ECSC: To make big splash, we need cash

Surfing event, celebrating 60 years at Oceanfront, says it could use financial help from the city

VIRGINIA BEACH — One of the last remaining and most successful large events at the Oceanfront will return next year in a big way.

The Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships will celebrate 60 consecutive years in Virginia Beach in 2022. Its organizers want to make a splash, and they’re asking for more money from the city to make that happen.

“We need help” said George Alcaraz, longtime ECSC general

manager. “We’re the least-funded event, but we’re the most beneficial event they (the city) have.”

ESCS outperforms all other festivals held at the Oceanfront, according to the city.

In 2018, the eight-day, international surf contest had a $25 million economic impact on Virginia Beach, with $7 million spent on lodging, $5.1 million on food and beverages, $1.6 million on entertainment and $2.7 million on other purchases, according to the city.

It was followed by the Neptune Festival at $19.2 million and the Shamrock Marathon at $18.2 million.

Yet Virginia Beach provides the least amount of money for the event — $25,000 — which isn’t enough to pay the bill from the city for security, equipment and trash disposal, Alcaraz said.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau provided grants for two events in 2018, the most recent year for which financial data was available. The largest one went to the Neptune Festival for $275,000, followed by the Patriotic Festival at $115,000.

Last month, the Patriotic Festival president announced that the event would move to Norfolk after 17 years in Virginia Beach. He said it was a business decision to avoid weather cancellations by holding concerts indoors at Norfolk Scope arena.

Alcaraz said he’s talking with city leaders to get more support for the ECSC and feels the timing is ripe, given that the Patriotic Festival and several others have pulled out of the city in recent weeks.

Alcaraz didn’t cite a specific figure the ECSC is asking for from the city, but ”we would like the same love as they offered other events,” he said.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and Something in the Water will not return in 2022, either.

“With the other events not coming to Virginia Beach, there will be more opportunity for us to get additional help,” Alcaraz said.

The Virginia Beach Jaycees owns ECSC, and local supporters help foot the bill, including lead sponsor Coastal Edge surf shop. The 2022 championships will be held Aug. 21-28 from 1st to 9th streets.

Alcaraz is hoping to bring national acts to perform at the Oceanfront. ECSC is currently one of the last remaining big events capable of attracting big-name bands on a beach stage.

“To do that, we have to have the help of the city,” Alcaraz said.

Mayor Bobby Dyer said he wants the event to succeed. In 2020, he worked with ECSC organizers to ensure that the event, though scaled down, could be held during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

It allowed ECSC to set the record for the longest continuous surf event in the world.

“I’m a big supporter of them,” Dyer said. “I consider ECSC one of the mainstays, the DNA of the Oceanfront. Let’s help celebrate and make them even more successful than they are.”