Economic Impact of Eastern States Exposition Totals Nearly $1.2 Billion in 2024

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Eastern States Exposition (ESE) attracts about 3 million people to its grounds in West Springfield annually, across its bustling calendar of more than 120 year-round events. This count includes the 1.6 million fairgoers that attend the Big E, the fourth-largest fair in North America.

ESE is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing patrons with quality entertainment and preserving the agriculture and culture of the region. A study conducted by Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI) of Amherst found that ESE’s economic impact on Hampden County was $235 million in gross regional product (GRP), and its larger footprint across New England and New York equaled a record-breaking $1.167 billion in 2024.

“The impact of Eastern States Exposition is not limited to the Springfield area, agriculture in Massachusetts, or even agriculture in New England; we have touched 26 states and multiple Canadian provinces,” ESE President and CEO Gene Cassidy said. “This makes us arguably the most impactful agricultural fair in North America.”

The study revealed that ESE creates 8,085 jobs across New England and New York; 60.8% of all jobs created went to individuals without a college degree, 5,646 jobs were filled by individuals in the bottom 20% of income earners, and 1,310 jobs created across the region supported Hispanic employment. Employment growth was observed across all races, income levels, and education groups.

“Our share of this money is quite small; it is approximately $30 million,” said John Robison, a member of the ESE board of trustees. “If we do well, we can retain about 20% to 30% of that to maintain and rebuild our facilities. The reason our share is so tiny is because of our nonprofit mission, which is to benefit both the fairgoers and all the people here in New England.”

Since 1995, when the Big E first expanded from 12 to 17 days, ESE has donated 1% of its annual gross revenue to the town of West Springfield each year to build and bolster the Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust. Local organizations are welcome to apply for grants through the trust for community betterment and enrichment efforts.

In 2024, 26 groups benefited from the trust, including sports teams, food rescues, and cultural centers. ESE’s overall contributions, including a sizable donation of $370,970 made on June 12 of this year, now total $5,425,220.

ESE receives no state or federal tax revenue to support its operations and relies upon the support of its visitors.