Miss America Pageant Didn't Come Cheap for Atlantic City

The return of the Miss America pageant didn’t come cheap for Atlantic City, but city officials tell philly.com they think the benefits are worth the investment.

Overtime pay for emergency management, police and fire protection relating to the pageant cost $399,524.21, according to a report posted on philly.com.

The city spent another $2,000 in incremental pageant related costs and $100,000 in costs relating to boardwalk improvements, according to the report. Boardwalk improvements were underway independent of the pageant.

Atlantic City Business Administrator Ron Cash told philly.com the investment was worth the cost, adding that the pageant “belongs in Atlantic City.”

The pageant returned to its birthplace for the first time in six years. It was founded in Atlantic City in 1921 and was held there every year until moving to Las Vegas in 2006.

Miss New York Nina Davaluri became the first Miss America of Indian descent when she won the pageant in September.

The majority of the costs went toward the parade on Saturday and the pageant on Sunday, with 58 percent of the overtime pay going to the police, according to the report.