Youth baseball to bring more than 12,000 to Warren County in coming weeks

WARREN COUNTY, OH (June 13, 2018) – More than 12,000 youth baseball players, coaches and supporters from across the nation will make their way to Warren County, Ohio, over the next three weeks according to Warren County Sports, a department of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB).

The 7th Annual Warren County Summer Slam (June 21-24) and 9th Annual Kings Island Invitational (June 28-July 1) are slated to feature approximately 240 teams from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and West Virginia. The tournaments are expected to generate approximately $2.5 million in economic impact for the county, while also accounting for more than 7,800 room nights at local hotels and bed & breakfasts.

Both tournaments, either owned or hosted by the WCCVB, have experienced significant growth in both size and popularity over the years.

“When we first got involved in the youth baseball market back in 2010, we hosted just one tournament with 53 teams,” said Ben Huffman, Director of Sports Enterprises for the WCCVB. “Since then, we’ve welcomed hundreds of tournaments and thousands of athletes, and have very quickly become one of the sport’s most sought-after tournament destinations.”

Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the WCCVB, credits much of Warren County’s success in the youth sports market to its off-the-field offerings.

“You can find a baseball diamond or a soccer field just about anywhere, but roller coasters, water parks and zip lines are a little harder to come by,” Smith said. “The fact that we can offer athletes and their families awesome attractions, restaurants and lodging options - in addition to terrific playing facilities – makes us a very appealing option for sporting event planners.”

Warren County Sports will host nearly 100 events in 2018.

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