Sundance Film Festival Breaks Viewing Records
Feb 9, 2021, 2:24 PM
PARK CITY, Utah – The Sundance Film Festival was entirely online this year, but it proved to be record-breaking.
The event saw its largest audiences to date with its virtual festival. However, businesses that thrive off having all the people in town said the crowds were definitely missed.
The absence of the 40,000 visitors at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was made up in part by skiers, according to the Park City Chamber of Commerce and the local ski resorts.
“Sundance is only a really big part for us if it snows,” said Matt Houchens, who works at Gorusch ski shop on Main Street “Other than that, it doesn’t really bother us. But it is a little tougher to get work.”
He said he didn’t miss the traffic the festival usually brings in, but he could tell restaurants and bars might have.
Though restaurants are still finding customers, the 50% capacity rule has caused some of them to fall below the sales they had last year.
“It would be a definite difficult time if the ski resorts were not open,” Houchens said.
