Summer Baseball Tournaments Draw Hundreds to Warren County
06/14/2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bridget Kochersperger, Communications Manager | 513-204-7046 | bkochersperger@wccvb.org
Summer Baseball Tournaments Draw Hundreds to Warren County
MASON, OH - June 14, 2013 - This summer, more than 220 teams from 12 states and two foreign countries will visit Warren County for a series of youth baseball tournaments. Over a period of 11 days, three tournaments, all hosted or owned by the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB), will generate 6,800 room nights and an estimated economic impact of $4.1 million.
The Warren County Summer Slam, June 27-30 and the Kings Island Baseball Invitational, July 4-7, are both owned and operated by the WCCVB. Ben Huffman, Director of Sports Marketing for WCCVB, said these events have grown significantly over the last few years.
"Our created baseball events have seen outstanding growth. It started in 2010 with 53 teams, and now that event has grown to the point that we've had to split it into six tournaments over six months, with an expected 275 teams from all over the country," said Huffman
Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the WCCVB, said that part of the reason for the economic benefit of these events and other events created or managed by Warren County Sports comes from the deliberate scheduling of free time for the players and their families to explore the area.
"We want our events to be not just tournaments but ‘Sports Vacations,'" said Smith. "Kids enjoy playing their sport, but they also need to have time to do ‘kid stuff.' For example, during last year's Kings Island Invitational, we estimated that more than 1,000 participants visited Kings Island and other Warren County attractions."
This year the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau (WCCVB) expects to host a total of 82 sporting events, which are expected to produce more than 60,000 room nights in local hotels. Last year it hosted 60 events, accounting for more than 53,000 room nights and more than $38 million in local economic impact.
"We strive to build partnerships with these youth sports organizations and show them that Warren County is a terrific destination for their tournaments," said Huffman. "We have top-notch indoor and outdoor facilities, affordable quality hotels, and plenty for the players and their families to do during down time. We do want them to enjoy all the family fun that Warren County has to offer while they are here."
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 the 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 to the local community. In 2012, Warren County Sports generated 53,000 room nights and an estimated economic impact of more than $38 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 organization committed to economic growth by increasing overnight and year-round visitors.
Tourism is the leading industry in Warren County. The 7.8 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $993 million and 10,657 tourism-related jobs.