Derby, Thunder Over Louisville picked as two of nation’s 100 best events

List compiled by BizBash

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 1, 2015) — The Kentucky Derby and Thunder Over Louisville are two of the “Top 100 Events in the United States,” according to BizBash, the leading trade media for event and meeting organizers and event marketers.

To choose the list, BizBash considered economic impact, buzz innovation and an event’s prominence within the communities it serves, according to the organization.

The Kentucky Derby was selected as the seventh best sporting event. The Super Bowl was No. 1, followed by the NCAA Final Four—which either the University of Kentucky (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) or the University of Louisville (2013) has been in each of the past five years—No. 3 was The Masters, No. 4 Daytona 500, No.5 Indianapolis 500 and No. 6 the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

Thunder Over Louisville, the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies, was selected as the ninth best festival, parades and holiday events.

No. 1 was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. That was followed by New Year’s Eve in Times Square, Mardi Gras, Tournament of Roses, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade.