ESPN's annual Great Outdoor Games will not be making a return trip to Madison this summer, despite record attendance last July.
A lack of financial support by Madison is preventing the cable sports network's games from coming back.
Last year the Great Outdoor Games took place at the Alliant Energy Center and drew more than 68,000 spectators. The games started in the summer of 2000 in Lake Placid, N.Y., and were later moved to Reno, Nev. before making the stop in Madison.
\We put forward a good package to ESPN that was valued at $750,000,"" said George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. ""It was the largest package we could do and still be responsible using taxpayer resources.""
According to a Jan. 31 press release from ESPN, ""After an exhaustive effort, we have concluded that we have no alternative but to look beyond Madison for this summer's ESPN Great Outdoor Games.""
There was no mention of where the games will take place this summer.
Included in the release was a statement that further discussion would not result in an agreement that fairly recognized the value ESPN could provide the community.
ESPN did not comment on the amount of money that was offered, but the release did say, ""Published reports of Madison's offer have been greatly exaggerated and were primarily speculative.""
Last year the occasion did financially benefit Madison said Kim Straka, director of communications and public relations at the Greater Madison Convention and Visitor Bureau.
""We estimate a $2.1 million loss in direct spending as far as what the games brought to this community,"" Straka said. ""We look toward these events to bring revenues to our city.""
Straka added that competition for the event is high and the proposal provided to ESPN was fair.
""It would be irresponsible for us to offer them anything that we couldn't afford,"" she said.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, it is difficult to put an exact number on how much ESPN spends organizing the event, but one source stated it was several million dollars.
Both Straka and Twigg were quick to note that the summer still provides many positive events from which Madison can benefit economically.
""We would rather have these things than not,"" Twigg said. ""But between things like Rhythm and Booms, the Iron Man and Art Fair on the Square, there is still a lot going on over the summer.\
