The biggest Pokémon GO event returned in 2024, spanning three continents and uniting hundreds of thousands of Trainers for unforgettable weekends of fun from May to July. Pokémon GO Fest isn’t just about catching Pokémon; it’s about exploring, socializing, and staying active. Trainers walked an average of 18.3 km to catch 26.6 million Pokémon, demonstrating the power of AR games to drive real-world impact and social connection. Pokémon GO Fest also continues to deliver significant economic benefits to its host cities.
Connecting Communities, Driving Growth
A Statista report commissioned by Niantic revealed that last year, Pokémon GO Fest generated +$200 million across the three cities that played host. This included $61 million in tax revenues—but the real magic was in the bonds formed and memories made. Pokémon GO Fest in Madrid, New York City, and Sendai was a celebration of community, with over 1.2M Trainers coming together from around the world to share in the adventure and play the game city wide. From meeting new friends to witnessing marriage proposals, the event created countless moments of connection and joy.
Pokémon GO Fest New York City
Returning to New York City for the second consecutive year, Randall’s Island Park came alive with Trainers. The event generated $126 million in economic impact, with $26 million in tax revenue, and attracted over 68,000 players in the park —nearly double the full capacity of Yankee Stadium!
Here’s a snapshot of NYC’s event:
Economic Impact: $126M with a tax revenue generation of $26M
Attendance: 474,900 players in the city and 68,703 players in the park
Spending trends: An average spend of $795 per visitor
Out of city visitors: 70% of visitors came from other parts of the USA to attend, while 8% travelled from other countries.
10 million Pokémon were caught
Attendees walked an average of 11km
Pokémon GO Fest Madrid
Madrid welcomed the European edition of Pokémon GO Fest, inviting Trainers from around the world to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture of Spain’s largest city. The event delivered an economic impact of €35M ($38M), including €16M ($17M) in tax revenue, as over 27,000 Trainers explored the scenic Parque Juan Carlos I and surrounding areas. Notably, 59% of attendees traveled from outside Spain, adding significant value to the local economy. Nearly 40% of visitors expressed strong interest in returning to Madrid.
Here’s a snapshot of Madrid’s event:
Economic Impact: €35M ($38M) with a tax revenue of €16M ($17M)
Attendance: 192,000 players in the city and 27,400 in the park
Spending trends: An average spend of €621 ($669) per visitor
Out of city visitors: 84% of visitors traveled from outside Madrid to attend GO Fest, with 59% coming from abroad
6.6 million Pokémon were caught
Attendees walked an average of 16.4km
Marta Rivera de la Cruz, Delegate for Culture, Tourism and Sport and Third Deputy Mayor of Madrid City Council, declared: “Pokémon GO Fest was a success because of the hospitality of the people of Madrid and our cultural and gastronomic richness, which mixes tradition and innovation. For several days, both locals and thousands of people arriving from all over the world were able to explore Madrid and its neighborhoods, touring the city in a different way, thanks to the game and the routes.”
Pokémon GO Fest Sendai
Sendai’s Pokémon GO Fest left a positive impression with a ¥7,396M ($48M) economic impact, including ¥2,796M ($18M) in tax revenue for the Japanese city. Close to 70,000 Trainers attended the event at Nanakita Park, many of whom visited Japan’s “greenest city” for the first time.
Here’s a snapshot of Sendai’s event:
Economic Impact: ¥7,396M ($48M) with a tax revenue of ¥2,796M ($18M)
Attendance: 379,000 players in the city and 68,000 in the park
Spending trends: An average spend of 62,377 yen ($407) per visitor
Out of city visitors: 91% came from other parts of Japan, while 3% of visitors came from abroad.
10 million Pokémon were caught
Attendees walked an average of 28km
If you’d like to read the full economic impact reports for each Pokémon GO Fest event, you can download them here: