College Station and Bryan Score Big with Sports Tourism!
It’s no secret that College Station and Bryan are buzzing with excitement over their recent accolades in the world of sports tourism! Both cities have made headlines by hosting high-energy sporting events that not only highlight athletic talent but also bring a serious boost to the local economy.
Champions of Economic Impact
Starting things off right, College Station has snagged the prestigious 2024 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism award from Sports Destination Magazine. This honor comes on the heels of their successful hosting of the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics championships, which saw around 8,000 athletes competing for glory. According to projections, this exciting event alone racked up an impressive economic impact of $10.8 million for the city!
Meanwhile, Bryan is not to be left in the shadows! The Legends Event Center also scored the Champion of Economic Impact award for their phenomenal basketball tournaments last spring, showcasing the potential that lies in sports events for driving tourism.
Summer Sports Extravaganza
During a usually quiet season, College Station stepped up to the plate, hosting an array of summer events that drew in crowds like never before. Remember the electrifying Mexico vs. Brazil soccer game? Or even the much-anticipated George Strait concert? These events together turned the city into a summer hotspot, marking a record-breaking season in sports tourism from June to August 2024!
Jeremiah Cook, the tourism manager for College Station, shared the thrilling details during a city council meeting. He expressed that while the Junior Olympics truly brought sparkle to College Station, it also served as a catalyst for the city’s other summer festivities. “It was really a big win for us,” Cook stated, emphasizing the ongoing benefits of hosting multiple events.
Football Season and Holiday Tourism
As football season begins to wind down, College Station is gearing up for the holidays with events designed to keep tourism thriving. Cook is optimistic about increasing the length of stay for visitors. “The normal visitor here spends about 1.6 days,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of keeping tourists around for an extra meal or two. “We can work with local partners to increase that number!”
With hotel room revenues soaring a remarkable 30.8% higher than the previous year, there’s more than enough reason to celebrate. The concert alone brought in $2.2 million in hotel revenue—more than some SEC football games!
Basketball Bonanza in Bryan
As if that weren’t enough, the sports scene in Bryan has been buzzing euphorically! The Adidas 3SSB Spring Series basketball tournaments drew in over 4,300 players to the stunning Legends Event Center, built only in December 2022. With state-of-the-art facilities, including eight basketball courts and sixteen volleyball courts, the spot is quickly becoming a premier destination for sports tourism.
Jamie Cox, the general manager, proudly declared that the tournament brought home a whopping $5 million in economic benefits for the area, positioning Bryan as an unstoppable player in the domain of sports events.
A Bright Future Ahead
All in all, the hard work invested in these sporting endeavors has paid off handsomely for both College Station and Bryan. The communities here have embraced the influx of visitors, making the most of this sporting boom. Collectively, the Brazos County area in June alone reported a staggering $438 million in taxable sales! It’s truly a win-win for sports enthusiasts and local businesses alike.
So as College Station and Bryan continue to shine as sports tourism hotspots, one thing’s for sure: there’s endless potential in the world of athletics that both cities are poised to capitalize on, making the future look bright and bustling with excitement!
