“Youth sports means big dollars for local tourism” plus 3 more |
| Youth sports means big dollars for local tourism Posted: 17 Sep 2010 03:02 PM PDT By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
TAMPA As 8-year-old Kali Cobb vaulted and flipped her way through the Aloha Invitational gymnastics meet at the University of Tampa, dad Chuck and his fiancee were her loudest fans. They played another important role: walking ATMs. After driving three hours from Palm Coast, they popped for a night at a Tampa Courtyard by Marriott ($84), ponied up the meet admission fee ($10 per adult) and bought Kali a T-shirt and workout pants ($50). They planned on a few meals out and a trip to Busch Gardens before heading home. "We'll probably spend $500 overall,'' Cobb said. Flashy sporting events like the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and Outback Bowl get much of the publicity. But when it comes to events that bolster local tourism, youth and amateur sports fill more of Tampa Bay's hotels and restaurants. Just about every weekend, two or three groups often consisting of hundreds of out-of-town competitors compete in tournaments or train on Tampa Bay beaches, baseball diamonds and soccer fields and in its gyms. Most involve kids competing against kids, often traveling from outside Tampa Bay. Soccer and baseball are the biggest draws. But Hillsborough and Pinellas attract an array of sports: lacrosse, standup paddle board, paintball and the national IronKids triathlon championship for 12- to 16-year-olds. More Florida counties smell the money and are competing to attract the top events. After all, youth sports as a tourist draw has bucked the economic downturn. Cobb and his fiancee, Carrie White, didn't give the Tampa trip a second thought. This was Kali's first big, out-of-town gymnastics meet. "We wouldn't miss it for the world,'' White said. Kids' games that used to be played close to home have evolved into giant tournaments where even mediocre teams travel hundreds or thousands of miles to compete. Parents will spend about $7 billion this year on just the traveling involved with youth sports, said Don Schumacher, executive director of the National Association of Sports Commissions. Teams don't bring only players and coaches. Parents and siblings often come as well. Families sometimes use the events to launch into a Florida vacation, dropping even more money along the way. Tourism officials coined a name for it: the playcation. That adds up to a lot of "room nights," the yardstick the lodging industry uses to measure success. Seventy-five amateur sport events in Pinellas County — mostly youth sports — generated 97,000 room nights for the fiscal year that ended last Sept. 30. The 90 events in Hillsborough triggered the sale of 106,000 room nights. Tampa's Outback Bowl, in contrast, does 17,000 each year. Unlike the Outback Bowl, youth sports delivers a steady stream of visitors weekend after weekend. It helps fill rooms when business travelers aren't as likely to be on the road and during the region's off season for regular tourists. For instance, the Tampa gymnastics tournament last weekend couldn't have come at a better time for the boss of the Courtyard by Marriott on the edge of Tampa's West Shore area. The short week after Labor Day was slow for business travelers, the hotel's bread and butter, said general manager Beverly Mogelnicki. Gymnasts and their families bought 150 room nights, one-third of the hotel's inventory for Friday through Sunday nights. "It was extremely important, especially to fill the gap on weekends,'' she said. "We have to search for that kind of business.'' The competition to host all those travel teams and out-of-state mega meets is fierce. Pinellas and Hillsborough bid against locations as close as Polk County and as far away as Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. Disney got in the game early, pouring $100 million into a 220-acre sports complex two decades ago aimed almost exclusively at youth sports. The entertainment giant made a deal in 1995 with the Amateur Athletic Union, which moved its headquarters from Indianapolis to Orlando. The AAU hosts about 40 of its national events each year at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Locally, counties