less than 3% have over 35,000 patrons 1% - 2 % have 40,000 - 60,000 patrons Average Attractions bring in 8,000 patrons Amusement Park Attractions can reach 300,000 paid guests annually with 35,000 in one night Average Ticket Prices $25 3% charge more than $20 $6 60% charge less than $13 80% $4 $13 $15 charge less than $15 1990 1995-2000 2010 A Earning Potential • The haunted house industry generates between $400 - $500 million dollars in ticket sales each year. • Cost to start a haunted house: $225,000 - $300,000 • Average years to recoup expenses: 3 - 5, which equals 3 - 5 work months To earn back cost at todays ticket prices, a haunt would need 20,000 customers over 5 weekends, an average of 266 customers per hour First Year 15,000 Patrons 20,000 Patrons 28,000 Patrons $225,000 $300,000 $420,000 Shock Asylum Columbus (single house) Millennium Mansion Flint, MI (single house) Hollywood Greyhound Track "Terror at the Track" (multi-house) Second Year 40.000 Patrons 50,000 Patrons 75,000 Patrons $600,000 $750,000 $1,125,000 Cutting Edge Ft. Worth, TX (single house) Haunted Verdun Manor Screams Terrell, TX (single house) (multi-house) Did You Know? 80% of haunted attractions across the U.S. are operated by a charity or benefit $10 million Amount the haunted house industry raises over each year for charities nationwide Sources www.hauntworld.com www.hauntedhouse.com Haunted House Magazine www.hauntedhouseassociation.org orangesODA" ONLINE MARKETING WITH FIZZ d Money Spent The Economics of HALLOWEEN ATTRACTIONS Once a year, haunted attractions around the country open their doors to provide tricks, treats, and spooks to the masses. While these provide a fun activity for every fan of Halloween, few know what goes on behind the scenes. Take a moment to sift through the cobwebs, trael down the dark halway, and open up the affluent coffin that is: VA Advertising & Promotions With 2,500 haunted attractions around the nation, how do owners get the word out? On average, haunted house owners spend $2-$3 in advertising costs per expected attendee. Top 40 Radio is the #1 form of advertising with an expected audience of 20,000 people per advertisement. Average online spend Basic listing in directory: Avg. $50/listing Email Marketing: $100/email blast or $250/3 blasts Banner Advertising: $600 to be included on featured rotating banner ad Website owners use Haunted House Magazine to advertise: with blog banners $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages: $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages forum: $1000 - $2000 hauntworld.com Banner Pricing Feb 2010 - Feb 2011 $750 $650 $575 $525 $450 $375 $300 $225 $175 $100 I halloweenattractions.com I hauntedharides.com I leaderboard I7- 20 banters 5-6 banners I3-4 banners I1-2 banners Non-Traditional Forms of Advertising A major haunted attraction could attract $10,000 to $100,000 in corpo- rate sponsorships which do their own advertising. Suggested Annual Advertising Peak $175,000 $100,000 $50,000 Patrons 10,000 20,000 30,000 A Haunt Facts Less than 3% have over 35,000 patrons 1% - 2 % have 40,000 - 60,000 patrons Average Attractions bring in 8,000 patrons Amusement Park Attractions can reach 300,000 paid guests annually with 35,000 in one night Average Ticket Prices $25 3% charge more than $20 $6 60% charge less than $13 80% $4 $13 $15 charge less than $15 1990 1995-2000 2010 A Earning Potential • The haunted house industry generates between $400 - $500 million dollars in ticket sales each year. • Cost to start a haunted house: $225,000 - $300,000 • Average years to recoup expenses: 3 - 5, which equals 3 - 5 work months To earn back cost at todays ticket prices, a haunt would need 20,000 customers over 5 weekends, an average of 266 customers per hour First Year 15,000 Patrons 20,000 Patrons 28,000 Patrons $225,000 $300,000 $420,000 Shock Asylum Columbus (single house) Millennium Mansion Flint, MI (single house) Hollywood Greyhound Track "Terror at the Track" (multi-house) Second Year 40.000 Patrons 50,000 Patrons 75,000 Patrons $600,000 $750,000 $1,125,000 Cutting Edge Ft. Worth, TX (single house) Haunted Verdun Manor Screams Terrell, TX (single house) (multi-house) Did You Know? 80% of haunted attractions across the U.S. are operated by a charity or benefit $10 million Amount the haunted house industry raises over each year for charities nationwide Sources www.hauntworld.com www.hauntedhouse.com Haunted House Magazine www.hauntedhouseassociation.org orangesODA" ONLINE MARKETING WITH FIZZ d Money Spent The Economics