The Honda Ski Tour, which brought world-class athletes to compete here last weekend, had a big impact on the cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley.
But not all of that was positive, according to some local retailers.
"I can't tell you the negative impact, to our building in particular," Rowena Murphy told the Ketchum City Council Tuesday, Jan. 16. Murphy, co-owner of Your House in the Courtyard plaza on East Avenue, said the large event tent set up for the BaseCamp Music Pavilion blocked views and hindered access to the furniture and home decorations store.
Debris, crates and iron barricades created obstacles on the sidewalk, she added.
"The Ski Tour is a good thing, and it should bring prosperity to everyone," she said.
Council members expressed sympathy with her concerns.
"I know that a lot of retailers experienced downturns," said Councilman Baird Gourlay. "I don't know if it was the age group or the temperatures. This was the first, best step. There were certainly problems that existed."
The city, tour representatives and some members of the business community plan to have a debriefing where they can assess issues related to the event.
"I don't know that we can tell you we're going to get it 100 percent right, but certainly we can do better," said Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall.
Murphy's comments reflect an informal poll conducted by the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors' Bureau.
Of the retail businesses that responded, 38 percent reported sales last weekend were lower than the same period last year; 31 percent reported higher sales; and 31 percent showed no change.
Frank Zhang, owner of Osaka Sushi in the Courtyard, said business was slow.
"It was a problem because of the tent," he said Thursday. "It hurt our business."
Your House co-owner Zane Levitt noted the Ski Tour was a boon for certain businesses and helped raise awareness of Idaho as a tourist destination for young people.
He said he witnessed a trio of young patrons at a local bar during the tour, who toasted to their first time in Idaho.
"It's this new generation we need here," he said Wednesday.
But the obstructions were avoidable, he maintained.
"You didn't see our space," he said. "You didn't have a walkway between the busiest corner of town (at Giacobbi Square) to the Courtyard. It was hard for them to walk. There were barricades and plastic carts left on the sidewalk. There was a complete disregard (for us)."
"If they were going to shut us down, they should have paid us," he added. "We really, really depend on walk-ins. People just weren't coming in."
The city began setting up in advance of the Ski Tour, which ran Jan. 11-14. The city of Ketchum, besides donating $10,000 in cash to the event, contributed several tens of thousands of dollars in in-kind services.
"It feels bad to be sour grapes," Levitt said. "It's not particularly groovy to put the spotlight on us, but I'm sick and tired of how the town is managed."
Zane Levitt, co-owner of Your House in Ketchum?s Courtyard plaza, says The Honda Ski Tour?s BaseCamp Music Pavilion obstructed his and other businesses. The city will conduct a debriefing to determine how to minimize negative impacts if the Tour comes back next year. Photo by David N. Seelig