have scored some big events. Hillsborough, for instance, recently persuaded organizers of "Score at the Shore,'' a huge soccer tournament, to sign up again for next February. The event attracts 288 teams from East Coast cities. Forty-two hotels in Hillsborough and Pasco sell a combined 7,000 room nights. But there's no guarantee Hillsborough will get it in 2012. More than 60 locales submitted bids to wrestle the business away, said Rob Higgins, Hillsborough's sports tourism director. Locations with the biggest facilities in one location have the advantage. Kevin Smith, who oversees sports tourism for Pinellas County, said: "The trend is toward multifield complexes, whether it's for soccer, field hockey or Frisbee.'' Pasco County's sports commission can offer a complex of 18 fields in Wesley Chapel for big baseball, soccer and lacrosse tournaments. Polk County has a 21-field cluster in Auburndale. In 2005, Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman pitched a $40 million complex on county-owned Cone Ranch, north of Plant City. He argued that rent for youth tournaments and advertising would pay construction costs. Fellow commissioners resoundingly shot down the plan in 2007, citing more pressing spending priorities. Built-out Pinellas has particular problems. The county has an ample supply of baseball and softball diamonds. But it lacks enough soccer fields, which can double for lacrosse, for the big tournaments. Indoor space is also at a premium. Eckerd College can handle a mid-sized gymnastics meet, Smith said. But the only choice for a big indoor event that requires multiple 40-by-40-foot mats is Tropicana Field. The rent is too expensive for most organizations. The tourism board might help. The panel that oversees how proceeds from Pinellas County's 5 percent hotel "bed tax'' are spent voted this month to make building sports and recreation facilities eligible for funding. The County Commission has the final say. For now, sports tourism officials patch together separate locations. "Instead of a 24-field complex, we'll use three eight-field facilities,'' Higgins said. It's not ideal, he admitted, but he and other local organizers have a go-to pitch to help sweeten their bid. You'll love the beaches, the cultural events and Busch Gardens. Polk County can't promise all that. Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3384. $7 billion Amount parents will spend this year on traveling for youth sports, said Don Schumacher, executive director of the National Association of Sports Commissions 97,000 Room nights generated for the fiscal year that ended last Sept. 30 for 75 amateur sport events in Pinellas County 106,000 Room nights generated for 90 amateur events in Hillsborough County. Tampa's Outback Bowl does 17,000 each year Area's largest youth and amateur sport events
Source: Pinellas Sports Commission, Tampa Bay Sports Commission [Last modified: Sep 17, 2010 11:05 PM]
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| Posted: 17 Sep 2010 03:40 AM PDT Today's Most Discussed Stories GYMNASTICS Arkansas hires assistant Don Houlton, a veteran club and collegiate coach, has joined Arkansas' program as an assistant coach. Houlton was an assistant last year at the University of California in Berkeley and served in the same capacity at Yale the season before. Subscribers must LOG-IN to read this full story. Sports, Pages 25 on 09/17/2010 Second thoughtsHome not the same for Tacoma The Tacoma Rainiers, the Class AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, are feeling right at home this week during the Pacific Coast League Champ... » More This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 17 Sep 2010 10:55 PM PDT Today PREP VOLLEYBALL — Newton, Moundridge @ Maize Inv. 9 a.m.; Halstead, Sedgwick, Centre @ Marion Inv. 9 a.m.; Goessel @ Tescott Inv. 9 a.m.PREP GYMNASTICS — Newton @ Shawnee Mission North Inv. (@ Shawnee Mission East) 11 a.m.COLLEGE FOOTBALL — Southern Nazarene @ Bethel 7 p.m., Tabor @ Bethany 7 p.m., Kansas State vs. Iowa State @ Arrowhead Stadium 11:30 a.m. (Fox Sports Kansas City).COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL — Bethel @ Southern Nazarene 7 p.m.COLLEGE SOCCER — Bethel @ Avila (W 2 