of HALLOWEEN ATTRACTIONS Once a year, haunted attractions around the country open their doors to provide tricks, treats, and spooks to the masses. While these provide a fun activity for every fan of Halloween, few know what goes on behind the scenes. Take a moment to sift through the cobwebs, trael down the dark halway, and open up the affluent coffin that is: VA Advertising & Promotions With 2,500 haunted attractions around the nation, how do owners get the word out? On average, haunted house owners spend $2-$3 in advertising costs per expected attendee. Top 40 Radio is the #1 form of advertising with an expected audience of 20,000 people per advertisement. Average online spend Basic listing in directory: Avg. $50/listing Email Marketing: $100/email blast or $250/3 blasts Banner Advertising: $600 to be included on featured rotating banner ad Website owners use Haunted House Magazine to advertise: with blog banners $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages: $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages forum: $1000 - $2000 hauntworld.com Banner Pricing Feb 2010 - Feb 2011 $750 $650 $575 $525 $450 $375 $300 $225 $175 $100 I halloweenattractions.com I hauntedharides.com I leaderboard I7- 20 banters 5-6 banners I3-4 banners I1-2 banners Non-Traditional Forms of Advertising A major haunted attraction could attract $10,000 to $100,000 in corpo- rate sponsorships which do their own advertising. Suggested Annual Advertising Peak $175,000 $100,000 $50,000 Patrons 10,000 20,000 30,000 A Haunt Facts Less than 3% have over 35,000 patrons 1% - 2 % have 40,000 - 60,000 patrons Average Attractions bring in 8,000 patrons Amusement Park Attractions can reach 300,000 paid guests annually with 35,000 in one night Average Ticket Prices $25 3% charge more than $20 $6 60% charge less than $13 80% $4 $13 $15 charge less than $15 1990 1995-2000 2010 A Earning Potential • The haunted house industry generates between $400 - $500 million dollars in ticket sales each year. • Cost to start a haunted house: $225,000 - $300,000 • Average years to recoup expenses: 3 - 5, which equals 3 - 5 work months To earn back cost at todays ticket prices, a haunt would need 20,000 customers over 5 weekends, an average of 266 customers per hour First Year 15,000 Patrons 20,000 Patrons 28,000 Patrons $225,000 $300,000 $420,000 Shock Asylum Columbus (single house) Millennium Mansion Flint, MI (single house) Hollywood Greyhound Track "Terror at the Track" (multi-house) Second Year 40.000 Patrons 50,000 Patrons 75,000 Patrons $600,000 $750,000 $1,125,000 Cutting Edge Ft. Worth, TX (single house) Haunted Verdun Manor Screams Terrell, TX (single house) (multi-house) Did You Know? 80% of haunted attractions across the U.S. are operated by a charity or benefit $10 million Amount the haunted house industry raises over each year for charities nationwide Sources www.hauntworld.com www.hauntedhouse.com Haunted House Magazine www.hauntedhouseassociation.org orangesODA" ONLINE MARKETING WITH FIZZ d Money Spent The Economics of HALLOWEEN ATTRACTIONS Once a year, haunted attractions around the country open their doors to provide tricks, treats, and spooks to the masses. While these provide a fun activity for every fan of Halloween, few know what goes on behind the scenes. Take a moment to sift through the cobwebs, trael down the dark halway, and open up the affluent coffin that is: VA Advertising & Promotions With 2,500 haunted attractions around the nation, how do owners get the word out? On average, haunted house owners spend $2-$3 in advertising costs per expected attendee. Top 40 Radio is the #1 form of advertising with an expected audience of 20,000 people per advertisement. Average online spend Basic listing in directory: Avg. $50/listing Email Marketing: $100/email blast or $250/3 blasts Banner Advertising: $600 to be included on featured rotating banner ad Website owners use Haunted House Magazine to advertise: with blog banners $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages: $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages forum: $1000 - $2000 hauntworld.com Banner Pricing Feb 2010 - Feb 2011 $750 $650 $575 $525 $450 $375 $300 $225 $175 $100 I halloweenattractions.com I hauntedharides.com I leaderboard I7- 20 banters 5-6 banners I3-4 banners I1-2 banners Non-Traditional Forms of Advertising A major haunted attraction could attract $10,000 to $100,000 in corpo- rate sponsorships which do their own advertising. Suggested Annual Advertising Peak $175,000 $100,000 $50,000 Patrons 