BC Business
Richmond Olympic Oval | BCBusinessRichmond Olympic Oval, night view.
With a steady increase in visitor numbers and ability to turn an increasingly good profit, the Richmond Olympic Oval is costing Richmond taxpayers little and becoming an asset for the city.
Yesterday, the Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation released its 2012 Annual Report and financial statements, which advise that the Oval has welcomed more than 2.8 million visitors since it opened in 2008, and has achieved a profit every year with the exception of 2010, when normal public operations were disrupted by the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
According to the report, total visitations to the Oval have grown from 440,000 in 2011 to 600,000 in 2012—a 36 per cent increase. In 2012 membership visits exceeded 25,000 per month, up 25 per cent over 2011.
Richmond residents are very active at the Oval, representing 5,000 active members who engage in sport, fitness and recreational activities at the Oval.