p.m., M 4 p.m.), Cloud County CC @ Hesston College (W 5 p.m., M 7 p.m.).PRO BASEBALL — Cleveland @ Kansas City 6:10 p.m.SundayPRO FOOTBALL — Kansas City @ Cleveland noon (KWCH, Ch. 12).PRO SOCCER — Kansas City @ Chivas USA 7 p.m.PRO BASEBALL — Cleveland @ Kansas City 1:10 p.m.MondayCOLLEGE VOLLEYBALL — Tabor JV @ Hesston College 6:30 p.m.PRO BASEBALL — Kansas City @ Detroit 6:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Kansas City).TuesdayPREP VOLLEYBALL — Newton @ Salina South tri 5 p.m.; Lyons, Wichita Word of Life @ Halstead 5 p.m.; Smoky Valley, Chapman @ Hesston 5 p.m.; Pratt, Kingman @ Hillsboro 5 p.m.; Berean Academy, Hutchinson Trinity @ Moundridge 4 p.m.; Marion, Remington, Canton-Galva @ Inman 4 p.m.; Ell-Saline, Bennington @ Sedgwick 4 p.m.; Peabody-Burns, Wakefield @ Centre 4 p.m.; Goessel, Little River @ Solomon 4 p.m.; Burrton, South Barber @ Pretty Prairie 4 p.m.PREP CROSS COUNTRY — Halstead, Hesston, Hillsboro, Berean Academy @ Southeast of Saline Inv. 4:30 p.m.PREP BOYS' SOCCER — Maize @ Newton 6:30 p.m.PREP GIRLS' TENNIS — Newton, Hillsboro @ Wichita Collegiate Inv. 3 p.m., Hesston Inv. III 3 p.m.PREP GIRLS' GOLF — Newton @ Salina South Inv. 1 p.m.COLLEGE SOCCER — Sciences and Arts of Oklahoma @ Bethel (W 5 p.m., M 7 p.m.), Hutchinson CC @ Hesston College (W 5 p.m.).PRO BASEBALL — Kansas City @ Detroit 6:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Kansas City).WednesdayCOLLEGE VOLLEYBALL — Bethel @ Bethany 7 p.m., Tabor @ Ottawa 7 p.m., Hesston College @ Labette County CC 6:30 p.m.PRO BASEBALL — Kansas City @ Detroit 6:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Kansas City).ThursdayPREP CROSS COUNTRY — Newton @ McPherson Inv. (Rolling Acres GC) 4:30 p.m.; Peabody-Burns, Burrton @ Marion Inv. (Marion Lake) 4:30 p.m.; Remington @ Douglass Inv. 4 p.m.; Sedgwick @ Oxford Inv. (Winfield Veterans' Home) 4 p.m.PREP BOYS' SOCCER — Newton @ Rose Hill 7 p.m.PREP GIRLS' TENNIS — Newton @ Winfield Inv. 3 p.m., Hillsboro Inv. II 3 p.m.PREP GIRLS' GOLF — Newton @ Buhler Inv. 9 a.m.COLLEGE SOCCER — Oklahoma Wesleyan @ Bethel (W 5 p.m., M 7 p.m.).PRO BASEBALL — Kansas City @ Cleveland 6:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Kansas City).FridayPREP FOOTBALL (All games 7 p.m. unless noted) — Newton @ Salina South, Sterling @ Halstead, Hillsboro @ Hesston, Marion @ Moundridge, Inman @ Remington, White City @ Centre, Claflin @ Goessel, Hope @ Peabody-Burns, Attica @ Burrton.COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL — Bethel @ Premier Classic, Bellevue, Neb. (vs. Mid-America Nazarene 11 a.m., vs. Northwestern (Iowa) 3 p.m.), Hesston College Inv. TBA.COLLEGE SOCCER — Tabor @ Sciences and Arts of Oklahoma (W 2 p.m., M 4 p.m.).PRO BASEBALL — Kansas City @ Cleveland 6:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Kansas City).Sept. 25PREP VOLLEYBALL — Newton Inv. 8 a.m.; Remington @ Douglass Inv. 9 a.m.; Centre @ Herington Inv. 9 a.m.; Goessel, Peabody-Burns @ Olpe Inv. 8:30 a.m.PREP CROSS COUNTRY — Newton @ Rim Rock Classic, Lawrence 8:30 a.m.PREP GIRLS' TENNIS — Hesston @ Wichita Collegiate TOC 8 a.m.PREP GYMNASTICS — Newton @ Lawrence Free State Inv. 10 a.m.COLLEGE FOOTBALL — Bethel @ Kansas Wesleyan 7 p.m., Friends @ Tabor 7 p.m., New Mexico State @ Kansas 6 p.m. (Fox College Sports), Central Florida @ Kansas State 11:30 a.m. (Fox Sports Net).COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL — Bethel @ Premier Classic, Bellevue, Neb. (vs. Grand View 9 a.m., vs. Dordt 1 p.m.), Tabor @ Southern Nazarene 11 a.m., Tabor @ Mid-America Christian 4 p.m., Hesston College Inv. TBA.COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY — Bethel, Tabor, Hesston College @ Tabor Inv. (Cottonwood Point, Marion Reservoir) 10 a.m.COLLEGE SOCCER — Tabor @ Oklahoma Baptist (W 1 p.m., M 3 p.m.), Johnson County CC @ Hesston (W 5 p.m., M 7 p.m.).PRO BASEBALL — Kansas City @ Cleveland 6:05 p.m.PRO SOCCER — FC Dallas @ Kansas City 7 p.m.Sept. 26PRO FOOTBALL — San Francisco @ Kansas City noon (KSAS, Ch. 24).PRO BASEBALL — Kansas City @ Cleveland 12:05 p.m.To area administrators: If your school's events are not listed, we still need your schedule. Please fax it to the Kansan at (316) 283-2471 or e-mail it to mark.schnabel@thekansan.com.Schedules