10,000 20,000 30,000 A Haunt Facts Less than 3% have over 35,000 patrons 1% - 2 % have 40,000 - 60,000 patrons Average Attractions bring in 8,000 patrons Amusement Park Attractions can reach 300,000 paid guests annually with 35,000 in one night Average Ticket Prices $25 3% charge more than $20 $6 60% charge less than $13 80% $4 $13 $15 charge less than $15 1990 1995-2000 2010 A Earning Potential • The haunted house industry generates between $400 - $500 million dollars in ticket sales each year. • Cost to start a haunted house: $225,000 - $300,000 • Average years to recoup expenses: 3 - 5, which equals 3 - 5 work months To earn back cost at todays ticket prices, a haunt would need 20,000 customers over 5 weekends, an average of 266 customers per hour First Year 15,000 Patrons 20,000 Patrons 28,000 Patrons $225,000 $300,000 $420,000 Shock Asylum Columbus (single house) Millennium Mansion Flint, MI (single house) Hollywood Greyhound Track "Terror at the Track" (multi-house) Second Year 40.000 Patrons 50,000 Patrons 75,000 Patrons $600,000 $750,000 $1,125,000 Cutting Edge Ft. Worth, TX (single house) Haunted Verdun Manor Screams Terrell, TX (single house) (multi-house) Did You Know? 80% of haunted attractions across the U.S. are operated by a charity or benefit $10 million Amount the haunted house industry raises over each year for charities nationwide Sources www.hauntworld.com www.hauntedhouse.com Haunted House Magazine www.hauntedhouseassociation.org orangesODA" ONLINE MARKETING WITH FIZZ d Money Spent The Economics of HALLOWEEN ATTRACTIONS Once a year, haunted attractions around the country open their doors to provide tricks, treats, and spooks to the masses. While these provide a fun activity for every fan of Halloween, few know what goes on behind the scenes. Take a moment to sift through the cobwebs, trael down the dark halway, and open up the affluent coffin that is: VA Advertising & Promotions With 2,500 haunted attractions around the nation, how do owners get the word out? On average, haunted house owners spend $2-$3 in advertising costs per expected attendee. Top 40 Radio is the #1 form of advertising with an expected audience of 20,000 people per advertisement. Average online spend Basic listing in directory: Avg. $50/listing Email Marketing: $100/email blast or $250/3 blasts Banner Advertising: $600 to be included on featured rotating banner ad Website owners use Haunted House Magazine to advertise: with blog banners $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages: $750 - $1200 HauntWorld yellow pages forum: $1000 - $2000 hauntworld.com Banner Pricing Feb 2010 - Feb 2011 $750 $650 $575 $525 $450 $375 $300 $225 $175 $100 I halloweenattractions.com I hauntedharides.com I leaderboard I7- 20 banters 5-6 banners I3-4 banners I1-2 banners Non-Traditional Forms of Advertising A major haunted attraction could attract $10,000 to $100,000 in corpo- rate sponsorships which do their own advertising. Suggested Annual Advertising Peak $175,000 $100,000 $50,000 Patrons 10,000 20,000 30,000 A Haunt Facts Less than 3% have over 35,000 patrons 1% - 2 % have 40,000 - 60,000 patrons Average Attractions bring in 8,000 patrons Amusement Park Attractions can reach 300,000 paid guests annually with 35,000 in one night Average Ticket Prices $25 3% charge more than $20 $6 60% charge less than $13 80% $4 $13 $15 charge less than $15 1990 1995-2000 2010 A Earning Potential • The haunted house industry generates between $400 - $500 million dollars in ticket sales each year. • Cost to start a haunted house: $225,000 - $300,000 • Average years to recoup expenses: 3 - 5, which equals 3 - 5 work months To earn back cost at todays ticket prices, a haunt would need 20,000 customers over 5 weekends, an average of 266 customers per hour First Year 15,000 Patrons 20,000 Patrons 28,000 Patrons $225,000 $300,000 $420,000 Shock Asylum Columbus (single house) Millennium Mansion Flint, MI (single house) Hollywood Greyhound Track "Terror at the Track" (multi-house) Second Year 40.000 Patrons 50,000 Patrons 75,000 Patrons $600,000 $750,000 $1,125,000 Cutting Edge Ft. Worth, TX (single house) Haunted Verdun Manor Screams Terrell, TX (single house) (multi-house) Did You Know? 80% of haunted attractions across the U.S. are operated by a charity or benefit $10 million Amount the haunted house industry raises over each year for charities nationwide Sources www.hauntworld.com www.hauntedhouse.com Haunted House Magazine www.hauntedhouseassociation.org orangesODA" ONLINE MARKETING WITH FIZZ d Money Spent