( Cincinnati ) - As expected, it was bigger and it drew bigger crowds.
According to Blink, somewhere between 1.25 and 1.5 million people came to Over-the-Rhine, downtown, and across the Roebling Bridge into Covington for the free light and art show that ran last weekend over four nights. Organizers are calling it the largest event in the region's history.
Those million-plus people took in a hundred art installations in 5 zones across 30 city blocks in two states. Other figures released on Wednesday indicate that tourism saw a big boost: on Saturday night, room occupancy rates downtown hit nearly 99%, and more than 75,000 people used public transit like Metro's Park & Rides and the Cincinnati Bell Connector.
That kind of turnout could go a long way toward helping decide if there will be a third Blink in the coming years.