Steamboat Pilot & Today

With summer winding down and the last Triple Crown event this weekend, as new business owners in Steamboat, we would like to say thank you to Triple Crown Sports. Once again they have made Steamboat and the Yampa Valley home this summer. It is good to see so many families enjoy our area.

Triple Crown, along with other events in the summer, benefit the area in so many ways. I find it hard to imagine why anyone in our area would not support their return for years to come. I would like to encourage our government officials and chamber members to do everything they can to ensure Triple Crown's return. Also, business owners and residents who support Triple Crown should write or call our leaders and to know you support their efforts in this matter. Too many times in Steamboat the vocal minority are the only voices heard.

I also would say to anyone who does not support Triple Crown that all who live and work here must come to the realization that ours is a tourism-based economy. Also, even if you put together the winter and summer seasons, we are only asked to share our community no more than six months out of the year. Without Triple Crown, how many jobs would be lost, how many people who are able to live and work in our area would have to move. Money that is made from Triple Crown is spent and re-spent many times over in our community.

A prime example of how the year-round revenue helps the city is the downtown area. Not too many years ago the busy part of downtown was from only Sixth Street to Ninth Street. Now look at it, Lincoln Avenue is busy from end to end. Do you think that we would have all the new buildings, business, and existing business doing renovations without a busy summer season? It is nice to see our city so busy, so many people out on the streets enjoying themselves.

Once again, thank you Triple Crown. Let's not be saying in a few years, I wish Triple Crown was still coming to Steamboat. We are still saying that today about the vintage car and motorcycle races. We would have a very hard time replacing the revenue that this event brings to not only Steamboat, but also the whole Yampa Valley.

Dewey & Julie Whitecotton

Steamboat Springs