Gwynedd Council’s relationship with a major sports brand could see more major events being attracted to the county, tourism chiefs have suggested.

Last year saw the fifth staging of the annual Red Bull Hardline, which is known as one of the toughest downhill mountain bike races in the world.

Attracting 3,000 to the single-day event, a new Gwynedd Council report reveals that it brought in £385,000 to the local economy, with the authority having contributed £5,000 towards the staging of the event in Dinas Mawddwy.

Last year’s staging also saw 15 Gwynedd businesses employed to provide services, supporting the equivalent of eight full-time jobs.

But addressing a meeting of the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee, Gwynedd Council’s event manager suggested that their burgeoning relationship with the Austrian energy drink firm could see more similar events attracted to the county over the coming years.

Red Bull’s marketing portfolio includes multiple sports team ownerships such as Formula One teams Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, and football clubs RB Leipzig, FC Red Bull Salzburg, FC Liefering, Red Bull Brasil and the New York Red Bulls. It also encompasses celebrity endorsements, and a record label.

But it’s hoped that the success of the downhill race could spur more adventure events being brought to Gwynedd, making use of the county’s mountainous terrain.

“Red Bull, being one of the richest companies in the world, bring their product to an area of Wales that many people may not be that familiar with, but is very beautiful,”said Huw Edwin Jones.

“The local councillor and the community have been very eager to work with Red Bull and the Atherton family, who are widely known within the cycling community."

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