Reno-Tahoe airport, businesses missing out on Burning Man's impact

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Northern Nevada businesses are feeling the economic burn after Burning Man was canceled for the second year in a row.

After an already tough thirteen months due to the pandemic, the loss of Black Rock City's spending this summer might sting a bit more.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport said the event typically brings in about $11 million just from Burners flying in and out in a normal year.

"But it's more than that. It's a cultural impact on us," said Brian Kulpin, spokesman for the airport.

We love Burning Man. 20,000 to 25,000 Burners come to the airport every year. That's arriving and departing. That's a lot of people and a lot of seats.

Kulpin isn't sure yet what the biggest losses will be without all those people flying in for a second year in a row. He said the airport is recovering very well regardless following a tough year.

"We have as many seats coming in in June, as we had really when the pandemic hit, which is an amazing recovery," Kulpin said."

Once in Reno and the surrounding areas, these visitors from around the world spend money and boost the local economy.

Junkee Clothing Exchange in Midtown claims they're world-renowned when it comes to Burning Man. The event typically helps carry the store through slower periods seeing as much as ten times the business during that time.

"It's one of our biggest events of the year. It definitely carries us through the holiday season for winter and through early spring," said Dallas Sinatra, shift lead at Junkee. "So it supports the store. It supports a lot of businesses in Reno. The Burning Man crowd brings in so much business for everybody."

Sinatra said they were expecting the event to move forward this year and they had begun prepping the store by ordering specific merchandise for the Burner audience. She said that now that the event is canceled, it might actually be good for Reno area locals.

"There'll just be a lot less people picking through it, which is an advantage for a lot of people. Because they have more of a chance to score some really cool items," said Sinatra."

Sinatra said Junkee has adapted well throughout the past year and thinks it'll be fine even without Burning Man. The store celebrates its 13th anniversary on Sunday.

News 4 reached out to the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority for this story. Both organizations said they do not have data or metrics to track the full impact of Burning Man on the region.

The City of Fernley did not return a request for comment on the economic loss from Burning Man.

Story tips or ideas? Email Brett Forrest: bforrest@mynews4.com