Warren County to Host Nearly 240 Youth Baseball Teams this Summer
06/16/2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Hutchinson, Communications Manager | 513-204-7046 | shutchinson@wccvb.org
Warren County to Host Nearly 240 Youth Baseball Teams this Summer
Warren County, Ohio (June 16, 2016) – Nearly 240 youth baseball teams from across the nation will make their way to Warren County, Ohio this summer, according to Warren County Sports, a department of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB).
The 5th Annual Warren County Summer Slam (June 23-26) and 7th Annual Kings Island Invitational (June 30-July 4) are expected to draw an estimated 12,000 attendees including athletes and supporters from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Those attendees are expected to generate approximately $3.5 million in economic impact, while accounting for more than 6,000 hotel room nights.
Both tournaments, either owned or hosted by the WCCVB, have experienced significant growth in both size and popularity since their humble beginnings.
“Our involvement with youth baseball essentially began as one 53-team tournament in 2010,” said Ben Huffman, Director of Sports Marketing for the WCCVB. “Over the past several years, however, as word of mouth has spread in regards to the experience our teams have, the demand for our tournaments has grown to the point where we have become a must-stop spot on the select baseball circuit."
Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the WCCVB, attributes much of the county’s success in youth sports to its off-the-field offerings.
“There are countless destinations throughout the nation capable of hosting successful youth sporting events, but what sets us apart is our ability to offer young athletes, their coaches and their families unique and memorable experiences both on and off the playing fields,” Smith said. “We're fortunate to have an outstanding selection of family-friendly attractions in our County, and loads of choices for entertainment for the kids, their parents, and even their grandparents during breaks in the competition. That's why we're Ohio's Largest Playground and that's why we’re so attractive to sporting event planners.”
Warren County Sports, which was named Sports Tourism Organization of the Year by the National Association of Sports Commissions in 2015, plans to host more than 100 sporting events in 2016, drawing more than 185,000 visitors and accounting for more than 72,000 room nights at local hotels and bed & breakfasts.
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 2015, Warren County Sports generated 70,692 room nights and an estimated economic impact of more than $40 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 11.2 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $1.063 billion and 11,866 tourism-related jobs.
For additional information, visit www.OhiosLargestPlayground.com or call 800-433-1072.