The 2014 Ohio Challenge presented by Selection.com Boasts another Successful Year

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (July 14) – The 2014 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival presented by Selection.com concluded Sunday morning, July 13 with a pilot breakfast and award ceremony. Initial reports from on-site data collection, social media feedback and overall community response indicate the event was an enormous success.

The official winners of The 2014 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Competition are first place David Troutman from Louisville, Kentucky, second place A.J. Nels from Atlanta, Georgia and third place Pat Fouge from Columbia, Missouri. Pilots also competed for the Ohio State Championship and the Great Lakes Regional Championship. This year Albert Nels from Beavercreek, Ohio took home both titles.

The special honorarium of Spirit of the Challenge Award was given to the City of Middletown employees. Especially those in the Public Works Department who have a hand in the successful execution of the event.

Last year the estimated attendance for The Ohio Challenge weekend was 60,000 with an approximate $2 million in economic impact to Middletown, Ohio and the surrounding economies.

This year, based on event financials and on-site data collection the event saw a 10% increase in attendance, putting attendance numbers for 2014 at approximately 66,000 over the course of the weekend.

From these numbers it is estimated the event injected approximately $2.3 million dollars into Middletown, Ohio and the surrounding economies. In addition to impacting local economies, the event added thousands of dollars into the treasuries of local non-profit organizations.

Not only was the event successful economically but responses from social media and on-site surveys indicate those in attendance enjoyed most, if not all aspects of the weekend.

“We would like to thank everyone involved with The Ohio Challenge for making it a successful year”, said event manager Paula Hale, “especially our presenting sponsor Selection.com, The City of Middletown, The Middletown Community Foundation, The Middletown Conventions and Visitors Bureau and all our hard working volunteers. Without the support of these people the event would not even be possible.”

The Warrior Weekend to Remember, new this year to the festival, also was an overwhelming success. The efforts of Team Fastrax, Start Skydiving and Selction.com raised $45,000 for the Halo for Freedom Foundation. An additional $25,000 in direct donations and purchases went to support the event.

“The Warrior Weekend to Remember was a positive event for everyone involved”, said event organizer David Hart, “our honored warriors provided a lot of inspiration to a lot of people in the community.”

The Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon festival is already hard at work planning next year’s event. They plan on capitalizing on its 12 year history of success and making it even better.