For many families, busy sports complexes offered a much-needed escape from pandemic realities during the summer months.
While youth sports provide countless benefits to kids, they’ve also played a big role in helping the local economy stay afloat in 2020.
According to an economic impact formula developed by Ryan Brewer of IUPUC, sports tourism visitors have spent an estimated $6.4 million between shopping, dining and lodging this year in the Columbus area despite COVID-19 restrictions.
At the top of the list of businesses benefiting from the return of youth tournaments are hotels, which have seen a major dip in revenue due to significant decreases in business travel.
Back in August, Smith Travel Research reported that the local lodging industry saw a 46% decrease in business from where it was in 2019.
Before the return of youth sports on June 19, weekend occupancy in Bartholomew County hotels averaged 38%. During the first full weekend of tournament play…it rose to 87.2%.
The numbers are staggering, but not necessarily surprising considering the youth sports industry is estimated to be a $19.2 billion industry.
While some other states held off on restarting tournaments, Indiana didn’t waste any time.
Many of the tournaments held at CERAland Park featured 45 to 65 teams on the weekends. While 12 tournaments have been lost to COVID-19, CERAland has hosted 15 of the 32 planned.
All local leagues are hoping to fit in more games before the weather shuts down operations in late November.
Thus far, no major virus outbreaks have been reported due to the tournaments — a testament to both the health department and local officials making sure that safety still comes before first pitch.
Now that the state has advanced to Stage 5 of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s reopening plan, local residents can feel cautiously optimistic towards the future as more events can take place.