and TV listings subject to change without notice. TV channel numbers listed are for over-the-air broadcast (including HD virtual channels) unless noted. Cable and satellite channel numbers may differ. Items for the calendar need to be sent to the Kansan at least one week before publication. Schools should submit their athletic schedules to be included. For information, call the Kansan at 283-1500.This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 17 Sep 2010 09:42 PM PDT Youth footballThe MV Blue Storm 7th-grade team defeated Kingswood, 20-0. Offensively, MV was led by Colby Weyant (two touchdowns, 114 rushing yards), Chris Thurber (touchdown) and Ben Thistle. The defensive effort was led by Matt Coulombe, Colby Weyant (10 tackles) and Bradford Merrill with a key interception. Youth soccerThe Concord Recreation 5th- and 6th-grade team from Beaver Meadow played Conant. Dylan Burbank played great offensively and scored for Conant. Also for Conant, Alex Duncan and Grant Dreffer played a tremendous game. Beaver Meadow's Christian Owasu, Austin Whittamore and Chandra Kelfy all played a strong game offensively, scoring for the team. JV resultsThe Hillsboro-Deering JV girls' soccer team lost to Kearsarge, 2-1. Alison Desfoses tallied the lone goal for the Hillcats (2-4-1). Marisa Quininez and Maye Hartford anchored the defense. • The Hopkinton JV boys' soccer team beat Stevens, 2-1. Matt French (assisted by Keenan Trahnstom) and Tyler Bennett netted goals. Aaron Beckwith had seven saves, including a save on a penalty kick with eight minutes left. • The Pembroke JV boys' soccer team beat Kennett, 8-0. Spencer Nowe and Dillon Banks played well for the Spartans along with defender Brendon Pettigrew. Middle school resultsThe Hopkinton Middle School field hockey team beat Kearsarge, 2-1, behind goals from Maddison Sorel and Victoria Flood. Ireland Tawney and Rebecca Shatney played well defensively. The Hawks are now 3-0. In the B game, Hopkinton came out on top, 2-0. Pheobe Josephson and McKayla Reale each scored a goal. Caroline Flood played well at both ends of the field. • The Rundlett Middle School boys' A soccer team's record now stands at 3-0 following a 2-1 win over Merrimack Valley. Matthew Chartier (assisted by Thomas Bengtson) and Trevor Devanny scored for Rundlett. Gaston Arocena and Spencer Clayton had strong games at midfield. Andrew Grondin and Nick Dupree shared the win in goal. • The Rundlett Middle School girls' A soccer team tied 2-2 against Merrimack Valley. Cassidy Emerson scored both goals for Rundlett. Molly Emerson, Brooke Macri and Kirsten Klose performed well at midfield. Addie Palisi and Maria Wilkinson were solid on defense. Road raceThe Sue Ann Martin 5K road race will be held Oct. 10 at noon at Broken Ground School in Concord. Registration starts at 10 a.m. This fun run and walk benefits a newly created scholarship fund to aid Concord students with college funds and was created in memory of Concord school teacher Sue Ann Martin. Visit martinfunrun.webs.com. Coaches neededHillsboro-Deering High School is accepting coaching applications for an assistant varsity baseball coach and a JV baseball coach. Candidates should send a letter of intent, resume and references to Jay Wood, 12 Hillcat Drive, Hillsboro, NH 03244, or e-mail jwood@hdsd.k12.nh.us. Gymnasts wantedGranite State Gymnastics is forming a competitive Trampoline & Power Tumbling Team. Girls and boys 7+ interested in learning flips and twists and their parents are invited to a team info night Oct. 19 from 6-7 p.m. at GSGC, 71 River Road, Bow. Call 228-8424 or visit granitestategymnastics.org. Players neededNH Hammerheads still have a few remaining spots on their baseball and softball teams. U11 baseball needs pitcher, outfield and utility. U12 and U16 softball teams need pitcher, catcher and outfield. U14 needs catcher and outfielder. Call 669-6128 or email nhhammerheads@gmail.com for more information. Women's basketball players born before Jan 1, 1965, are wanted for a half-court 3-on-3 basketball league on Thursday evenings from 6:45-8 p.m. at the Laconia Community Center. Call 279-7933. (next page ») This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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