Hosting the Olympics and coming away with a profit? Imagine that. Three cities that bucked the trend
The $51 billion price tag of Sochi is a reminder that the Winter Games can create an avalanche of public debt. But which cities actually managed to come out of their hosting stint on top?
With such high costs, it’s seemingly miraculous that any chosen location manages to turn a profit. Yet, some manage to do so. Here are three cities that managed to come out of their hosting stint on top:
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1. Los Angeles – Surplus: $232.5 Million
The west coast city managed to end the games with a $232.5 million surpluss due to smart planning — like revamping old facilities as opposed to building new ones — and budgeting. The design teams also used cheaper materials typically associated with temporary tents. You can read more about how L.A. pulled it off here.
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2. Salt Lake City – Surplus: $56 Million
Salt Lake City donated about $30 million of their profits to the Utah Athletic Foundation.
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3. Atlanta – Surplus: $10 Million
Aside from finishing in the black, Atlanta also benefitted from converting one of its Olympic stadiums into a facility for baseball.