Sporting Events to Bring Nearly 9,000 to Warren County Memorial Day Weekend
Warren County, Ohio (May 15, 2018) – Nearly 9,000 athletes, coaches and supporters from across the nation will make their way to Warren County, Ohio, this Memorial Day Weekend to participate in a wide variety of locally hosted sporting events, according to Warren County Sports, a department of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB).
Several highly attended tournaments, including the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Boys State Tennis Championships, the Big East Baseball Championships and the Nike Midwest Showdown Basketball Tournament will be in town over the last weekend of May, bringing with them thousands of participants and spectators.
Ben Huffman, Director of Sports Enterprises for the WCCVB, estimates the influx of sports-related visitors will generate approximately $1.96 million in economic impact for the county, while also accounting for nearly 6,000 room nights at local hotels and bed & breakfasts throughout the week.
“Athletes from all over the country are traveling to compete more than ever today, and they are rarely - if ever - traveling alone,” Huffman said. “Parents, siblings, grandparents and friends often tag along for the fun, and that provides a terrific boost in attendance not only for each individual sporting event, but for our region’s other attractions as well.”
Memorial Day Weekend projects to be among the busiest weekends of the year for Warren County Sports, which anticipates record numbers in 2018.
Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the WCCVB, attributes much of Warren County’s success in the sports travel sector to the region’s off-the-field offerings.
“When people travel for sports, the actual events they compete in only account for a fraction of their overall experience,” Smith said. “The fact that we can offer visiting athletes and their families wonderful hotels, record-breaking roller coasters, water parks, shops and restaurants in addition to awesome on-field events has been key to our success as a sporting destination.”
2018 Warren County Sports Memorial Day Weekend Schedule
May 24-27: Big East Baseball Championships
May 25-26: OHSAA Boys State Tennis Championships
May 25-28: Nike Midwest Showdown Basketball Tournament, Blue Ash Wood Bat Classic, 12th Annual Girls Basketball Association Memorial Classic
About Warren County Sports:
Warren County Sports is a department of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The department bids on and facilitates national championships and regional sporting events, with a primary goal of attracting out-of-town competitors. Since its inception in 2004, Warren County Sports has grown to become an extremely successful driver of room nights and economic impact for the local community. In 2017, Warren County Sports generated more than 78,000 room nights and an estimated economic impact of more than $41 million.
About the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Warren County is Ohio’s Largest Playground®! With easy access from Interstates 71 and 75, visitors to Warren County can enjoy more activities within a 30-mile radius than anywhere else in Ohio. The Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a professional destination marketing and management organization whose mission is to strengthen the community by advancing economic growth and vitality through tourism, overnight stays, and encouraging significant participation by visitors in the local tourism economy. Tourism is the leading industry in Warren County. More than 12 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $1.168 billion and 12,244 tourism-related jobs. For additional information, visit OhiosLargestPlayground.com, call 800-433-1072 or visit the WCCVB on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram